238 replies to this topic

[DutchQuicksilver]

Testing is over, what’s the pecking order according to the Autosport forum members? My guess:

 

1. Mercedes - Still think they’re on top, based on Bottas very good race trim yesterday. Need to sort out reliability though.

2. Red Bull - Looks like the cars staying essentially the same gave them the oppertunity to be fast from the go. Looking forward to Verstappen vs Hamilton for the championship.

3. McLaren - Look to be heading the midfield for now. Steady pace, Ricciardo doesn’t need any adjustment time as it seems.

4. Aston Martin - Though we haven’t seen much, I don’t believe they’ve fallen back that much. Stroll showed some pace on Friday.

5. Alpine - Decent car again, though slipped back slightly compared to the pecking order at the end of 2020.

6. AlphaTauri - Always strong in testing, but in the end they always end up in the same place.

7. Ferrari - Car has improved, engine as well. But still not the pace to fight at the front again. Put them in seventh so far, but they aren’t that far behind the other midfield teams.

8. Alfa Romeo - Same as Ferrari, car and engine have improved. We could be looking at a 2019-esque season for them.

9. Williams - Looks like they leapfrogged Haas, especially in the hands of Russell. Still a bit down on catching the midfield though.

10. Haas - Slowest of the bunch, two rookies who give their best, but it’s the 2020 car adjusted to 2021 regulations.

[Alfisti]

Agree mostly but I reakon leclerc races in front of all bar the McLarens. 

[jjcale]

Right now .... but this can change quickly eg by the first race.

 

Merc

Red Bull

Aston

Macca

Ferrari

Renault

Alpha

Alfa

Haas

Williams

[Jordan44]

Mercedes / Red Bull

McLaren

Ferrari / Alpha Tauri / Alfa Romeo / Alpine / Aston Martin

Williams

Haas


An exciting season in prospect.

Edited by Jordan44, 14 March 2021 - 18:18.

[flingsofdeon]

I don’t see Alpine above Alpha Tauri. Red Bull to come out on top at the start of the first race. It’s not the lap times with Mercedes, the car looks nervous and jumping between lazy understeer and snap oversteer.

Haas slowest by a distance.

Alfa Romeo will run just off the back of the midfield, along with George.

The rest, is really hard to guess. But, McLaren look stronger than Aston Martin.

In this order - with gaps between groups:

Red Bull
Mercedes

McLaren

Alpha Tauri
Ferrari
Aston Martin
Alpine

Alfa Romeo
Williams

Haas

[Disgrace]

I think Aston with their niggles, low mileage and having the newest car of anybody will be the early disappointment.

[ConsiderAndGo]

Merc

RB

Not an effing clue

Williams

Haas

[Ali623]

Mercedes

Red Bull

Aston Martin

McLaren

Ferrari

Alpha Tauri

Alpine

Alfa Romeo

Williams

Haas

[Alfisti]

I think Aston with their niggles, low mileage and having the newest car of anybody will be the early disappointment.

Drivers too. Seb still looks a defeated man who is not sure he wants to be there anymore but is not sure what else to do. 

[jwill189]

Red Bull

Mercedes

McLaren

Ferrari

Aston Martin

Alpha Tauri

Alfa Romeo

Alpine

Williams

Haas

[Beamer]

Red Bull

Mercedes

McLaren

Alpha Tauri

Ferrari

Aston Martin

Alpine

Alfa Romeo

Williams

Haas

[OvDrone]

Doomed Ominous Mercs

 

Red 'looks fast' Bull

 

McFeelgood

 

Aston Point Racing Martin

 

T h i c c  Airbox

 

GREEN Ferrari

 

Alpha Tsunoda

 

Alfa Bwoahmeo

 

George's endless torment

 

Russia

 

 

 

But honestly, I have no clue 'cause I've been real busy this week and couldn't manage to follow any testing other than some Ted Kravitz on Youtube.

 

So basically I'm an Expert.

[sladealonso]

Mercedes
Red Bull
McLaren

Then I think this is close enough to be driver orientated so:
Alonso, Leclerc, Vettel
Alpha Tauri
Sainz, Stroll and Ocon

Alfa Romeo
Williams
Haas

Edited by sladealonso, 14 March 2021 - 18:47.

[FLB]

Merc

RB

Not an effing clue

Williams

Haas

That's about it.

[Amz964]

Merc

RB

Not an effing clue

Williams

Haas

This haha

[GLessard]

Red Bull

Alpha Tauri

Mclaren

Alpine

Ferrari

Alfa Romeo

Mercedes

Aston Martin

Haas

Williams

[Apex11]

Mercedes
Red Bull

McLaren
Ferrari

AT/Alpine/AR/Aston Martin

Williams
Hass

[Spillage]

Mercedes look vulnerable but I'll still be surprised if they don't lock out the front row in the opening weekend.

[Jordan44]

Red Bull
Alpha Tauri
Mclaren
Alpine
Ferrari
Alfa Romeo
Mercedes
Aston Martin
Haas
Williams

I’ll have some of whatever you’ve had

[zibby43]

“We’ve made a bit of progress with the balance on higher fuel and the car was more predictable but we can see from the data we’ve collected over the last few days that on race pace, we’re not as quick as Red Bull.”

“The lower fuel work was a more confusing picture, we didn’t gain enough and we need to go and look at our approach as far too many cars were ahead of us on pace today.”

- Andrew Shovlin

[P123]

Having read all about it...

 

Red Bull

Mercedes

McLaren

Ferrari

Alpha whatever

Alpeeen

Aston Martin

Williams

Sauber

Haas

[MortenF1]

Red Bull
Mercedes
McLaren
Aston
Alpha
Alpine
Ferrari
Alfa
Williams
Haas

[mclarensmps]

not really sure how so many people are having AM in third spot. Based on what?

[GLessard]

I’ll have some of whatever you’ve had

 

You know most people are going with the same pecking order as last year, but I have analyzed without emotion the last testing and I came up with this pecking order. I only drank a pepsi with my lunch...

[TomNokoe]

Red Bull

Mercedes
McLaren
Ferrari
Alpha Tauri

Aston Martin
Alpine
Alfa Romeo

Williams
Haas

[w1Y]

Red Bull


Mclaren
Mercedes
Alpha Tauri

Ferrari
Alpine

Alfa
Aston


Williams
Haad

[Joseki]

If testing was a reliable metric:

 

Red Bull

McLaren

Mercedes

Alpha Tauri

Ferrari

Aston Martin

Alpine

Alfa Romeo

Williams

Haas

 

WCC at the end of the season

 

Mercedes

Red Bull

McLaren

Aston Martin

Ferrari

Alpine

Alfa Romeo

Williams

Haas

[Kimiraikkonen]

Red Bull-Mercedes

 

McLaren

 

Aston Martin

Ferrari

Alpha Tauri

Alpine

Alfa Romeo

 

Williams

 

Haas

 

[Chunkinator]

Red Bull

 

McLaren

Mercedes

 

Ferrari

Alpine

Aston

Alpha

Alfa

 

Williams

 

Haas

 

I guess I'm feeling hopeful?

Merc defo do have issues imo, but it's a such a strong team that it probably won't take them too long to fix.

[Cyanide]

Mercedes

Red Bull 

 

McLaren 

 

Aston Martin

Alpine

 

AlphaTauri

Ferrari

Alfa Romeo

 

Williams

Haas

[FelixAdan]

1: Mercedes
2: RBR
3: Ferrari
4: Alpine
5: McLaren
6: Aston Martin
7: Alfa Romeo
8: Alpha Tauri
9: Williams
10: Haas



Funny? Put €150000, a land and a tractor on this bet. Can you claim the same? I dare you.

Edited by FelixAdan, 14 March 2021 - 19:50.

[JimmyClark]

I don't think I can give much of a prediction on the pecking order, as it does look so much closer this year, and thus the testing variables will have much more of an impact. 

 

I will predict that Haas will be last, and most races this year will be won by Mercedes and Red Bull. 

 

I also expect McLaren to be this year's Racing Point in terms of surprise results, and Aston will be this year's Ferrari in terms of disappointment. I still think Ferrari themselves are holding something back and will be a lot more solid than we expect. 

[Pete_f1]

The mercs will be a second a lap faster than everyone else.

[shure]

1: Mercedes
2: RBR
3: Ferrari
4: Alpine
5: Aston Martin
6: Alfa Romeo
7: Alpha Tauri
8: Williams
9: Haas



Funny? Put €150000, a land and a tractor on this bet. Can you claim the same? I dare you.

McLaren 10th?

[PayasYouRace]

1: Mercedes
2: RBR
3: Ferrari
4: Alpine
5: Aston Martin
6: Alfa Romeo
7: Alpha Tauri
8: Williams
9: Haas



Funny? Put €150000, a land and a tractor on this bet. Can you claim the same? I dare you.

 

I'm not sure it's that funny apart from that you forgot McLaren. Seems a very reasonable bet otherwise, to the point that your ridiculous bet must have very poor odds.

[FelixAdan]

McLaren 10th?

Added them after Alpine. I think they are attracting too much hype... But again I'm a fool.

Edited by FelixAdan, 14 March 2021 - 19:52.

[CrossComparisonOracle]

Merc

RBR

McLaren

Ferrari

Aston

Alpha Tauri

Alpine

Alfa Romeo

Williams

Haas

[PayasYouRace]

So based on the 25 predictions up to and including CrossComparisonOracle, the wisdom of the crowds predicts:

 

Red Bull (1.56)

Mercedes (1.64)

 

McLaren (3.08)

 

Ferrari (4.72)

Aston Martin (4.76)

 

Alpha Tauri (5.28)

Alpine (5.4)

 

Alfa Romeo (6.92)

 

Williams (9)

 

Haas (9.88)

 

I'll revise the averages as others post.

 

If the battle at the front is as close as the predictions seem to indicate, I think this could be an exciting season for once.

[JustNotFastEnough]

I was correct when the 2009 McLaren was a dogs breakfast.
I was correct when 2009 Brawn GP was a rocket ship.
I was correct when the 2014 Red Bull was not sand bagging, and nowhere near championship worthy.
I was correct when the 2020,Ferrari was a $hltbox.
It's obvious to the eye and the timesheets that Mercedes are in trouble. The car is not planted and looks twitchy, and nervous everywhere.

The Mercs are 2nd best, at best, and if I was a betting man I would make the claim they are 3rd to 4th best behind the McLaren, and Alpha T. The rear end is not sticking.

[shure]

Added them after Alpine. I think they are attracting too much hype... But again I'm a fool.

I agree they are attracting too much hype.  I think they're probably slightly ahead of Alpine, though, but possibly too close to call.  

[shure]

I was correct when the 2009 McLaren was a dogs breakfast.
I was correct when 2009 Brawn GP was a rocket ship.
I was correct when the 2014 Red Bull was not sand bagging, and nowhere near championship worthy.
I was correct when the 2020,Ferrari was a $hltbox.
It's obvious to the eye and the timesheets that Mercedes are in trouble. The car is not planted and looks twitchy, and nervous everywhere.

The Mercs are 2nd best, at best, and if I was a betting man I would make the claim they are 3rd to 4th best behind the McLaren, and Alpha T. The rear end is not sticking.

I remember seeing a graphic earlier where Mercedes were fastest in all the corners.  I think they probably just have some handling issues to work through but they still have a strong baseline.  Would be very surprised if they weren't back on top by the first race

[Jordan44]

I was correct when the 2009 McLaren was a dogs breakfast.
I was correct when 2009 Brawn GP was a rocket ship.
I was correct when the 2014 Red Bull was not sand bagging, and nowhere near championship worthy.
I was correct when the 2020,Ferrari was a $hltbox.
It's obvious to the eye and the timesheets that Mercedes are in trouble. The car is not planted and looks twitchy, and nervous everywhere.
The Mercs are 2nd best, at best, and if I was a betting man I would make the claim they are 3rd to 4th best behind the McLaren, and Alpha T. The rear end is not sticking.

Did anyone really think the 2014 Red Bull that caught fire every 5 minutes and only did 30 laps in the whole first test was sandbagging?

[Starish]

AMG AMG

Red Bull 

 

McLaren 

 

Ferrari

Aston Martin

Alpha Tauri

 

Alpine

Alfa Romeo

 

Williams

 

 

 

 

Haas

[sabjit]

I’ll have some of whatever you’ve had

 

I think he ironically just took todays leaderboard as a joke

[sabjit]

I was correct when the 2009 McLaren was a dogs breakfast.
I was correct when 2009 Brawn GP was a rocket ship.
I was correct when the 2014 Red Bull was not sand bagging, and nowhere near championship worthy.
I was correct when the 2020,Ferrari was a $hltbox.
It's obvious to the eye and the timesheets that Mercedes are in trouble. The car is not planted and looks twitchy, and nervous everywhere.

The Mercs are 2nd best, at best, and if I was a betting man I would make the claim they are 3rd to 4th best behind the McLaren, and Alpha T. The rear end is not sticking.

 

Remembering all of those testing seasons well, none of those statements were considered contraversial or in anyway particularly "out there" at the time.

[jstrains]

A farewell title for Honda

[Risil]

not really sure how so many people are having AM in third spot. Based on what?

It's where they were last year!

[Augurk]

Did anyone really think the 2014 Red Bull that caught fire every 5 minutes and only did 30 laps in the whole first test was sandbagging?

Isn't it obvious? Putting sandbags near the exhaust pipes is a recipe for disaster.

[Risil]

Alpha Tauri sound confident. Mercedes have some work to do but we've seen them pull it out between testing and round one before.

[RPM40]

Red Bull are ahead,

Then Mercedes,

Then unknown. But i'm going to guess Aston or McLaren.

 

Then you have the Ferrari, Alpine, Toro Rosso mix.

Then Williams/Haas