Prelude to 2017 season

[Scott]

The RBR is a bit too purple for me.  Boring on the outside, but judging by all the hullabaloo over their suspension, there are some trick bits under the skin. 

Telling is that the Haas doesn't have any more sponsorship than the Sauber.  I would have thought they could have chased down a bit more in the off-season.  I guess F1 is still too expensive a gamble for most marketing departments.

 

[J.Clark]

Testing is finally underway.
11:00 am results:

1. Valtteri Bottas   FIN   Mercedes-Mercedes   1m 23.370s (29 laps)
2. Sebastian Vettel   GER   Ferrari-Ferrari   1m 23.560s (25)
3. Sergio Perez   MEX   Force India-Mercedes   1m 26.171s (11)
4. Felipe Massa   BRZ   Williams-Mercedes   1m 26.461s (12)
5. Nico Hulkenberg   GER   Renault-Renault   1m 26.500s (17)
6. Daniel Ricciardo AUS   Red Bull-TAG   1m 28.712s (4)
7. Marcus Ericsson   SWE   Sauber-Ferrari   1m 29.527s (9)
8. Kevin Magnussen   DEN   Haas-Ferrari   No time set (5)
9. Carlos Sainz   SPA   Toro Rosso-Renault   No time set (5)
10. Fernando Alonso   ESP   McLaren-Honda   No time set (1)

[cosworth151]

The t-tail fin looks like the design fad of the season.

[J.Clark]

Ferrari added a little extra with that horizontal wing across the vertical tail-fin.

End of day one - Alonso not happy due to technical issues:
1. Lewis Hamilton   GBR   Mercedes-Mercedes   1m 21.765s (73 laps)
2. Sebastian Vettel   GER   Ferrari-Ferrari   1m 21.878s (127)
3. Felipe Massa   BRZ   Williams-Mercedes   1m 22.076s (103)
4. Kevin Magnussen   DEN   Haas-Ferrari   1m 24.946s (50)
5. Daniel Ricciardo AUS   Red Bull-TAG   1m 23.372s (48)
6. Valtteri Bottas   FIN   Mercedes-Mercedes   1m 23.169s (79)
7. Sergio Perez   MEX   Force India-Mercedes   1m 23.709s (39)
8. Carlos Sainz   SPA   Toro Rosso-Renault   1m 24.494s (51)
9. Nico Hulkenberg   GER   Renault-Renault 1m 25.966s (57)
10. Fernando Alonso   ESP   McLaren-Honda   1m 25.821s (29)
11. Marcus Ericsson   SWE   Sauber-Ferrari   1m 26.076s (72)

[lkjohnson1950]

Lewis will have to carry an extra weight to equalise performance.

[Jericoke]

Ferrari added a little extra with that horizontal wing across the vertical tail-fin.

End of day one - Alonso not happy due to technical issues:
1. Lewis Hamilton   GBR   Mercedes-Mercedes   1m 21.765s (73 laps)
2. Sebastian Vettel   GER   Ferrari-Ferrari   1m 21.878s (127)
3. Felipe Massa   BRZ   Williams-Mercedes   1m 22.076s (103)
4. Kevin Magnussen   DEN   Haas-Ferrari   1m 24.946s (50)
5. Daniel Ricciardo AUS   Red Bull-TAG   1m 23.372s (48)
6. Valtteri Bottas   FIN   Mercedes-Mercedes   1m 23.169s (79)
7. Sergio Perez   MEX   Force India-Mercedes   1m 23.709s (39)
8. Carlos Sainz   SPA   Toro Rosso-Renault   1m 24.494s (51)
9. Nico Hulkenberg   GER   Renault-Renault 1m 25.966s (57)
10. Fernando Alonso   ESP   McLaren-Honda   1m 25.821s (29)
11. Marcus Ericsson   SWE   Sauber-Ferrari   1m 26.076s (72)

Hamilton already up to his old tricks:  Bottas running in the morning in the cooler weather while the team works the bugs out, and Lewis in the afternoon when the track is rubbered in and the car is running smooth.

Of course Hamilton has the better head to head time!

[Dare]

Ferrari added a little extra with that horizontal wing across the vertical tail-fin.

End of day one - Alonso not happy due to technical issues:
1. Lewis Hamilton   GBR   Mercedes-Mercedes   1m 21.765s (73 laps)
2. Sebastian Vettel   GER   Ferrari-Ferrari   1m 21.878s (127)
3. Felipe Massa   BRZ   Williams-Mercedes   1m 22.076s (103)
4. Kevin Magnussen   DEN   Haas-Ferrari   1m 24.946s (50)
5. Daniel Ricciardo AUS   Red Bull-TAG   1m 23.372s (48)
6. Valtteri Bottas   FIN   Mercedes-Mercedes   1m 23.169s (79)
7. Sergio Perez   MEX   Force India-Mercedes   1m 23.709s (39)
8. Carlos Sainz   SPA   Toro Rosso-Renault   1m 24.494s (51)
9. Nico Hulkenberg   GER   Renault-Renault 1m 25.966s (57)
10. Fernando Alonso   ESP   McLaren-Honda   1m 25.821s (29)
11. Marcus Ericsson   SWE   Sauber-Ferrari   1m 26.076s (72)

Hamilton already up to his old tricks:  Bottas running in the morning in the cooler weather while the team works the bugs out, and Lewis in the afternoon when the track is rubbered in and the car is running smooth.

Of course Hamilton has the better head to head time!

I didn't say it Andy

[Andy B]

Ferrari added a little extra with that horizontal wing across the vertical tail-fin.

End of day one - Alonso not happy due to technical issues:
1. Lewis Hamilton   GBR   Mercedes-Mercedes   1m 21.765s (73 laps)
2. Sebastian Vettel   GER   Ferrari-Ferrari   1m 21.878s (127)
3. Felipe Massa   BRZ   Williams-Mercedes   1m 22.076s (103)
4. Kevin Magnussen   DEN   Haas-Ferrari   1m 24.946s (50)
5. Daniel Ricciardo AUS   Red Bull-TAG   1m 23.372s (48)
6. Valtteri Bottas   FIN   Mercedes-Mercedes   1m 23.169s (79)
7. Sergio Perez   MEX   Force India-Mercedes   1m 23.709s (39)
8. Carlos Sainz   SPA   Toro Rosso-Renault   1m 24.494s (51)
9. Nico Hulkenberg   GER   Renault-Renault 1m 25.966s (57)
10. Fernando Alonso   ESP   McLaren-Honda   1m 25.821s (29)
11. Marcus Ericsson   SWE   Sauber-Ferrari   1m 26.076s (72)

Hamilton already up to his old tricks:  Bottas running in the morning in the cooler weather while the team works the bugs out, and Lewis in the afternoon when the track is rubbered in and the car is running smooth.

Of course Hamilton has the better head to head time!

I didn't say it Andy

Ha ha I think it'll be interesting tomorrow as Lewis is first up with Bottas in the afternoon so rolls reversed, a quote from Bottas said that they are not looking for lap times just wanting to put miles on the car. On that thought! Do they use just one chassis? surely they would want to run both chassis so I'm assuming each driver is running his own car? Does anyone know?

[Dare]

Andy  I think they'll run both chassis  so Lewis can get
the sone.Sorry couldn't help myself 

[Andy B]

Andy  I think they'll run both chassis  so Lewis canget
the bet one.Sorry couldn't help myself 

I would too! 

[Dare]

I just hope Mercedes isn't too far ahead of the other teams.I'd love to see
a close season to the Championship.As long as Kimi is champ

[Scott]

So far the data shows that Merc isn't running away with the show...I know they are trying to spin that in the press, but I won't believe it until I see it.  Ferrari and even Williams are in decent shape on day 1, and we have barely seen the RBR.  Day two is struggling to get going.

Stroll had a little spin today, but just damaged that antenna thingy on the back end.  I think those are going to break like toothpicks when a car hits a kerb too hard or any kind of shaking.  I'm not even sure I understand the physics that makes them even useful.  How can such a delicately attached puny wing make more than a few grams difference in downforce or lift? 

[John S]

I'm not even sure I understand the physics that makes them even useful.  How can such a delicately attached puny wing make more than a few grams difference in downforce or lift?

I can't see the benefit either, but I get the feeling some of them are a bit of a bodge job - Ferrari put the cat amongst the proverbial pigeons when they launched their car with the winglet.

IMHO the others are guessing there must be some advantage to it, needing to check it out they've have stuck them on where they can. Hence they are fragile. 

Whether this is really an advantage or just a Ferrari misdirection has still to become clear, testing always throws up a few added elements trying fool others whilst seeking to keep real advances quiet.     

[cosworth151]

Many of those small fins aren't to create downforce. They are to direct air flow where it will do the most good. Aim the maximum smooth air at the rear wing. Direct it into a radiator or cooling duct. That sort of thing.

The big news for me: K-Mag & Haas P4!      

(Yeah, I know, test times don't mean all that much. Still.......)

[J.Clark]

Day 2 at 3:00 pm:
1. Lewis Hamilton   GBR   Mercedes-Mercedes   1m 20.983s (66 laps)*
2. Kimi Raikkonen   FIN   Ferrari-Ferrari   1m 21.198s (58)
3. Esteban Ocon   FRA   Force India-Mercedes   1m 23.045s (27)
4. Kevin Magnussen   DEN   Haas-Ferrari   1m 23.200s (59)
5. Max Verstappen   NED   Red Bull-TAG   1m 23.212s (31)
6. Daniil Kvyat   RUS   Toro Rosso-Renault   1m 25.012s (44)
7. Jolyon Palmer   GBR   Renault-Renault   1m 25.192s (20)
8. Valtteri Bottas   FIN   Mercedes-Mercedes   1m 25.207s (19)**
9. Lance Stroll   CAN   Williams-Mercedes   1m 26.040s (12)
10. Stoffel Vandoorne   NED   McLaren-Honda   1m 26.201s (29)
11. Antonio Giovinazzi   ITA   Sauber-Ferrari   1m 26.976s (19)

*Morning session only
**Afternoon session only

It is interesting and looks like it could be "big news" as you say Cos, as that time would have put him P4 yesterday too.  I know it is only testing and that doesn't always translate into race performance when rating them, but . . .