2016 F1 Testing General Discussion Thread

[Peter.]

They've still got the best chassis in the field though. Beside, Ricciardo almost (should have) won in Hungary last year with the 2015 spec car. I expect the gap between Mercedes and Redbull to be smaller this year, which is inevitable really given how far behind Redbull were last year and the regulatory stability from 2015-2016

Fat chance. Mercedes are constantly improving their vastly superior engine while Red Bull are still struggling in their engine department. Even they expect to be behind Torro Rosso for now at least.

This year looks like nothing more than a stop gap year for them while they resolve their engine issues and prepare for the big rule changes in 2017.

 

[RACECAR]

That sound is back on the McLaren and its just great

 

[Keef]

Some people seem to think Ferrari might of tried to run out of fuel on purpose to test it's fuel data accuracy.

Even we in FSAE do that. You have to know how long the car will run until absolutely empty, then measure exactly how much it burned.

 

[TenEightyOne]

Raikkonnen has now completed two whole laps. The BBC are filling in Raikkonnen-Watch with this;

 

[[Nor]MclarenF1]

Nice to see at least one British media outlet that isn't completely gaga over Hamilton. I'm looking at you SKY - calm down.

 

[GTPorsche]

Day 3 results.

1. N. Hulkenberg 1:23:110

2. R. Grosjean 1:25:874

3. K. Raikkonen 1:25:977

4. K. Magnussen 1:26:014

5. N. Rosberg 1:26:084

6. C. Sainz Jr. 1:26:239

7. F. Nasr 1:26:392

8. L. Hamilton 1:26:421

9. D. Kvyat 1:26:497

10. F. Massa 1:26:712

11. J. Button 1:26:919

12. R. Haryanto 1:29:808

 

[[Nor]MclarenF1]

According to Sky - highlight of the day was Hamilton on his monocycle. Was day 3 THAT boring...?

 

[GTPorsche]

McLaren had a hydraulics leak and Renault had more issues. Mercedes have probably covered all the testing they needed by yesterday.. that car appears to be perfect. Ferrari had some sort of issue today, not sure if that meant the driver in the car or something mechanical.

Hulk ran the super soft tires, and I'd assume a light fuel load as well to get that 1:23.110.

 

[IforceV8]

According to Sky - highlight of the day was Hamilton on his monocycle. Was day 3 THAT boring...?

According to Sky if Hamilton's dog gets a new collar it would be the lead story.

 

[Famine]

Nice to see at least one British media outlet that isn't completely gaga over Hamilton.

Sky is the outlier. These pretty much sum up what the British media - and public - think of Hamilton at the moment:
http://sniffpetrol.com/2016/02/05/rosberg-working-hard-on-ways-to-get-arse-handed-to-him/
http://sniffpetrol.com/2016/01/08/f1-stars-reveal-how-they-spent-christmas/
http://sniffpetrol.com/2015/12/15/hamilton-trying-even-harder-to-be-less-likeable/

#blessed

 

[ECGadget]

Sky is the outlier. These pretty much sum up what the British media - and public - think of Hamilton at the moment:
http://sniffpetrol.com/2016/02/05/rosberg-working-hard-on-ways-to-get-arse-handed-to-him/
http://sniffpetrol.com/2016/01/08/f1-stars-reveal-how-they-spent-christmas/
http://sniffpetrol.com/2015/12/15/hamilton-trying-even-harder-to-be-less-likeable/

#blessed

Lost it at the 'quotes' in the last one. #missoldPPI

 

[RACECAR]

More glorious sounds from Spain:

 

[RX-7_FD3S]

I'm suprised mercedes isnt using soft compound. I can understand they want to hide there pace but not getting data on soft tyre is a very bad idea imo.

And off course for us observers, testing session are really boring, probably for drivers too as I'm sure they are told to not go 100% to not show off too much to the others team.

 

[Samus]

I'm suprised mercedes isnt using soft compound. I can understand they want to hide there pace but not getting data on soft tyre is a very bad idea imo.

And off course for us observers, testing session are really boring, probably for drivers too as I'm sure they are told to not go 100% to not show off too much to the others team.

They will save that for the second test. Still penty of time to do work on the other tyres.

 

[GTPorsche]

 

[RACECAR]

 

[GTPorsche]

Day 4 results

1. K. Raikkonen 1:23:477

2. D. Kvyat 1:24:293

3. A. Celis Jr. 1:24:840

4. K. Magnussen 1:25:263

5. M. Verstappen 1:25:393

6. F. Nasr 1:26:053

7. N. Rosberg 1:26:187

8. L. Hamilton 1:26:295

9. F. Massa 1:26:942

10. E. Gutiérrez 1:27:802

11. R. Haryanto 1:28:266

 

[aarror]

#PlacesKmagWouldNOTRatherBe

 

[Northstar]

#PlacesKmagWouldNOTRatherBe

 

[RACECAR]

Annnd here's more:




Along with a comparison between the sounds in 2015 and 2016:

 

[catamount39]

Annnd here's more:




Along with a comparison between the sounds in 2015 and 2016:

There isn't a difference between 2015 and now. The only one which is even slightly good is the Honda.

 

[RACECAR]

There isn't a difference between 2015 and now. The only one which is even slightly good is the Honda.

Just got around to watching it and apart from maybe a slight pickup on the Ferrari and somewhat refined yet more savage Honda, not much difference to my ears.

 

[[Nor]MclarenF1]

So that happened...

 

[GTPorsche]

3 minutes left today and a red flag for a stopped Renault, so here's the results from today.

1. N. Rosberg 1:23:022

2. V. Bottas 1:23:229

3. F. Alonso 1:24:735

4. K. Raikkonen 1:24:836

5. D. Kvyat 1:25:049

6. L. Hamilton 1:25:051

7. M. Verstappen 1:25:176

8. N. Hulkenberg 1:25:336

9. F. Nasr 1:25:493

10. K. Magnussen 1:25:760

11. E. Gutiérrez 1:26:661

12. R. Haryanto 1:27:625

 

[RACECAR]

A McLaren Honda in 3rd. Granted its only a test but considering the best they could manage last year, this is a really positive turnaround.

 

[GTPorsche]

They also had the 2016 PU in the car compared to the updated 2015 PU last week.

 

[Dennisch]

I really hope those times aren't an indication for the season.

 

[GTPorsche]

They're not indicative of anything. Everyone is still doing their own thing.

 

[ECGadget]

I see another 0.5s from the McLaren this week. Still a second behind the Mercedes but able to fight it out in the top 10 consistently. This season may be interesting...
Williams had a strong showing again, but I noticed the Ultra soft tyres didn't help them gain any more time.
Manor really need to do something...

 

[LMSCorvetteGT2]

They're not indicative of anything. Everyone is still doing their own thing.

Eh I wouldn't be so sure. Unless Ferrari were really sand bagging, or running a very heavy car, they're easily the top runner again. As I've said in the Constructor thread, just quietly wait until 2017.