2018 pre-season testing thread

[nokivasara]

Happy days at Mclaren...but it's better to drop a car during testing than at a GP right?
I'm a bit worried every time Ferrari has the fastest lap in testing or on fridays, that has backfired too many times. They also seem to go backwards during the season if they start it on top.

[godlameroso]

If you're VET and you fit the Medium tyres at 10 laps, you know you need to to do another 52 laps on two stints; if you're BOT, you fit the Mediums at, say, lap 18 (I don't have the numbers), then your next two stints only need to cover 44 laps.

I'll just add something, that you missed:

Vettel did a stint of
SS - 13 laps
M - 27 laps
M - 25 laps

Bottad and Hamilton did a stint of
M - 29 laps
M - 17 laps
M - 19 laps

So yes, you are right, the first stint on a much quicker but less durable tire did compromise his 2nd and 3rd stint relative to the Mercedes, but you can still compare Bottas and Hamilton's lap from lap 14 to 29 - then you can compare the Mercedes on (at that point) 13 laps old tires vs Vettel on new & fresh M tires on the same fuel load. That should be comparable, as Bottas and Hamiltons first stint was aiming to do 29 laps on a much heavier car than Vettel on his 2nd stint but comparable laps. So in theory, Vettels stint and times should compare favorably assuming a similar fast car.

Yet comparing these laps, Vettel is at best equal or slower (especially than Hamilton who dips into high 21 times).

I believe dans already did that in his post.

I'm not sure the fuel load is the same, remember last year Mercedes needed less fuel to do a race distance than everyone else. Secondly, one does not need the full 105kg to do the race distance, so it's very possible that fuel levels could be obfuscating true pace. A 30kg difference in fuel is worth ~1 second of lap time. Vettel mentioned he had plenty of fuel left over after his race sim, which could easily explain the lack of pace relative to Mercedes if they only added enough to do the race sim.

[CriXus]

Good point, I agree with that. However, SS-M-M should be quicker than M-M-M. Afterall, the SS is a (much) quicker tire and gets up to temps quicker too, even if it lasts less long. So in theory, that stint on S should make up for the deficiency. So the truth is somewhere in the middle...

Current SS is last year US, so think how well is suited for track like Barcelona. Basically, it is a qualy tire.

But the current circuit is resurfaced and is much smoother!

Yes, but the speed at turn 3 and turn 9 is too high (240-260).

[LeClerc]

p.s. Has anyone had the Hard on or Super hard on [whatever the`re called]? Must be a commentators nightmare in reality

AMuS live-ticker said Bottas did a run on Hards.

[dren]

Mercedes forces their drivers to drink mercury and lead shot during testing to hide their true pace.

[godlameroso]

..........
I do, however, completely grant that loads of other stuff is going on here - driving to deltas, lifting and coasting, using different tyres - so I'm taking every and all conclusions with a pinch of salt.

- Deltas? Why and when? We're not talking about aero runs. Short runs - no, long runs - what would be the point of running slower? Fuel, engines, updates, tyres - sure.
- Lifting and coasting - applies to everyone and for a reason namely race simulation with fuel limits. It's ironic that during tests they apparently go more full throttle than in races since those are decided early enough and can be divided into stages. Take that pushing 100% crowd.
- Speaking of fuel consumption, it's higher this season (Amus) and Mercedes is best and Ferrari worst at that (long runs). Ouch .

Fuel consumption may not necessarily be worse than last year even with increased full throttle %/lap, as they increase the power of the engine it's efficiency improves as well(in other words they can turn down the engine, and make the same power as before, it automatically means lower fuel consumption)

[godlameroso]

Mercedes forces their drivers to drink mercury and lead shot during testing to hide their true pace.

Eating tungsten would be more effective, even better, plutonium.

[FrukostScones]

Mercedes forces their drivers to drink mercury and lead shot during testing to hide their true pace.

Eating tungsten would be more effective, even better, plutonium.

would be prob. still healthier than Monster

[FrukostScones]

AMUS reporting FUEL saving with be a big issue for most teams this year, as the cars seems to be need more fuel over the race distance...

https://www.auto-motor-und-sport.de/for ... utos-2018/

[godlameroso]

Mercedes forces their drivers to drink mercury and lead shot during testing to hide their true pace.

Eating tungsten would be more effective, even better, plutonium.

would be prob. still healthier than Monster

I've come to the conclusion that energy drinks keep you awake, not because of their caffeine or other stuff, but because they make you use the bathroom like crazy. Impossible to fall asleep when your bladder is about to erupt.

[godlameroso]

What happened to the McLaren, it was stuck at 7 laps for an engine change, now it's stuck at 34, another engine change?

[Sevach]

Mercedes forces their drivers to drink mercury and lead shot during testing to hide their true pace.

Eating tungsten would be more effective, even better, plutonium.

would be prob. still healthier than Monster

Winner!!!!

[Vanja #66]

Mercedes forces their drivers to drink mercury and lead shot during testing to hide their true pace.

Eating tungsten would be more effective, even better, plutonium.

Magnum and Coke for almost two decades now have done wonders for Kimi. Slow and steady weight gain wins the sand bag race.

[cliffgamerz]

For the Ferrari fans, this should make you happy: https://www.jamesallenonf1.com/2017/03/ ... k-out-for/

Thats last years news

[cyclon]

What happened to the McLaren, it was stuck at 7 laps for an engine change, now it's stuck at 34, another engine change?

Getting ready for some superb laps ...