Bahrain testing 2025: lessons from the road

[bananapeel23]

Most of the cars have converged on the Red Bull design, so they probably really didn't need to do much. They did make packaging changes.

I'd say that teams were very much converging on the Red Bull design in 2023 and early 2024, but at this point I'd argue it isn't the case any more. If anything I'd say teams are further from Red Bull than they were in 2024 and are copying Ferrari and McLaren moreso than Red Bull.

The cars have now started straying from the Red Bull design. McLaren is running some really unique geometry. Aston Martin is creating new intakes. Cobra winglets are spreading up and down the grid. Ferrari still has a very unique design direction. Front wings are diverging a lot from what Red Bull was historically using. SIS bumps have started being used for outwash. Cannons are starting to go away or follow one of two different design languages, none of which are derived from the Red Bull design.

[Formula 1 fan 1996]

How does Ferrari look in qualifying and how good is it in race mode?

[f1onions]

Norris setting green mini sectors on his long run

[Sergej]

Lando was risking a disaster with Kimi.

We will see at the end of these simulations, but my feeling is that McLaren is a couple of tenths faster than Ferrari.

[Sergej]

This last stint from Ferrari is awful even considering Leclerc is on the C1 tyre, it seems like he turned down the engine once Lando completed his sim.

[organic]

Based on the race sims of Ferrari and McLaren today, it looks like McLaren are a step ahead at least right now

[Sergej]

not bad that Merc

[Fabs19]

Yh I agree but I was watching the live timing during the race runs and Norris was constantly faster than leclerc on the straights and he was picking speed faster in some as much has 10kph so it looks like McLaren faster but not soo much faster as it looks

[Seanspeed]

Ferrari and Merc there are essentially identical overall. Not seeing where Merc are any faster. The second stint time average is better, but it also started on lower fuel. Last stint is a tiny bit better, but also largely cruise mode at that point for these drivers.

[Hoffman900]

https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/merc ... /10698927/

Merc cautiously optimistic, but they just don’t know yet.

[f1isgood]

Based on the race sims of Ferrari and McLaren today, it looks like McLaren are a step ahead at least right now

I think this is RB19 territory relative to Ferrari and Merc at Bahrain. Red Bull are an unknown. Maybe we will get some answers tomorrow. Like McLaren are a very clear step ahead.

[deadhead]

[Wouter]

[ChrisF1]

I have no idea how Mercedes have been able to show any kind of pace with Antonelli considering every time I've seen him driving he's locking a brake or going wide.

[ChrisF1]

I have no idea how Mercedes have been able to show any kind of pace with Antonelli considering every time I've seen him driving he's locking a brake or going wide.