2021 Pre-season testing. Bahrain 12-14 March

[Hoffman900]

Hamilton spin at last turn is not match with not using 8th gear and they had more max speed in the pocket.

That spin was tires that were not up to temp and too aggressive with the throttle.

Did Hamilton forget to warm them up or is it one of things what makes that 1-2 tenth gap between best and second. Ham's feeling of he need to push earlier/harder to gain time is my main point by the way.

The drivers have been complaining all weekend about track conditions. These are also ~900-1000hp machines. It’s easy to do. I see people do it in sub 200hp spec classes on better track conditions.

[dans79]

Hamilton spin at last turn is not match with not using 8th gear and they had more max speed in the pocket.

That spin was tires that were not up to temp and too aggressive with the throttle.

Did Hamilton forget to warm them up or is it one of things what makes that 1-2 tenth gap between best and second. Ham's feeling of he need to push earlier/harder to gain time is my main point by the way.

He warmed them, but it seemed like he was really babying them, so he probably under warmed them.

[Just_a_fan]

one of the better indicators is corner minimum speeds, which Red Bull and Mercedes are both clear of the field in.

Then where is HAM losing time? It's not all down to PU, as he was clearing 310kph on his best attempt.

It's very easy to under perform on purpose. Slightly slower throttle application, a bit of lift and coast and/or braking a bit earlier.

Not saying that the Mercs were doing any of that, just pointing out that one can subtly make a slow lap very easily if one wants to.

[Just_a_fan]

Both Hamilton and Bottas saying that it's going to be close this season with Red Bull doesn't sound like a pair of drivers that think the car's no good, and certainly not one that is 1 second off the pace.

[NathanOlder]

one of the better indicators is corner minimum speeds, which Red Bull and Mercedes are both clear of the field in.

Then where is HAM losing time? It's not all down to PU, as he was clearing 310kph on his best attempt.

The cars can still reach a similar top speed, they just don't get there as fast using less overall power.

Lewis had a few flashes of purple in those last 20 minutes or so, apex speeds were good.

[dans79]

Both Hamilton and Bottas saying that it's going to be close this season with Red Bull doesn't sound like a pair of drivers that think the car's no good, and certainly not one that is 1 second off the pace.

As calm as the team has been I'm almost starting to think they haven't put all the upgrades on it yet.

[NathanOlder]

Both Hamilton and Bottas saying that it's going to be close this season with Red Bull doesn't sound like a pair of drivers that think the car's no good, and certainly not one that is 1 second off the pace.

Yeah, I think its the usual "they are close to us, we have to dig deep etc etc"

Like you say, if they were off the pace, they wouldn't be saying it will be close.

[dans79]

Lewis had a few flashes of purple in those last 20 minutes or so, apex speeds were good.

I was watching the segment display in the app and saw that as well.

Whatever they were doing today was weird, and not like their normal preseason testing.

[NathanOlder]

Both Hamilton and Bottas saying that it's going to be close this season with Red Bull doesn't sound like a pair of drivers that think the car's no good, and certainly not one that is 1 second off the pace.

As calm as the team has been I'm almost starting to think they haven't put all the upgrades on it yet.

Upgrades are waiting for the behind closed doors filming day this week

[dans79]

Both Hamilton and Bottas saying that it's going to be close this season with Red Bull doesn't sound like a pair of drivers that think the car's no good, and certainly not one that is 1 second off the pace.

As calm as the team has been I'm almost starting to think they haven't put all the upgrades on it yet.

Upgrades are waiting for the behind closed doors filming day this week

Is that in bahrain, or back in silverstone?

[scheffers]

Both Hamilton and Bottas saying that it's going to be close this season with Red Bull doesn't sound like a pair of drivers that think the car's no good, and certainly not one that is 1 second off the pace.

As calm as the team has been I'm almost starting to think they haven't put all the upgrades on it yet.

Upgrades are waiting for the behind closed doors filming day this week

Could be smart tactics indeed whilst only three days of regular testing. Big disadvantage ar the 'filming' tyres and low km running..

[kfrantzios]

Interesting stats

[torpor]

During Team presentation Allison sad that there will be something very special on the car and the team wants to avoid that anybody is going to copy it before the start of the season at all costs. As we haven't seen anything really special on the W12 I 'm pretty sure that they add it to the car on the upcoming filming day.
And this will complement the missing rear downforce.

The years before Mercedes did a shakedown filming day in Silverstone before pre-season testing. This time they scheduled it between pre-season testing and the first race. I think they learned from last year when they introduced DAS during pre-season testing and the protests and investigations begun before the first race. They don't want to risk that their new development will be copied or banned before season start.

[NathanOlder]

As calm as the team has been I'm almost starting to think they haven't put all the upgrades on it yet.

Upgrades are waiting for the behind closed doors filming day this week

Is that in bahrain, or back in silverstone?

Bahrain I believe. Tuesday is what I heard.

Still wondering what Allison was talking about when he said it will be obvious what they spent their tokens on when you see it.

[mkay]

Upgrades are waiting for the behind closed doors filming day this week

Is that in bahrain, or back in silverstone?

Bahrain I believe. Tuesday is what I heard.

Still wondering what Allison was talking about when he said it will be obvious what they spent their tokens on when you see it.

I think hoping for new pieces for filming day is wishful thinking, given 100km limit (Merc usually likes to pound round to evaluate new parts) and 2021's restricted testing/budget cap (why would you hide when it's unlikely teams will be able to replicate due to token system/limited scope for development this season given the eventual focus on 2022). It's the equivalent of Merc waiting for Melbourne to unleash an untested W10 Spec II - which we know they didn't do as they brought the Spec II car during the second week of 2019 testing as they needed the track time to ensure proper correlation / set-up.

People have to start accepting that perhaps Mercedes has been caught napping + didn't think other teams would manage to claw back substantially all of the lost rear downforce over winter.