Prelude to 2017 season

[Jericoke]

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.......)

If Haas continues to improve, hopefully some other NASCAR owners might decide to field Formula One teams.

I presume Liberty will be courting them.

[Scott]

Ferrari is in spitting distance of Merc, so the idea of them running away with the season is nothing but Merc spin.

[J.Clark]

Time sheet for the end of day 2:

1. Kimi Raikkonen   FIN   Ferrari-Ferrari   1m 20.960s (108 laps)
2. Lewis Hamilton   GBR   Mercedes-Mercedes   1m 20.983s (66) *
3. Max Verstappen   NED   Red Bull-TAG   1m 22.200s (89)
4. Kevin Magnussen   DEN   Haas-Ferrari   1m 22.204s (118)
5. Esteban Ocon   FRA   Force India-Mercedes   1m 22.509s (86)
6. Daniil Kvyat   RUS   Toro Rosso-Renault   1m 22.956s (68)
7. Valtteri Bottas   FIN   Mercedes-Mercedes   1m 22.986s (101) **
8. Jolyon Palmer   GBR   Renault-Renault   1m 24.139s (53)
9. Antonio Giovinazzi   ITA   Sauber-Ferrari   1m 24.617s (66)
10. Stoffel Vandoorne   NED   McLaren-Honda   1m 25.600s (40)
11. Lance Stroll   CAN   Williams-Mercedes   1m 26.040s (12)

all times unofficial

HAAS!  Looks to be a player for sure.

[Andy B]

Ferrari is in spitting distance of Merc, so the idea of them running away with the season is nothing but Merc spin.

The problem with trying to establish a pecking order during testing is that we have no idea what fuel loads they are carrying and how much sandbagging is going on its not until Aussie that we'll find out.

[J.Clark]

True Andy, and we also do not know what a team is actually working on developing/testing on any given day.  There is some indication of pace during testing, but nothing certainly upon which one could bet the farm, as they say.

As of 5:00 pm today:
1. Valtteri Bottas   FIN   Mercedes-Mercedes   1m 19.705s (75 laps)*
2. Sebastian Vettel   GER   Ferrari-Ferrari   1m 19.952s (112)
3. Daniel Ricciardo   AUS   Red Bull-TAG   1m 21.153s (67)
4. Jolyon Palmer   GBR   Renault-Renault   1m 21.396s (51)*
5. Marcus Ericsson   SWE   Sauber-Ferrari   1m 21.824s (113)
13. Lewis Hamilton   GBR   Mercedes-Mercedes   1m 22.216s (71)*
6. Lance Stroll   CAN   Williams-Mercedes   1m 22.351s (98)
7. Fernando Alonso   ESP   McLaren-Honda   1m 22.598s (64)
8. Romain Grosjean   FRA   Haas-Ferrari   1m 22.884s (43)
9. Nico Hulkenberg   GER   Renault-Renault   1m 23.137s (32)**
10. Carlos Sainz   ESP   Toro Rosso-Renault   1m 23.540s (32)**
11. Alfonso Celis Jr   MEX   Force India-Mercedes   1m 23.619s (54)
12. Daniil Kvyat   RUS   Toro Rosso-Renault   1m 23.952s (31)*

[cosworth151]

If Haas continues to improve, hopefully some other NASCAR owners might decide to field Formula One teams.

The motorsports press over here is saying that K-Mag & Grosjean want a shot at a Cup car.

[Jericoke]

If Haas continues to improve, hopefully some other NASCAR owners might decide to field Formula One teams.

The motorsports press over here is saying that K-Mag & Grosjean want a shot at a Cup car.

And why not?  With so much down time in F1 compared with Monster Cup (is that what they really call it now?) any 'real' racer is going to look for opportunities to race in other series.

I'd love to see a bunch of F1 drivers  spending their off time at American ovals.  I'd watch (and I don't watch Monster Cup (that's kinda catchy) racing on a regular basis).

[J.Clark]

First week times combined:
1. Valtteri Bottas   FIN   Mercedes - Mercedes   1m 19.705s (324)
2. Sebastian Vettel   GER   Ferrari - Ferrari   1m 19.952s (267)
3. Kimi Raikkonen   FIN   Ferrari - Ferrari   1m 20.872s (234)
4. Lewis Hamilton   GBR   Mercedes - Mercedes   1m 20.983s (201)
5. Daniel Ricciardo AUS   Red Bull - TAG   1m 21.153s (198)
6. Jolyon Palmer   GBR   Renault - Renault   1m 21.396s (174)
7. Max Verstappen NED   Red Bull - TAG   1m 21.769s (174)
8. Nico Hulkenberg   GER   Renault - Renault 1m 21.791s (169)
9. Marcus Ericsson   SWE   Sauber - Ferrari   1m 21.824s (151)
10. Felipe Massa   BRA   Williams - Mercedes   1m 22.076s (150)
11. Romain Grosjean FRA   Haas-Ferrari   1m 22.118s (143)
12. Kevin Magnussen DEN   Haas-Ferrari   1m 22.204s (121)
13. Lance Stroll   CAN   Williams - Mercedes   1m 22.351s (120)
14. Antonio Giovinazzi   ITA   Sauber-Ferrari   1m 22.401s (110)
15. Esteban Ocon   FRA   Force India-Mercedes   1m 22.509s (107)
16. Sergio Perez   MEX   Force India-Mercedes   1m 22.534s (103)
17. Stoffel Vandoorne   BEL   McLaren-Honda   1m 22.576s (101)
18. Fernando Alonso   ESP   McLaren-Honda   1m 22.598s (100)
19. Daniil Kvyat   RUS   Toro Rosso-Renault   1m 22.956s (86)
20. Carlos Sainz   ESP   Toro Rosso-Renault   1m 23.540s (83)
21. Alfonso Celis Jr   MEX   Force India-Mercedes   1m 23.568s (71)

[lkjohnson1950]

Marko says it will be mid season before RB can hope to compete with Merc. True or "Poor Me" BS? Renault has been ordered to change their center wing mount before Oz.

[Dare]

If Haas continues to improve, hopefully some other NASCAR owners might decide to field Formula One teams.

The motorsports press over here is saying that K-Mag & Grosjean want a shot at a Cup car.

And why not?  With so much down time in F1 compared with Monster Cup (is that what they really call it now?) any 'real' racer is going to look for opportunities to race in other series.

I'd love to see a bunch of F1 drivers  spending their off time at American ovals.  I'd watch (and I don't watch Monster Cup (that's kinda catchy) racing on a regular basis).

One of the problems I see is NASCAR and F1 compete in about the same
months. They need something like the old Tasmanian Series in the winter months.
Not FE either

[cosworth151]

The problem I see with it could be called the Kubica Factor. He was one of the most promising drivers in F1 before his injury in another racing series. I'm sure that will influence any team managers who has to decide if their drivers can race in another series.

[Jericoke]

The problem I see with it could be called the Kubica Factor. He was one of the most promising drivers in F1 before his injury in another racing series. I'm sure that will influence any team managers who has to decide if their drivers can race in another series.

That's true.  I would suggest that running in another car they own in a 'Top' series would certainly ease any fears that owners have. 

Ultimately this would be a way to make sponsors happy by getting more appearances, and with different audiences, from the same driver. 

Besides, we've seen from Montoya and Webber that letting a driver do what they want in their off time isn't necessarily safer than letting them race!

[cosworth151]

Day 4 results. Haas back to P4:

1   Kimi Räikkönen    Ferrari    01:20.9   93
2   Max Verstappen   Red Bull    01:21.8   85
3   Jolyon Palmer   Renault    01:21.8   39
4   Romain Grosjean   Haas    01:22.3   118
5   Antonio Giovinazzi   Sauber    01:22.4   84
6   Sergio Perez   Force India    01:22.5   82
7   Stoffel Vandoorne   McLaren    01:22.6   67
8   Valtteri Bottas    Mercedes    01:23.4   68
9   Nico Hülkenberg   Renault    01:25.0   51
10   Daniil Kvyat   Toro Rosso    -    1

Sorry about the layout. It was the best I could find.

[Andy B]

The problem I see with it could be called the Kubica Factor. He was one of the most promising drivers in F1 before his injury in another racing series. I'm sure that will influence any team managers who has to decide if their drivers can race in another series.

That's true.  I would suggest that running in another car they own in a 'Top' series would certainly ease any fears that owners have. 

Ultimately this would be a way to make sponsors happy by getting more appearances, and with different audiences, from the same driver. 

Besides, we've seen from Montoya and Webber that letting a driver do what they want in their off time isn't necessarily safer than letting them race!

Drivers will not be allowed to race in other series history will dictate that which Wehrlein has proven of late so the disruption to a team mid season would be too much.

[Scott]

Marko says it will be mid season before RB can hope to compete with Merc. True or "Poor Me" BS? Renault has been ordered to change their center wing mount before Oz.

I wouldn't believe anything Marko has to say.  King of BS.