F1 Winter Testing 2025 what do we know?

[Jericoke]

Winter testing is done for 2025

I tried to watch some, but just had it on in the background while I worked.  So what did I learn?

Not much really.  Everyone is quick to point out that it's hard to compare, because you don't really know what everyone is doing at a given time in regards to fuel loads, wing adjustments etc.

I'd say the 'big four':  McLaren, Ferrari, Red Bull and Mercedes remain the 'big four', and expect them to dominate the front rows and podiums for 2025.

Williams feels like they've made the most progress of the 'rest'.  Aston Martin looks like they're continuing to slide.  Alpine looks like they're picking up where they left off last year, rather than the embarrassment they were to start the season, so that's progress.

Over all I feel like things are going to be tighter, as they usually are in the last season of a rule set.

[Andy B]

The long runs are the only tell tale and it seems McLaren are the front runners but we shall see?

[John S]

I followed testing most days - sort of; it gets pretty tedious just following spoken commentary with a lap times list visible.

On last day after lunch I found out SKY F1 was broadcasting on youtube for free, mind you that was still a bit mind numbing as some of the commentary was asinine. I'm not convinced Crofty or Karun knew really much about what they were looking at, the girls; Bernie Collins & Ruth Buscombe made a much better job with explanations - but I suspect it's because they have been working for teams in the last 10 years and know what goes on in the garages during testing.

Seems to me that it's pretty near impossible to guess who had the upper hand in Bahrain, sandbagging is alive and well during testing (see article below).

I was looking for clues in timings for team mate achievement as a way of judging definite speed in cars, not sure it tells us a lot, but Macca & Mercedes seemed to have less disparity from one driver to the other overall.
Does it mean anything? who knows but I guess for me it indicates a driver friendly car.

Aside from that the big four still seem to have the advantage, the bigger surprise is Williams & Alpine showing, will the midfield be upturned?

 https://www.crash.net/f1/feature/1064268/1/f1-strategist-explains-how-sandbagging-actually-works-points-finger-guilty

[cosworth151]

Max needs to get used to not driving for the WCC. He almost dove into McLaren's box in one session.