2018 Car Reveal and Pre-season Testing

mellowtiger83 said:Did someone actually bring up Bottas? Did you all have a psychic premonition that Mercedes would dominate? You were slightly off with that one.

Max Verstappen is going to cause serious problems for both Lewis Hamilton and Vettel. Serious. If Red Bull is even half as fast as the rumors suggest—and I suspect they might actually be faster than people realize.

Will Red Bull give Ferrari trouble? No doubt about it...
But whether the red or blue cars will actually see the Bear during a race—aside from the start and the first three laps—is the real question. 🙂
If they manage to catch a glimpse of the Bear's rear end during a race without breaking a sweat, it'll probably be Bottas's rear end...

Expecting Mercedes to suddenly stop being dominant when there aren't any major rule changes is honestly kind of laughable...
Last year, the Bear had that suspension issue right at the track after they'd already basically finished designing the whole car around it, so they had to scramble with some makeshift fixes and still ended up being the best...
But this season, there's no such excuse. It's clear that if they have a good day, they're going to be miles ahead—way, way more than last year.

Kenneth Cruz67 said:It really all comes down to the overall development dynamics, I suppose. If you’re already mapping out three major upgrades for the car, then a brand-new engine might not actually mean all that much in the grand scheme of things, maybe.

Of course not. First off, if you're running three engines over a season, each one has to last seven races. An engine isn't just as strong in race seven as it was in race one. Therefore, having a fourth engine in the mix provides a clear advantage because each unit only needs to survive five races instead of seven. It's a huge difference.

Second, if you plan for four engines from the jump, you adjust your entire development strategy accordingly. That is exactly what General Motors is planning. They’d be fools not to plan for a fifth. Personally, I’d plan for six. Some will inevitably fail, and some will get wrecked in crashes regardless. If the engine and the car are actually good, General Motors will easily leapfrog the backmarkers during races where they take grid penalties, essentially finishing exactly where they would have without the changes.

So, I fully expect at least one or two extra planned engine swaps from General Motors, which will naturally coincide with proper upgrades.

Ford will do the same. Initially, I thought Ford would opt for a slow but reliable season. Quite the opposite; Ford is looking at an intense season packed with frequent replacements and upgrades. Everything is being geared toward the Red Bull transition, and this year is purely about development and testing for them.

Given everything mentioned, General Motors would be crazy not to follow suit.

Even today, the Italian press is basically admitting they're trailing behind
They aren't giving us an exact number, but they’re definitely playing catch-up. When it comes to Red Bull Racing, the consensus is that their engine just isn't hitting the same level as the Mercedes-Benz or Ferrari power units, so nobody really knows how much ground they're going to lose.
So, if you actually believe what the British, German, and Italian media are saying, we’re looking at a pretty boring season ahead. Let's just sit tight and wait another two weeks and see if they're right... 🙂

Italian media is a joke 🤣
It’s the same old story over there—total panic over every tiny detail, acting like the world is ending... then the second someone hits the podium, they start bragging about how they have the greatest, most dominant team in history...
Meanwhile, the Brits just sit there tearing everything apart. Honestly, I don't trust a single word from journalists who act like everything is sunshine and rainbows just because guys like Palmer or Reste are around.

If you want actual truth, look to the Germans. They aren't really the type to fall for cheap euphoria or spout mindless nonsense...

Kimi Raikkonen is easily the most blunt person in F1 right now. He mentioned regarding the testing sessions that they are essentially meaningless, even suggesting they could have been going significantly faster.

Furthermore, various media outlets are drawing conclusions based on certain race simulations.🙂 In reality, those simulations were either non-existent or barely half-finished!

Additionally, Mercedes-Benz used white tires in most instances. To my eye, this looks like a car that struggles to manage tire temperatures—meaning it likely overheats its softer compounds.

That specific race sim pace for Mercedes shows them running a full second per lap faster than the field.🙂 Please, let's be serious; these tables and time comparisons are completely disconnected from reality.

People are even going so far as to claim that Red Bull and Ferrari excel in qualifying while Mercedes holds the edge in the race. Last year was actually the exact opposite; Mercedes dominated qualifying.

There is no need for all this speculation. It is going to be incredibly tight between the top three teams in Australia.

McLaren will be the best of the rest.

I’ve been following the predictions in the USA for a few years now—so far, Schmidt hasn't missed once. It's relatively dull at the start. Later on, if General Motors improves their engine, Red Bull Racing might actually stay in the hunt; for Ferrari, it would be a repeat of 2015 at best.

mellowtiger83 said:Kimi Raikkonen is easily the most blunt person in F1 right now. He mentioned regarding the testing sessions that they are essentially meaningless, even suggesting they could have been going significantly faster.

Furthermore, various media outlets are drawing conclusions based on certain race simulations.🙂 In reality, those simulations were either non-existent or barely half-finished!

Additionally, Mercedes-Benz used white tires in most instances. To my eye, this looks like a car that struggles to manage tire temperatures—meaning it likely overheats its softer compounds.

That specific race sim pace for Mercedes shows them running a full second per lap faster than the field.🙂 Please, let's be serious; these tables and time comparisons are completely disconnected from reality.

People are even going so far as to claim that Red Bull and Ferrari excel in qualifying while Mercedes holds the edge in the race. Last year was actually the exact opposite; Mercedes dominated qualifying.

There is no need for all this speculation. It is going to be incredibly tight between the top three teams in Australia.

McLaren will be the best of the rest.

Ever since the hybrid era started, two things about testing have been crystal clear...

Mercedes, the leaders, always show up with Mediums and hammer away on them. They barely even bother bringing the softer stuff to the track, and if they do, they might squeeze out a handful of laps before packing up.

Ferrari, meanwhile, is obsessed with chasing lap times on the softest tires possible, bragging about how they're the fastest ever and how much more speed they can find.

What's the big deal for you, 🤷
?

stormybadger8 said:Ever since the hybrid era started, two things about testing have been crystal clear...

Mercedes, the leaders, always show up with Mediums and hammer away on them. They barely even bother bringing the softer stuff to the track, and if they do, they might squeeze out a handful of laps before packing up.

Ferrari, meanwhile, is obsessed with chasing lap times on the softest tires possible, bragging about how they're the fastest ever and how much more speed they can find.

What's the big deal for you, 🤷
?

It isn't my concern, but stop drawing conclusions prematurely when it is logically impossible to do so.🙂

One thing is certain: a guy named Max Verstappen could certainly cause some chaos for Mercedes-Benz and Ferrari. I'd put my money on him taking the win in Melbourne, simply to ensure the season starts off with some actual intrigue.🎉

What exactly is tripping you guys up regarding this statement from Raikkonen?
"If we HAD WANTED to go faster, we could have gone faster." That word "WANTED" is the pivot point here. It’s a clear indication that they didn't intend to push further. That single sentence completely dismantles Tibijev's claim that Ferrari is desperately chasing time.

Also, just for those keeping track, Alonso was sitting at -250 in the first two sectors before he cut the chicane.🙂So, feel free to credit McLaren with a 1:16.800. Is it any clearer now just how much faster Ferrari could have been if they actually cared to try?

mellowtiger83 said:What exactly is tripping you guys up regarding this statement from Raikkonen?
"If we HAD WANTED to go faster, we could have gone faster." That word "WANTED" is the pivot point here. It’s a clear indication that they didn't intend to push further. That single sentence completely dismantles Tibijev's claim that Ferrari is desperately chasing time.

Also, just for those keeping track, Alonso was sitting at -250 in the first two sectors before he cut the chicane.🙂So, feel free to credit McLaren with a 1:16.800. Is it any clearer now just how much faster Ferrari could have been if they actually cared to try?

Of course they could have gone faster. Everyone could have gone faster. The reality is simply that Mercedes-Benz was the only one capable of being truly fast.

Once the dust settles after Australia and we figure out the actual performance gap—adjusting for track configuration and other variables—people will start manufacturing artificial tension. Meanwhile, Mercedes-Benz will just baby their engines. They'll coast through the last six or seven races, and Hamilton will walk away with the championship again.

There's no helping it; history repeats itself. Whenever a team finds a loophole or discovers something the rest of the field hasn't figured out yet, they dominate until the rules change or the advantage gets banned. Mercedes-Benz will suffer through it, but they'll stay on top as long as this current setup remains legal.

Hamilton is practically destined to become the most successful driver in history, whether it's earned or not.

mellowtiger83 said:Kimi Raikkonen is easily the most blunt person in F1 right now. He mentioned regarding the testing sessions that they are essentially meaningless, even suggesting they could have been going significantly faster.

Furthermore, various media outlets are drawing conclusions based on certain race simulations.🙂 In reality, those simulations were either non-existent or barely half-finished!

Additionally, Mercedes-Benz used white tires in most instances. To my eye, this looks like a car that struggles to manage tire temperatures—meaning it likely overheats its softer compounds.

That specific race sim pace for Mercedes shows them running a full second per lap faster than the field.🙂 Please, let's be serious; these tables and time comparisons are completely disconnected from reality.

People are even going so far as to claim that Red Bull and Ferrari excel in qualifying while Mercedes holds the edge in the race. Last year was actually the exact opposite; Mercedes dominated qualifying.

There is no need for all this speculation. It is going to be incredibly tight between the top three teams in Australia.

McLaren will be the best of the rest.

Toro Rosso Honda 🙂

steelmaker83 said:Of course they could have gone faster. Everyone could have gone faster. The reality is simply that Mercedes-Benz was the only one capable of being truly fast.

Once the dust settles after Australia and we figure out the actual performance gap—adjusting for track configuration and other variables—people will start manufacturing artificial tension. Meanwhile, Mercedes-Benz will just baby their engines. They'll coast through the last six or seven races, and Hamilton will walk away with the championship again.

There's no helping it; history repeats itself. Whenever a team finds a loophole or discovers something the rest of the field hasn't figured out yet, they dominate until the rules change or the advantage gets banned. Mercedes-Benz will suffer through it, but they'll stay on top as long as this current setup remains legal.

Hamilton is practically destined to become the most successful driver in history, whether it's earned or not.

Lewis Hamilton had the guts to walk away from the fastest car on the grid—leaving it for a Mercedes-Benz team that’d barely managed one win in three seasons—just to prove a point. I still remember how much they tore him apart for it on Top Gear.

vividlynx68 said:Lewis Hamilton had the guts to walk away from the fastest car on the grid—leaving it for a Mercedes-Benz team that’d barely managed one win in three seasons—just to prove a point. I still remember how much they tore him apart for it on Top Gear.

The truth is, Lewis Hamilton left McLaren because Ron Dennis refused to cut him the check he was asking for.

vividlynx68 said:Lewis Hamilton had the guts to walk away from the fastest car on the grid—leaving it for a Mercedes-Benz team that’d barely managed one win in three seasons—just to prove a point. I still remember how much they tore him apart for it on Top Gear.

Lewis Hamilton made the move because he knew the Bear was going to get the best engine. 😁
It wasn't about bravery.

Raymond Anderson4 said:Lewis Hamilton made the move because he knew the Bear was going to get the best engine. 😁
It wasn't about bravery.

+1

Lewis Hamilton didn't have a clue back then; he left McLaren because he was fed up with their incompetence, especially during that 2012 season when the car let him down at critical moments. He knew the regulations were changing in 2014, but there was no way he could have been certain Mercedes would come out on top—especially since they actually had a worse car than the year before by the end of 2012. Besides, Mercedes had already revitalized themselves by 2013 and ended up as the second-best team on the grid. Since 2013 didn't see massive shifts compared to 2012, the engine changes weren't even the main factor; Mercedes might have risen to the top regardless.

James Harris34 said:Lewis Hamilton didn't have a clue back then; he left McLaren because he was fed up with their incompetence, especially during that 2012 season when the car let him down at critical moments. He knew the regulations were changing in 2014, but there was no way he could have been certain Mercedes would come out on top—especially since they actually had a worse car than the year before by the end of 2012. Besides, Mercedes had already revitalized themselves by 2013 and ended up as the second-best team on the grid. Since 2013 didn't see massive shifts compared to 2012, the engine changes weren't even the main factor; Mercedes might have risen to the top regardless.

This.
You forgot to mention what the Easter Bunny is going to bring you, though.
😬

vividlynx68 said:Lewis Hamilton had the guts to walk away from the fastest car on the grid—leaving it for a Mercedes-Benz team that’d barely managed one win in three seasons—just to prove a point. I still remember how much they tore him apart for it on Top Gear.

Fast forward to now...

Hamilton left a team that was honestly falling apart. Sure, they had the fastest car at that exact moment, but they were also pulling incredible stunts by having a massive pile of stupid technical failures.🤦
And the worst part? They learned absolutely nothing from it. If anything, they’ve actually gotten worse.
Then you have that jerk on the GP driver series proudly claiming he’s the one who screwed up Hamilton's race and how much he learned from it.😵 🤣

besides that, Hamilton knew McLaren wouldn't be a factory Mercedes team anymore and wouldn't even be running Mercedes engines. His move was completely and utterly logical.
If we're being real, everyone expected Mercedes to become the dominant force, not McLaren.

No matter how much the British F1 media trashed them, they always talk up the "legendary" McLaren, even when the car was total garbage. They’re always desperate for British drivers, even if the quality is bottom-tier like Palmer... and of course, they always find a way to blame outside partners like Honda for everything under the sun.

It's the exact same song and dance as the Italian media...

Whatever the case may be, it's all the same result in the end...

mellowtiger83 said:What exactly is tripping you guys up regarding this statement from Raikkonen?
"If we HAD WANTED to go faster, we could have gone faster." That word "WANTED" is the pivot point here. It’s a clear indication that they didn't intend to push further. That single sentence completely dismantles Tibijev's claim that Ferrari is desperately chasing time.

Also, just for those keeping track, Alonso was sitting at -250 in the first two sectors before he cut the chicane.🙂So, feel free to credit McLaren with a 1:16.800. Is it any clearer now just how much faster Ferrari could have been if they actually cared to try?

Man, you really will try to argue anything, won't you?🤦

1. Obviously Ferrari could've gone faster. Good morning to you too... everyone could've gone faster, and nobody is stupid enough to show their full hand and maximum potential to the competition.☕
The only ones who were actually hunting times on empty tanks were probably those clowns at McLaren—either because of sponsors or because of that pathetic start they had with Renault. Nobody else...

But it’s blindingly obvious that Mercedes wasn't even trying. Not even a little bit. They were mostly running on Mediums and were consistently just as fast, if not slower, than the guys on softer rubber...
It's plain as day that they are the fastest, because they're crushing it on mediums, which basically means they're just way faster...

So there's zero question that Ferrari could've been faster. The real question is how much faster, and how much faster can the competition—namely Mercedes-Benz and Red Bull Racing—actually go...
Besides that, since when are driver quotes at press conferences considered ultimate truth instead of carefully scripted PR nonsense?🙂

2. How on earth did you come up with that brilliant math where cutting a chicane only nets you 0.080?🙂 🤣

3...
https://wtf1.com/post/do-fast-lap-ti...ean-anything/?

Go ahead, take a look at this, and then enlighten us on how The German was actually garbage in 2014, 2016, 2017, and even 2018.🙂
Ferrari was actually great in 2017, but they were total trash in 2016, so they were fast in testing regardless...
Honestly, it would be pretty weird to me if Ferrari were fast this season. They've spent years stuck in this pattern: one good year, one bad year, one good year, one bad year...

And isn't it funny how Red Bull hasn't been the fastest in a single testing session?