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HAM and ANT both looking quicker than Oscar in each of their stints by some margin
Yep, considerably quicker, though his lap times have been pretty consistent. That's at least a positive, could be driving to a Delta, I understand he's giving away 10-15kms on the main straight.
I haven't seen the telemetry myself I've seen others saying so too
It was a race sim, but maybe he ran detuned (like everyone). Or he just struggles with these cars, both is possible.
BTW they did a standing start at the end, Colapinto almost binned it into the wall while heating his tires, Oscar didn't manage to launch at all. Could be scary in real races.
It was a race sim, but maybe he ran detuned (like everyone). Or he just struggles with these cars, both is possible.
BTW they did a standing start at the end, Colapinto almost binned it into the wall while heating his tires, Oscar didn't manage to launch at all. Could be scary in real races.
I meant Lando's run yesterday might not have been fueled for a full race distance.
It was a race sim, but maybe he ran detuned (like everyone). Or he just struggles with these cars, both is possible.
BTW they did a standing start at the end, Colapinto almost binned it into the wall while heating his tires, Oscar didn't manage to launch at all. Could be scary in real races.
I meant Lando's run yesterday might not have been fueled for a full race distance.
I think both run the same programme. Both looked to be race sims. Big difference was that Oscar seemed to have issue nailing the fast lap. Probably testing various setup options.
Don't know what to make of the test.
Mclaren seems to be running reliably but don't know what to read from the test times reg the peak performance.
Merc, Ferrari and Redbull possibly ahead?
It was a race sim, but maybe he ran detuned (like everyone). Or he just struggles with these cars, both is possible.
BTW they did a standing start at the end, Colapinto almost binned it into the wall while heating his tires, Oscar didn't manage to launch at all. Could be scary in real races.
I meant Lando's run yesterday might not have been fueled for a full race distance.
I think both run the same programme. Both looked to be race sims. Big difference was that Oscar seemed to have issue nailing the fast lap. Probably testing various setup options.
If they indeed ran comparable programs it's interesting that lando was consistently faster than Oscar in each of his stints, lando was running in the mid 1:37s in his hards stint from memory, I don't have the data to hand though so I may well be mistaken.
Last edited by McFAN on 13 Feb 2026, 18:38, edited 1 time in total.
Don't know what to make of the test.
Mclaren seems to be running reliably but don't know what to read from the test times reg the peak performance.
Merc, Ferrari and Redbull possibly ahead?
If you ignore all the "pick me" bullsh*t statements coming from each team with regards to who is 4th, then judging only by the data this is correct yes. McLaren would be 4th.
How much is everyone holding back? We will only find that out in Melbourne.
It's nice to see the car's good reliability; for the first time in my memory, McLaren has become the leader in laps completed for two days in a row; in my opinion, that's the most important thing now.
The stints on the Medium and Hards look really good. Metronomic consistensy with little drop off, whereas Russell and Hamilton both show signs of degredation. If McLaren are showing little deg, then they probably have some pace in their pocket they are hiding. Honestly, it feels like the top 4 teams are much closer than anyone could have expected coming into these regulations.
While I was watching the live stream of the life-time simulation, I immediately noticed Oscar's consistent pace. Yes, compared to Lando's race simulation the day before, the pace today was slower, but the consistency was high. At the very least, this suggests that the drivers are already getting the hang of their new cars. Yes, Oscar made several mistakes on the first corner during the braking phase, but nothing critical. The car looks stable and reliable.
I remember how just recently there was talk here about how it was time to worry about the team, because they missed the first day of testing in Barcelona, that they didn't even have a day of filming, that everything was lost. Typical panic-mongers. Apparently, people quickly forget that this team, with the same line-up, took the Constructors' Cup home for the past two seasons. There was no alarm on the part of the team.
Let's just say that over the last two days of testing, McLaren completed the most laps. For a team that usually ranks near the bottom of the mileage charts, this is unusual, to say the least. I was prepared for 100 laps a day, and the rest were a bonus. Looking at the laps, I notice the small fact that the team managed to practice both a qualifying run and a race simulation with both drivers.
We'll likely see further improvements next week, with a race simulation being run for the second time to fine-tune the setup for qualifying and the race. The car looks balanced, as the drivers are managing to set consistent laps. Some have also noted low tire wear. It would be nice if that proves true. The team did a fantastic job during the three days of testing, and I congratulate them. Keep up the good work!
