F1 2013 Testing: Week 3 Barcelona

massa did his fastest time on SS yesterday 1m21.266s, cant say for alonso though.

http://www.gpupdate.net/en/testresults/1539/formula-1-test-at-circuit-de-catalunya-3-march-2013/

it actually seems to suggest if accurate that Alonso's 1:20.6 was softs and the 20.49 was super softs. So not massively faster but of course, the .6 could have been a perfect lap and the .49 he makes a few mistakes. You would expect the supersofts to be a tad faster, the Mclarens I really haven't seen any mention of them using supersofts at all, yesterday all sources seemed quite specific that Massa was on supersofts and Hamilton the softs, and I've seen someone say one of his higher times in the 1:20's was actually on mediums, which would be mightly impressive.

They are also saying they think Alonso was only using DRS on the main and backstraights, but how much DRS does on slower straights is questionable, its not a huge amount on the longest straights, you can gain a few tenths with drs and slipstreaming last year, on your own probably less and less over smaller straights.

Making guesses is easy but true comparisons, very difficult. Alonso is a top driver so if he's hitting 20.49 on super softs, I doubt there is much more in the car. Rosberg isn't bad but simply don't think he's in Hamilton's/Alonso's class so there is probably more in that car.

Either way, its not about Merc being by miles the best car, they just look competitive, which they didn't in preseason testing last year or most of the season., thats a monumental improvement, I think Ferrari look much stronger as well. While they sucked at the first test last year they had made massive massive strides by the last test, but for Ferrari its more that they seem faster than Mclaren and Red Bull compared to last year, their all out pace lacked last year but had a very good in race car with good tyre wear, often times excellent pace.
 
So you think they are comparing data to 12 months ago? What would be the point in that though considering how much the cars change over the course of a season, and have they not ditched the double drs now?

Why would they need to compare with last years pre-season testing and what benefit in doing so? Is every team comparing to 12 months ago or just Merc?

I think they'll be comparing to vast swathes of data, right through last season, possibly the season before and including last years testing as the more data they have and can compare with the better they can develop accurate appraisals of what they're seeing.

I would imagine most if not all teams will do at least some directly comparable running, they'll all be aiming for different things but to assume they'd be more interested in glory hunting in test sessions than gaining comparable data is laughable.

You question the benefit of comparing testing runs but suggest instead that "maybe they just want to look good though" as if that's somehow not of questionable benefit :confused:
 
Live on TV.

He's prob done it more than once, just the first time I'd noticed it. Certainly doesn't seem like DRS use all over the track is a Mercedes only thing.

It's already been said..no one knows. And if any team did what's the problem it's all part of testing.

But the McLaren car is very stiff at the front.
 
I think they'll be comparing to vast swathes of data, right through last season, possibly the season before and including last years testing as the more data they have and can compare with the better they can develop accurate appraisals of what they're seeing.

I would imagine most if not all teams will do at least some directly comparable running, they'll all be aiming for different things but to assume they'd be more interested in glory hunting in test sessions than gaining comparable data is laughable.

You question the benefit of comparing testing runs but suggest instead that "maybe they just want to look good though" as if that's somehow not of questionable benefit :confused:

Ok :)
 
Kimi using DRS down the back straight too. Pretty certain the teams all think that's where the second DRS zone will be this year (not really anywhere else they can put it, is there?).
 
Hats off to Sky putting on this great coverage.

I'll second that Duke.

Have spent far too much time watching it, got plenty of work I should be doing in the house & garden.:o

DUKE: Are Sky going to start using onboard HD cameras this season, they were talking about bringing them in last year.
 
Last edited:
Back
Top Bottom