179 replies to this topic

[sladealonso]

Well following the opening test in Barcelona where we had 4 (well 3) days of running you could argue that the field is seemingly harder to call than ever due to the lack of meaningful running. So what do we actually know? What have we learnt from the start of F1 in 2018? Thoughts, opinions, predictions?

[Nonesuch]

Red Bull has the best plans.

 

Mercedes is just going to go on, and on, and on.

 

Force India a bit lacklustre in terms of laps?

 

Honda either didn't do much since late 2017, or have managed to retain their reliability improvements in their new engine.

[Borko]

We learned that McLaren needed only 2 days to prove the doubters wrong.

[MaxisOne]

Red Bull, Ferrari are up there time wise and Mercedes thankfully hasn't lost the plot. 

 

McLaren had some minor niggles but it appears to have well and truly sorted them out by the last day (160 laps)

 

Time wise either the rest of the teams have bunched right up or have restored a few miles of shoreline with the sandbagging because I cant even with surety tell who is last place on the pecking order.

[CountDooku]

The etymology of OMINOUS.

Edited by CountDooku, 01 March 2018 - 17:22.

[DutchQuicksilver]

Mercedes still superior as it seems, with Ferrari close. Red Bull close behind them, at least closer than at the start of 2017. McLaren and Renault the teams with the biggest improvement. Force India a bit disappointing so far.

[jonpollak]

I learned not to watch testing.

[johnmhinds]

Red Bull, Ferrari are up there time wise and Mercedes thankfully hasn't lost the plot. 

 

McLaren had some minor niggles but it appears to have well and truly sorted them out by the last day (160 laps)

 

Time wise either the rest of the teams have bunched right up or have restored a few miles of shoreline with the sandbagging because I cant even with surety tell who is last place on the pecking order.

Sauber seems to be propping up the rear, they didn't do a lap under 1:22 all week.

[TheF1BOB]

All cars are bloody reliable.

[FullOppositeLock]

All cars are bloody reliable.

This. And the weather on Barcelona this time of year isn’t like it says on the tin.

[sladealonso]

My rough predictions from what we've seen
Mercedes
Red Bull Ferrari
Mclaren Renault
Force India Williams Haas Toro Rosso
Sauber

[MaxisOne]

Sauber seems to be propping up the rear, they didn't do a lap under 1:22 all week.

 

Cant tell for sure .. Erricsson cant be that bad to be on softs yet still  beaten by Leclerc on Mediums. On top of that the car was completely redesigned with current engines...is their design team that bad to not be able to come out with a decent baseline every year ?

[steferrari]

Still too early, we need to wait for next week for proper quali and race simulations (and hopefully better weather). 

[sopa]

 Force India a bit disappointing so far.

 

Not that I would make any firm conclusions, but for years Force India has had the trend of starting out the season somewhat slowly and then improving during the course of the season. For example early in 2017 Williams had an edge on them too.

 

So I wouldn't put it past them starting out slowly and then catching up with McLaren/Renault - if we assume they are better for now - later on.

[Mally11]

I’d wait for some race runs next week and hopefully the top three will do some qualifying sims to get a better idea.

Disappointed with Force India so far
Impressed with Honda
Raikkonen hopefully gets more laps, already 130 down on Vettel

[CSF]

Mercedes will be 2s a lap quicker than the rest. 

[Borko]

Not that I would make any firm conclusions, but for years Force India has had the trend of starting out the season somewhat slowly and then improving during the course of the season. For example early in 2017 Williams had an edge on them too.

 

So I wouldn't put it past them starting out slowly and then catching up with McLaren/Renault - if we assume they are better for now - later on.

They will not be able to catch McLaren now that McL have a decent engine.. With, of course, superior budget and Peter Prodromou

[f1paul]

A bit cold

[Sndr]

inconclusive.

[ArrowsLivery]

I don't think we learned much due to the weather but my gut feelings are as follows:

 

- The big 3 are definitely ahead of the pack, and it's close between them.

- Renault seem to be best of the rest. 

- STR made the right choice to get Honda power. 

- Williams, FI, and Haas probably won't be having a great season.

- Sauber still have major money problems. 

[RainyAfterlifeDaylight]

I learned many things but the most eye catching one for me is the car that Williams have prepared for 2018. The car looks fast.

[Centauri]

Interested to hear peoples thoughts on McLaren's competitiveness. I know it's early days but I'm concerned it isn't anywhere near the sharp end.

 

 

1 Lewis Hamilton Mercedes 1m19.333s

2 Stoffel Vandoorne McLaren/Renault 1m19.854s 0.521s

3 Sebastian Vettel Ferrari 1m20.241s 0.908s

4 Kevin Magnussen Haas/Ferrari 1m20.317s 0.984s

5 Fernando Alonso McLaren/Renault 1m20.929s 1.596s

6 Carlos Sainz Renault 1m20.940s 1.607s 60

 

Vandoorne set a time five tenths slower than Hamilton despite having hypersofts to Hamilton's mediums.

 

Sainz set an almost identical time to Alonso, despite being on mediums to Alonso's supersofts.

 

Gary Anderson seemed to think that Vandoorne was pushing hard too, because he lost it and went in the gravel briefly.

 

So I know it's wrong to draw conclusions, but what are peoples thoughts? Has McLaren produced a naff car?

 

Based on what I've seen so far, it's;

 

Mercedes

Ferrari

(Probably) Red Bull

Renault

Haas

McLaren, Force India, Williams

Sauber

Toro Rosso

Edited by Centauri, 01 March 2018 - 18:24.

[EthanM]

The teams learned a lot, we learned nothing. 

 

I doubt we 'll learn anything before the final 2 days of testing next week.

[ConsiderAndGo]

Weather looks great next week, so will be far more representative.

Merc still the team to beat. The rest? No idea.

[turk157]

Mercedes will dominate

Ferrari 2nd

Mclaren/Red Bull 3rd

WDC for Bottas

2 wins for Nando

Halo not so bad looking

[Blackmamba]

From what I have seen so far nobody has come up with anything that is gonna make Merc quake (forgive me , tried to be a rapper once) in their boots. Its gonna be down to drivers, and I will pick Hamilton over all others.

[Neno]

Force India always starts like garbage in tests. Lack of running or some problems. Last year they did it too. Until Melbourne came along  and it was safe cruise till end of season. 

[Knowlesy]

That McLaren ruddy love a soft tyre run.

[w1Y]

We..... learnt nothing

The teams....learnt a little more but not as much as they'd have liked

We won't learn the true order until they are at peak output.

Edited by w1Y, 01 March 2018 - 18:53.

[Tiakumosan]

Cars are reliable?

[Imateria]

Force India always starts like garbage in tests. Lack of running or some problems. Last year they did it too. Until Melbourne came along  and it was safe cruise till end of season. 

They tend to do that every year, yet in the last three years have been 5th, 5th and 4th at the end.

[Bloggsworth]

F1 cars shouldn't need studded tyres...

Edited by Bloggsworth, 01 March 2018 - 18:57.

[sniper80]

Mercedes will dominate the season once more, they have a monster on their hands. Ferrari is a strong second, Red Bull is probably sandbagging. McLaren will fight it out with Renault, Williams & Force India. Oh and Haas will be dead last.

[milestone 11]

Senile geezer's prediction.
Mercedes
Ferrari
Red Bull
McLaren
Renault
Toro Rosso
Haas
Williams
Force India
Sauber

[rodlamas]

Mercedes will dominate

Mclaren will finish 2nd

Ferrari is good, but not fast enough

Red Bull is too complicated

Honda has done the job they should have done in 2015

Williams and Force India are a big flop

Renault is above average

Haas is too inconsistent

Sauber is Sauber

[V8 Fireworks]

We learned that McLaren needed only 2 days to prove the doubters wrong.

 

By having various amateur errors like broken clips and wheels falling off?

Edited by V8 Fireworks, 01 March 2018 - 19:18.

[Massa_f1]

We learned Mercedes are going to dominate again, and McLaren will have their best season in the hybrid era. Everything else looks the same as last few years.

[Spillage]

Firstly, Honda look somewhat promising. Renault look alright as well. Otherwise it's about as you'd expect.

[THEWALL]

Starts with n, ends with g...

[TomNokoe]

[DrF]

Another boring year ahead

[Jamiednm]

Even without looking at testing, I would be absolutely amazed if McLaren are anywhere near Red Bull, particularly as RBR have a lot more experience with the Renault.

[Laster]

If I was to take a stab at the order based off the results of this test. I'd put it like this.

1. Mercedes

2. Ferrari

3. Red Bull

4. Renault

5. Mclaren

6. Haas

7. Force India

8. Williams

9. Toro Rosso

10. Sauber

 

But I don't believe that's the order, Force India hasn't shown anything, Mclaren have been running different tyres most of the time, Renault has gone to lengths to point out all their engines are turned down, the conditions have been terrible throughout the test, and not one of these teams have gone for a performance run yet. So for now, I shall sit and twiddle my thumbs while waiting for the final days of next weeks test where the teams will begin chasing performance.

[TheFish]

Pretty much 0.

[TomNokoe]

McLaren 2017 quali speed trap - 314.1
McLaren 2017 race speed trap - 332.6

Toro Rosso 2018 test speed trap - 333.3

Edited by TomNokoe, 01 March 2018 - 19:34.

[OvDrone]

That I knew more before the test.

[Domi]

I've learned that no. 1 driver in Williams is their test driver.

 

[DanardiF1]

That Mercedes, Ferrari and Red Bull are still the top dogs.

 

That McLaren have real potential despite a couple of hiccups.

 

That Honda have gained reliability but still seem to lack power.

 

That Force India may have peaked last year?

[MoP]

ROFL at those claiming mercedes walking this... based on what? One lap from Ham? A 19.3? Werent they doing 17's last year in testing? Tyres are a range softer so this years mediums are last years softs... Don't get exited 

[djparky]

The cars look terrible with the halo