2026 Pre-Season Testing

[AR3-GP]

The Mercedes has stopped out on the track. Antonelli is out.

[bluechris]

Engine was still working, just the car stopped accelerating... hybrid? or something else?

[Emag]

this Leclerc race sim is ridiculous. 1.38s and negative deg on 44C track.

Insane stint. The averages :

6 tenths of a lap faster per lap than Max was in the first stint yesterday.
2 tenths of a lap slower than Oscar's middle stint yesterday but on worse track conditions
Same pace with Oscar's last stint yesterday (LEC cut short now due to red flag), but again on worse track conditions.

I think it's fair to say Ferrari are a step ahead of McLaren at the moment and unless RedBull were holding back a lot with Max yesterday, they're a fair chunk ahead of RedBull too.

The only questionmark is Mercedes. Will it be Mercedes or Ferrari on top at the start of the season?

[AR3-GP]

this Leclerc race sim is ridiculous. 1.38s and negative deg on 44C track.

Insane stint. The averages :

6 tenths of a lap faster per lap than Max was in the first stint yesterday.
2 tenths of a lap slower than Oscar's middle stint yesterday but on worse track conditions
Same pace with Oscar's last stint yesterday (LEC cut short now due to red flag), but again on worse track conditions.

I think it's fair to say Ferrari are a step ahead of McLaren at the moment and unless RedBull were holding back a lot with Max yesterday, they're a fair chunk ahead of RedBull too.

The only questionmark is Mercedes. Will it be Mercedes or Ferrari on top at the start of the season?

I've been saying this since my last update in the pecking order thread.. Zak Brown said ferrari and Mercedes are ahead. They are. It is what it is. Mclaren and Red Bull will be fighting for scraps behind them.

[Cassius]

this Leclerc race sim is ridiculous. 1.38s and negative deg on 44C track.

Insane stint. The averages :

6 tenths of a lap faster per lap than Max was in the first stint yesterday.
2 tenths of a lap slower than Oscar's middle stint yesterday but on worse track conditions
Same pace with Oscar's last stint yesterday (LEC cut short now due to red flag), but again on worse track conditions.

I think it's fair to say Ferrari are a step ahead of McLaren at the moment and unless RedBull were holding back a lot with Max yesterday, they're a fair chunk ahead of RedBull too.

The only questionmark is Mercedes. Will it be Mercedes or Ferrari on top at the start of the season?

He is not on a race sim so you cannot compare as fuel loads are not known. How often this has to be mentioned...

Not saying Merc and Ferrari don't look fastest btw.

[bluechris]

What huppened to Piastri? in F1TV think its engine related?

[AR3-GP]

He is not on a race sim so you cannot compare as fuel loads are not known. How often this has to be mentioned...

He is. The start of stint pace drops by 1 second with each pitstop because of new tires and less fuel. Classic sign of race sim.

[SoulPancake13]

He is not on a race sim so you cannot compare as fuel loads are not known. How often this has to be mentioned...

He is. The start of stint pace drops by 1 second with each pitstop because of new tires and less fuel. Classic sign of race sim.

tbf - his stint two was only like 4 tenths faster than his stint 1. it is a bit of a weird one

[Cassius]

He is not on a race sim so you cannot compare as fuel loads are not known. How often this has to be mentioned...

He is. The start of stint pace drops by 1 second with each pitstop because of new tires and less fuel. Classic sign of race sim.

tbf - his stint two was only like 4 tenths faster than his stint 1. it is a bit of a weird one

9 on c3 and 13 laps on c2. That is not a race sim. It is high fuel, but not certain it is a full tank.

[chrisc90]

One thing that hasn’t been considered is in and out las could be mega which gives a huge undercut potential.

[SoulPancake13]

He is. The start of stint pace drops by 1 second with each pitstop because of new tires and less fuel. Classic sign of race sim.

tbf - his stint two was only like 4 tenths faster than his stint 1. it is a bit of a weird one

9 on c3 and 13 laps on c2. That is not a race sim. It is high fuel, but not certain it is a full tank.

It is a race sim, Ferrari just decided to do a 3 stopper in these crazy high track temps.

[AR3-GP]

One thing that hasn’t been considered is in and out las could be mega which gives a huge undercut potential.

Why?

[chrisc90]

One thing that hasn’t been considered is in and out las could be mega which gives a huge undercut potential.

Why?

You can effectively do a qualifying inlap using the full battery. Be able to recharge it fully during the pitlane and stop and still have a full battery to do your out lap.

[AR3-GP]

One thing that hasn’t been considered is in and out las could be mega which gives a huge undercut potential.

Why?

You can effectively do a qualifying inlap using the full battery. Be able to recharge it fully during the pitlane and stop and still have a full battery to do your out lap.

Oh I see. That's interesting.

[chrisc90]

Why?

You can effectively do a qualifying inlap using the full battery. Be able to recharge it fully during the pitlane and stop and still have a full battery to do your out lap.

Oh I see. That's interesting.

Could see cars going down the pitlane in 1st gear to charge battery back up. Also, could have siting on full revs in the pitstop to help charge too.

Dont envy anyone working on the car then or being there’s jack man full of fumes