2021 Pre-season testing. Bahrain 12-14 March

[dans79]

And sketchy rearend

Yes, but I think it’s the same for everyone with the loss of downforce at the back due to the new rules.

No car has had as many offs and spins as Mercedes though. And that's despite Mercedes having run least number of laps (excluding its sister team Aston).

HAM just does not seem comfortable with the car at all.

I don't think it's Lewis, he's never struggled anywhere close to this much compared to a teammate. Like I mentioned a little bit ago, they have to be doing something dramatic to the car between sessions. Lewis is currently 2 seconds slower than Bottas on softer tires, in what should be better conditions.

[JPower]

Right now Sainz is doing a much more consistent and faster race sim than Leclerc in the morning session. Don’t know if it’s up to a setup change or some other factor.

Been watching on the timing app. He’s been extremely consistent in the 1:36’s on hards. Like a metronome.

[mkay]

Yes, but I think it’s the same for everyone with the loss of downforce at the back due to the new rules.

No car has had as many offs and spins as Mercedes though. And that's despite Mercedes having run least number of laps (excluding its sister team Aston).

HAM just does not seem comfortable with the car at all.

I don't think it's Lewis, he's never struggled anywhere close to this much compared to a teammate. Like I mentioned a little bit ago, they have to be doing something dramatic to the car between sessions. Lewis is currently 2 seconds slower than Bottas on softer tires, in what should be better conditions.

Wasn't suggesting it was down to Lewis per se, but it's clear whatever Merc is doing to the car, he's either not liking it, or testing its limits. Car always looks on the ragged edge with him behind the wheel.

[LM10]

Right now Sainz is doing a much more consistent and faster race sim than Leclerc in the morning session. Don’t know if it’s up to a setup change or some other factor.

Been watching on the timing app. He’s been extremely consistent in the 1:36’s on hards. Like a metronome.

I’ve seen it as well. Really consistent on C2 in 2nd stint. First two stints so far:

1st Stint
outlap (C4)
36.899
37.841
37.612
38.330
38.315
38.290
38.369
38.948
38.975
38.662
38.845
38.832
39.012
41.415 inlap

2nd Stint
59.220 box (C2)
36.670
36.486
36.617
36.676
36.940
36.951
36.978
37.303
36.859
36.905
36.813
37.044
37.146
36.791
36.954
36.905
37.182
39.616 inlap

[Just_a_fan]

Yes, but I think it’s the same for everyone with the loss of downforce at the back due to the new rules.

No car has had as many offs and spins as Mercedes though. And that's despite Mercedes having run least number of laps (excluding its sister team Aston).

HAM just does not seem comfortable with the car at all.

I don't think it's Lewis, he's never struggled anywhere close to this much compared to a teammate. Like I mentioned a little bit ago, they have to be doing something dramatic to the car between sessions. Lewis is currently 2 seconds slower than Bottas on softer tires, in what should be better conditions.

Just watched an on board and Lewis wasn't taking 8th or using DRS on the start/finish straight. Looks like they're still doing something on their test programme rather than hammering the lap time at the moment.

[dans79]

No car has had as many offs and spins as Mercedes though. And that's despite Mercedes having run least number of laps (excluding its sister team Aston).

HAM just does not seem comfortable with the car at all.

I don't think it's Lewis, he's never struggled anywhere close to this much compared to a teammate. Like I mentioned a little bit ago, they have to be doing something dramatic to the car between sessions. Lewis is currently 2 seconds slower than Bottas on softer tires, in what should be better conditions.

Just watched an on board and Lewis wasn't taking 8th or using DRS on the start/finish straight. Looks like they're still doing something on their test programme rather than hammering the lap time at the moment.

I was more referring to the first hot lap he did. He nearly lost the back end under breaking for turn one, and then he had two other instances of snap oversteer.

[Dee]

How is Max doing?

[Wouter]

No car has had as many offs and spins as Mercedes though. And that's despite Mercedes having run least number of laps (excluding its sister team Aston).

HAM just does not seem comfortable with the car at all.

I don't think it's Lewis, he's never struggled anywhere close to this much compared to a teammate. Like I mentioned a little bit ago, they have to be doing something dramatic to the car between sessions. Lewis is currently 2 seconds slower than Bottas on softer tires, in what should be better conditions.

Just watched an on board and Lewis wasn't taking 8th or using DRS on the start/finish straight. Looks like they're still doing something on their test programme rather than hammering the lap time at the moment.

Just followed the onboard and Hamilton has a lot more steering corrections, while not even driving at the limit.
He entered the corner very carefully and carefully out of the corner on the throttle.
What did they do with the car during lunch? The bottom plate had been removed.

[Wouter]

How is Max doing?

Max keeps trying out different parts. For example, he tried out a new nose and front wing.
So the times say nothing at all. Unfortunately.

[JPower]

Right now Sainz is doing a much more consistent and faster race sim than Leclerc in the morning session. Don’t know if it’s up to a setup change or some other factor.

Been watching on the timing app. He’s been extremely consistent in the 1:36’s on hards. Like a metronome.

I’ve seen it as well. Really consistent on C2 in 2nd stint. First two stints so far:

1:35’s now. I think he’s found a good setup. Looks a lot more confident at least from the onboards I’ve seen.

[mzso]

Was that someone shaving a tire with the aid of a hot air blower?
Can they do that on races as well? Or between qualifying and race?

[Oehrly]

Was that someone shaving a tire with the aid of a hot air blower?
Can they do that on races as well? Or between qualifying and race?

That was a Pirelli employee, likely analyzing tire degradation or something. I'm sure teams are not allowed to do that.

[Carl Mccoy]

Sky commentators dislike Ferrari very much. You can't listen to it.

[Manfer]

Sky commentators dislike Ferrari very much. You can't listen to it.

For the last two seasons I watch F1 races on mute.

[JPower]

Sky commentators dislike Ferrari very much. You can't listen to it.

They’re going overboard today.