Soldato
Bottas POV with the new halo on this years Merc:
F1 Season Buildup/Testing/Car Launches
- Thread starter Malt_Vinegar
- Start date
Looks awesome to be fair, can't see any FI branding anywhere though, wonder if it's still officially FI at all considering all the rumours.Force India:
I think it looks great with the new white accents.
Soldato
There's still Kingfisher (and Sahara) logos on the car, same as last year...
Soldato
One of the launch reports said there is reduced FI branding on the team clothing this year as they are hoping to confirm the name change before Melbourne. If it doesn't happen by then, the name change will be done next year instead.
Soldato
Alonso caused the first Red flag of testing:
Video link of wheel seemingly falling off: https://twitter.com/F1/status/968067939864752131
Video link of wheel seemingly falling off: https://twitter.com/F1/status/968067939864752131
Deleted member 651465
D
Deleted member 651465
Wheel nut issue. McLaren saying it's "no big deal" despite him doing the least number of laps.
Soldato
Reliability is one thing, performance is another. The Honda sounded terrible today, and was noticeably slower picking up out of corners. It wasn't anywhere near as drivable as the other engines.
Reliability first, then power.
Soldato
So, Kubica ahead of Sirotkin 
Both behind a Honda engine. Mclaren in front of Red Bull.
I know it's not representative but a good mix up in the offing.
Andi.
Both behind a Honda engine. Mclaren in front of Red Bull.I know it's not representative but a good mix up in the offing.
Andi.
Soldato
It really isn't representative. The track conditions were generally better for Kubica than for Sirotkin (warmer track - not air - and much less wind). The McLaren bolted on much softer tyres for their lap time. The Honda engine just seems less drivable than the others at the moment - the on off throttle is very binary and you can see the drivers struggle to finesse and feather it. Plus, although not necessarily related to performance, it sounds absolutely terrible off the throttle and at low speeds. Every time it left the garage... urgh. You'd forgive that if it was one second a lap quicker, but it isn't so far...
Soldato
Sounds similar to last year's engine then. Wasn't drive-ability one thing that the McLaren drivers were complaining about too?
Completely unrelated but Honda MotoGP riders are saying that their engine is very on-off too. It must be a Honda Motorsports thing.
Man of Honour
They have been saying that for three years.
Soldato
Brendon Hartley seems to think that the Honda engine is plenty drivable, and that McLaren have made a mistake by getting rid.
Hartley said it was better than last years Renault and the 2015 Ferrari engine in the 2016 Toro Rosso.
Deleted member 651465
D
Deleted member 651465
Driveable, maybe.
But it was the lack of top speed that killed them previously. They were literally getting mugged on the straights and unless they've radically changed the MGU-K then I'm not convinced.
But it was the lack of top speed that killed them previously. They were literally getting mugged on the straights and unless they've radically changed the MGU-K then I'm not convinced.
Soldato
Clearly Hartley has driven the car and I haven't. But watching the Toro Rosso try and go around turn 5, and seeing the driver's head visibly move backwards and forwards as the throttle is feathered on and off didn't looked terribly drivable to me. It looked a lot like the first run out of the Renault V6 engines at the first test in Jerez (well, not quite as bad as that!).
I imagine that the truth lies somewhere in between. Toro Rosso (and Red Bull) are not going to stick the knife into Honda at this stage of the relationship, particularly as Red Bull need a decent Honda engine in order to effectively negotiate with Renault for next season and beyond.
Man of Honour
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Mercedes seemingly stronger than they were in last years testing. Worrying for the other teams given their ability to develop a car.