Brenton wrote: ↑26 Feb 2018, 21:51
Just_a_fan wrote: ↑26 Feb 2018, 11:56
GoranF1 wrote: ↑26 Feb 2018, 11:49
god damn.....i heard before the crash Alonso was setting faster sector1&2 times than Bottas
Session 1 of day 1 of testing - times aren't important, reliable and consistent data is. You don't go out to set fastest laps from lap one, you go out to check systems and get some data. Fast times come later. The only reason for setting fast times is to attract attention and thus, hopefully, sponsorship.
Why wouldn't they be at racing speed on track? Why does it have to be one thing or the other? Why wouldn't they get data by driving as fast as possible (with detuned engine etc of course though) ?
You generally can't get usable data unless you drive close to the limit. Depending on what data is important. They're going to be on track for multiple reasons, not just to test things that don't need a fast pace to get accurate data.
It's usual to drive to a set lap time. The engineers decide on that lap time based on what they're testing for. For example, set speeds used to assess aero loading.
This is why the teams run short stints, long stints, single laps, and often not at race pace. This is why we often get to race 1 and find the order is very different to what testing times suggested.
If you are more fortunate than others, build a larger table not a taller fence.