2026 Pre-Season Testing

[FrukostScones]

does someone have the link or the data for an Alpine race sim from Thursday or Friday? Colapinto or Gasly.

https://f1insightshub.com/analysis

Search for Bahrain Test 2, the desired day + driver and scroll down to Driver Stints.

thanks, will look into it. : )

[TeamKoolGreen]

So now that everyone got used to these cars over pre season, they plan on cutting the power

A Plan B has already been put forward by the F1 Commission if problems appear in the first 2 races

A compromise on a reduction of between 15% and 30% of maximum electric power to significantly extend the deployment of the MGU-K engine

This also means that the cars could be 1.5 to 2.5 seconds slower

[AR3-GP]

So now that everyone got used to these cars over pre season, they plan on cutting the power

A Plan B has already been put forward by the F1 Commission if problems appear in the first 2 races

A compromise on a reduction of between 15% and 30% of maximum electric power to significantly extend the deployment of the MGU-K engine

This also means that the cars could be 1.5 to 2.5 seconds slower

Stefano said there's nothing wrong.

[Stu]

So now that everyone got used to these cars over pre season, they plan on cutting the power

A Plan B has already been put forward by the F1 Commission if problems appear in the first 2 races

A compromise on a reduction of between 15% and 30% of maximum electric power to significantly extend the deployment of the MGU-K engine

This also means that the cars could be 1.5 to 2.5 seconds slower

Stefano said there's nothing wrong.

I would tend to agree with him. The power outputs in the rules are maximums there is nothing to prevent any team from running ‘underpowered’ if they want. Certainly under race conditions the power deployment/power harvesting for optimum strategy will be a huge performance differentiator between teams, just as tyre and fuel management have been for the last few years.
I think that this is what we were seeing in testing; where and how much power is deployed will be keeping the race-sim teams very busy.
This will lean into drivers adjusting strat modes during the races.

[the EDGE]

So now that everyone got used to these cars over pre season, they plan on cutting the power

A Plan B has already been put forward by the F1 Commission if problems appear in the first 2 races

A compromise on a reduction of between 15% and 30% of maximum electric power to significantly extend the deployment of the MGU-K engine

This also means that the cars could be 1.5 to 2.5 seconds slower

Stefano said there's nothing wrong.

I would tend to agree with him. The power outputs in the rules are maximums there is nothing to prevent any team from running ‘underpowered’ if they want. Certainly under race conditions the power deployment/power harvesting for optimum strategy will be a huge performance differentiator between teams, just as tyre and fuel management have been for the last few years.
I think that this is what we were seeing in testing; where and how much power is deployed will be keeping the race-sim teams very busy.
This will lean into drivers adjusting strat modes during the races.

The proposed reduction was being made on the grounds of safety. Closing speeds could be massive, which could lead to potentially catastrophic injuries which none of us want

[bluechris]

So now that everyone got used to these cars over pre season, they plan on cutting the power

A Plan B has already been put forward by the F1 Commission if problems appear in the first 2 races

A compromise on a reduction of between 15% and 30% of maximum electric power to significantly extend the deployment of the MGU-K engine

This also means that the cars could be 1.5 to 2.5 seconds slower

Stefano said there's nothing wrong.

I would tend to agree with him. The power outputs in the rules are maximums there is nothing to prevent any team from running ‘underpowered’ if they want. Certainly under race conditions the power deployment/power harvesting for optimum strategy will be a huge performance differentiator between teams, just as tyre and fuel management have been for the last few years.
I think that this is what we were seeing in testing; where and how much power is deployed will be keeping the race-sim teams very busy.
This will lean into drivers adjusting strat modes during the races.

I will add to that, that with the ADUO everyone can catch up if this is the case.

[AR3-GP]

I would tend to agree with him. The power outputs in the rules are maximums there is nothing to prevent any team from running ‘underpowered’ if they want. Certainly under race conditions the power deployment/power harvesting for optimum strategy will be a huge performance differentiator between teams, just as tyre and fuel management have been for the last few years.

"there's nothing to prevent any team from running underpowered"

The fastest way around the lap is to deploy at maximum power on corner exits and then have harvesting at end of straights even in qualifying. It is mathematical, not strategy. That is what is preventing a team from running underpowered.

[michl420]

So now that everyone got used to these cars over pre season, they plan on cutting the power

A Plan B has already been put forward by the F1 Commission if problems appear in the first 2 races

A compromise on a reduction of between 15% and 30% of maximum electric power to significantly extend the deployment of the MGU-K engine

This also means that the cars could be 1.5 to 2.5 seconds slower

For god sake it is a hybrid, this is how they work. I don´t understand why for so many it is a problem that the power must me reduce at some point.

[hollus]

It is a bit of a reductio ad absurdum (more like extremum?), but complaining about going slower here (second half of the straight ot 300 km/h corner) to go faster elsewhere (early next straight --> faster in all of next straight) is a bit like complaining of saving tires to go faster 20 laps later, or underfueling to save tires, or... or... braking earlier in corner entry to go faster in corner exit.
I doubt anyone has a problem with the latest, and ultimately it is the same thing.

[DDopey]

There has been a lot of complaining about having to save tires. With these constraints added it becomes even more a management game. Some people like first person shooters as videogames, others like strategy games. F1 was once an fps but has been turning into strategy game. Me, I am more of an fps guy, but that’s personal.

[De Wet]

I agree with Max... This is FE with an small engine.

[langedweil]

There has been a lot of complaining about having to save tires. With these constraints added it becomes even more a management game. Some people like first person shooters as videogames, others like strategy games. F1 was once an fps but has been turning into strategy game. Me, I am more of an fps guy, but that’s personal.

True .. it's becoming more and more like Tiberian Sun with all the harvesting and steering wheels showing "unit ready!"

[FrukostScones]

just read in AutoMorUnd Sport that Audi is doing quite ok, but they have bad (the worst?) starts. So what is the "race start acceleration"-leaderboard looking like?

Like this?
Ferrari PU
Mercedes PU
RBPT PU
Honda PU
Audi PU

surely the "team factor" might play also a role, but HAAS was definitely as strong as Ferrari, but McLaren looked better than Mercedes?

Any observations?

[FittingMechanics]

just read in AutoMorUnd Sport that Audi is doing quite ok, but they have bad (the worst?) starts. So what is the "race start acceleration"-leaderboard looking like?

Like this?
Ferrari PU
Mercedes PU
RBPT PU
Honda PU
Audi PU

surely the "team factor" might play also a role, but HAAS was definitely as strong as Ferrari, but McLaren looked better than Mercedes?

Any observations?

I think that leaderboard is about right.

McLaren has shorter gears than Mercedes and the same engine. Should give them better starts (probably not by much).

Ferrari powered teams don't build their gearboxes? At least Haas doesn't so they should probably start the same.

[Emag]

just read in AutoMorUnd Sport that Audi is doing quite ok, but they have bad (the worst?) starts. So what is the "race start acceleration"-leaderboard looking like?

Like this?
Ferrari PU
Mercedes PU
RBPT PU
Honda PU
Audi PU

surely the "team factor" might play also a role, but HAAS was definitely as strong as Ferrari, but McLaren looked better than Mercedes?

Any observations?

I think RBPT has had pretty decent starts. Maybe right behind Ferrari from those few samples we got in testing. They are particularly strong in that initial acceleration phase.