TESTING

[Monty]

Scott, that was more or less my exact thoughts but to be fair the McLarens were actually well in touch with the bulk of the pack. It was really only Ferrari and Mercedes that laid down really fast times. Almost everyone else were within about three quarters of a second of each other.

[J.Clark]

Basically true Monty, but Williams sort of flashed their gams too.  Again today, Massa posted a good result.

Haas got some laps in, finally, on Day 3.
1. Raikkonen Ferrari   136 laps   1m 22.765
2. Massa  Williams    119 laps   1m 23.193
3. Hulkenberg  Force India 137 laps   1m 23.251
4. Verstappen STR     159 laps   1m 23.382
5. Rosberg  Mercedes   81 laps   1m 24.126
6. Nasr  Sauber          115 laps   1m 24.760
7. Alonso  McLaren     116 laps     1m 24.870
8. Wehrlein  MRT    48 laps   1m 24.913
9. Kvyat  Red Bull      121 laps   1m 25.141
10. Palmer  Renault   63 laps   1m 26.224
11. Hamilton Mercedes 98 laps   1m 26.468
12. Grosjean  Haas   77 laps   1m 27.196

[cosworth151]

Kimi did some laps with Ferrari's prototype halo device on the car. He says it wasn't as different as one might think.

http://autoweek.com/article/formula-one/ferrari-unveils-prototype-halo-formula-one-cars

[Scott]

I like it better than an enclosed cockpit.   

[Andy B]

Kimi did some laps with Ferrari's prototype halo device on the car. He says it wasn't as different as one might think.

http://autoweek.com/article/formula-one/ferrari-unveils-prototype-halo-formula-one-cars

Kimi did one lap, out and straight back into the pits when the "Halo" was taken off so not much of a run to to make a decision on.

[J.Clark]

Next stop Australia.

Final times for today - Day 4 of Test 2:
1. Vettel    Ferrari     142 laps   1m 22.852
2. Sainz  Toro Rosso  133 laps   1m 23.134
3. Massa  Williams    129 laps   1m 23.644
4. Perez Force India   60 laps   1m 23.721
5. Hamilton  Mercedes 69 laps   1m 24.133
6. Ricciardo Red Bull  123 laps   1m 24.427
7. Button  McLaren    121 laps      1m 24.714
8. Palmer Renault   90 laps   1m 24.859
9. Ericsson  Sauber    132 laps   1m 25.031
10. Grosjean  Haas      66 laps   1m 25.255
11. Gutierrez  Haas   25 laps   1m 25.422
12. Haryanto  MRT   58 laps   1m 25.899
13. Rosberg Mercedes 70 laps   1m 26.140

I hope Haas has their problems solved.
Renault look to be doing alright.
Honda too seems to be doing much better.
Williams, Ferrari and Mercedes all look fairly strong at present.
Force India leaped up to the fore as well.

Testing days/times combined - all 8 days:
1. Raikkonen Ferrari   363 laps   1m 22.765
2. Vettel Ferrari      493 laps   1m 22.852
3. Rosberg Mercedes    656 laps   1m 23.022
4. Hulkenberg Force India 357 laps 1m 23.110
5. Sainz  Toro Rosso   514 laps    1m 23.134
6. Massa  Williams   411 laps   1m 23.192
7.  Bottas Williams   442 laps   1m 23.261
8. Verstappen Toro Rosso 577 laps 1m 23.382
9. Ricciardo Red Bull    456 laps   1m 23.525
10. Hamilton Mercedes 673 laps   1m 23.622
11. Perez Force India   295 laps   1m 23.721
12. Magnussen  Renault  509 laps   1m 23.933
13. Kvyat  Red Bull      358 laps   1m 24.293
14. Alonso  McLaren   331 laps    1m 24.735
15. Button    McLaren   376 laps    1m 24.714
16. Nasr  Sauber     452 laps   1m 24.760
17. Celis  Force India   162 laps   1m 24.840
18. Palmer Renault   273 laps   1m 24.859
19. Wehrlein MRT   251 laps   1m 24.931
20. Ericsson Sauber   380 laps   1m 25.031
21. Grosjean  Haas   256 laps   1m 25.255
22. Gutierrez  Haas   156 laps   1m 25.422
23. Haryanto  MRT   228 laps   1m 25.899

As pointed out, these are spread out over 8 days and with a 4 day break in the middle of the two sessions.

[Jericoke]

I realize that testing doesn't tell the full story, but I think we're in for a great season.

Even the teams with 'technical problems' put in a great amount of laps, and posted competitive times.

There is a variety of teams (and engines!) at the top of the time sheets. 

I don't see a cloud hanging over 2016 like in the past.  The teams look strong (financially).  The teams look competitive (Is it possible for HAAS to be the a new team not be last place?).

[lkjohnson1950]

If the car is durable, I think Grosjean gives Haas an advantage over MRT in the fight at the bottom.

[Scott]

I have a funny feeling Haas won't be fighting Manor, but more often in the midfield.  To have the tests go almost flawlessly (one front wing and the rest of the issues appear to be Ferrari kit related).

[Scott]

I've been trying to catch up on the testing broadcasts and just saw an interview with Alonso shortly after one with Jenson. 

I used to suggest that Button was at the very least a fantastic team ambassador for Mclaren, and so often we've heard Alonso speak badly of whatever team he was with.  This time however I got the complete opposite.  Jenson's body language and skepticism was uncomfortable to watch, while Alonso was practically the team cheerleader, he smiled about  things he could genuinely compliment, and he was extremely diplomatic and optimistic on things he couldn't. 

Quite a surprise.

[J.Clark]

Haas also had a brake-by-wire issue on day 3 of the second test session, but everything got analyzed and fixed overnight.

The overall time sheets don't indicate tires used.  I am not sure that any of the data from Haas was on the ultra soft tire either.  It will be exciting to see how the fare, but like Scott, I don't see them fighting with Manor.  Both drivers have the talent, and the car seemed to do relatively well.  I think they have a shot at fight for championship points from the first race.

McLaren is still struggling, according to Alonso, but he indicated they are much farther along than they were in 2015.  Button is not happy though and that is obvious.

STR and Williams each seem to have had a productive test.

[John S]

You're correct J Clark, Haas never put on Ultra softs at the test. Below I have posted the top time recorded by each driver at the test days with the tyres they posted that best time on.

However this still doesn't tell the whole story of where the teams are for the new season as Kimi set a 1m23.009s lap on Softs on Thursday - that's faster than Merc's best soft tyre run by Rosberg at 1:23.022 - game on for Oz I'd say.

Date     Driver          Team        Tyres     Time        Gap 
03-Mar  Raikkonen   Ferrari            US     1:22.765  125.814 mph 
23-Feb  Vettel          Ferrari            US     1:22.810  0.045 
01-Mar  Rosberg         Mercedes      S       1:23.022  0.257 
24-Feb  Hulkenberg   Force India     SS     1:23.110  0.345 
04-Mar  Sainz          Toro Rosso      US     1:23.134  0.369 
03-Feb  Massa          Williams         S       1:23.193  0.428 
01-Mar  Bottas          Williams         US     1:23.229  0.464 
03-Mar  Verstappen   Toro Rosso     US     1:23.382  0.617 
23-Feb  Ricciardo      Red Bull         US     1:23.525  0.760 
02-Mar  Hamilton     Mercedes         S       1:23.622  0.857 
23-Feb  Perez          Force India       SS     1:23.650  0.885 
02-Mar  Magnussen  Renault          SS     1:23.933  1.168 
25-Feb  Kvyat         Red Bull          US     1:24.293  1.528 
04-Mar  Button         McLaren         US     1:24.714  1.949 
01-Mar  Alonso         McLaren          S       1:24.735  1.970 
03-Mar  Nasr           Sauber            S       1:24.760  1.995 
25-Feb  Celis           Force India       S       1:24.840  2.075 
04-Mar  Palmer         Renault           SS     1:24.859  2.094 
03-Mar  Wehrlein      Manor             US     1:24.913  2.148 
04-Mar  Ericsson        Sauber           S       1:25.031  2.266 
04-Mar  Grosjean     Haas                S       1:25.255  2.490 
04-Mar  Gutierrez     Haas               SS     1:25.422  2.657 
04-Mar  Haryanto      Manor            US     1:25.899  3.134 

[Scott]

Yeah, I saw a report on that too.  It doesn't show fuel levels or if there were any other settings they were playing with though, so as much as I would love Ferrari to line up in front of Merc, I wouldn't put money on it.

[J.Clark]

Thanks John.

That would suggest that the Mercs are still well ahead perhaps since Nico's time is only a quarter second behind Kimi's, while on a tire two compounds harder.  Massa's time was also on the soft, and less than a half second behind Kimi.

Force India, at .345 off of Kimi, and being set only one compound higher suggests they may be more or less on par with the Prancing Horse.

It will all get very interesting in another two weeks.