Pre-Season Testing 2013

[tderias]

CMIIW, it's not 2 tenths, but 1.2secs faster than his own pole last year (last year was 1.21.707), which He had to stop because of out of fuel... It's a very very good lap indeed.

Probably because of track temperature, but as far as I know, the hotter the track, the faster the time. I never thought of the contrary... But yes, we still not know about long run pace concerning with tyre degradation. But in long run pace, Mercedes seems as fast as Ferrari and RB. I don't know but I see good car for Mercedes in this early stage of 2013 season.

Oops. Yep you are correct. Looks like F1 cars are faster this year, several drivers are dialling in 1:20s now. I heard that Pirelli made better gripping tires so they did expect faster lap times.

[phil1993]

There's that, as well as that 2013 cars are largely a development of 2012 cars. Even Caterham and Marussia can do low 1.23s. I think that the top teams could do 1.19s, maybe even 1.18s if they pushed hard.

[tderias]

Yep. Although 1.18s I can only see them made on Super Softs, and not all the top teams will be that fast imo. Definitely it won't be Ferrari.

Last year's pole was 1.21.7, but that was on the medium compound. So tyre difference can be the reasoning behind the fast lap times.

[Ether]

oh yes, I forgot that tyres in race are not the same with those in tests. I guess 1.18.8-9 or so is achievable using super softs, but in mediums I think probably around 1.21secs, so it is still comparable to last year pole. That way, I think it's still unclear, and too early to judge that Mercedes is fast eoungh to compete with RB. I think it's still a close battle. But in today's tests, Alonso vs Rosberg seems to be won by Mercedes, which is quite surprising!

So Mercedes in this early stage of 2013 has created quite comparable fast car, probably faster than ferrari (right now). Glad to see a little bit of comparison as Alonso run on fast laps as well..

[phil1993]

Comments that I've read from people going to the test and a couple of media guys seem to suggest that Mercedes has pace. Of course pace needs to be combined with tyre preservation.

If you combine their comments it seems to be Red Bull > Mercedes/Lotus > McLaren/Ferrari > Sauber, Williams, Force India > STR > Caterham/Marussia.

An Autosport article suggested McLaren is struggling to understand their car but once they do, it gives them greater development potential.

[tderias]

Alonso and Rosberg having a nice duel...

[mikhailv]

Hamilton needs to change his helmet, or rosberg. I know its different shades of yellow, but cmon, there needs to be distinction

[Vlad-SRB]

Too much alike, same here.

[iceman1]

Brilliant picture!

[mikhailv]

Brilliant picture!

I only knew it was nico because his names on the gloves! thats the problem!

Cant lewis use his amazing singapore helmet;



Would be SO much better, change the red the petronas green. Job done.

[tderias]

Kimi and The Queen both suffering from a stomach bug.

May the conspiracy theories commence

[iceman1]

Philipo what is the total laps done by the teams till now?

[phil1993]

Philipo what is the total laps done by the teams till now?

Not sure. After Test 2 it was:
Sauber - 2175 miles
RBR - 1955
STR - 1859
Mercedes - 1855
Ferrari - 1815
Force India - 1800
McLaren - 1734
Caterham - 1725
Lotus - 1463
Marussia - 1302
Williams - 1061

Marussia's press release says "We’ve achieved 904 laps and 4003kms" - so that's their total. As for the other teams I don't know. Can work it out but it's a lot of effort.

[iceman1]

Philipo what is the total laps done by the teams till now?

Not sure. After Test 2 it was:
Sauber - 2175 miles
RBR - 1955
STR - 1859
Mercedes - 1855
Ferrari - 1815
Force India - 1800
McLaren - 1734
Caterham - 1725
Lotus - 1463
Marussia - 1302
Williams - 1061

Marussia's press release says "We’ve achieved 904 laps and 4003kms" - so that's their total. As for the other teams I don't know. Can work it out but it's a lot of effort.

Thanks. I asked because usually you post the total table at the end of day 4.

[phil1993]

Test 3 number of laps for each team:

Mercedes 131, 117, 120, 113
Ferrari 120, 94, 102, 112
McLaren 122, 101, 72, 100
Sauber 118, 99, 79, 92
Lotus 50, 46, 16, 88, 52
Force India 112, 109, 62, 57
Williams 42, 31, 34, 31, 75, 85
Red Bull 100, 59, 65, 90
Caterham 116, 126, 48, 83
Marussia 62, 49, 74, 75, 78
STR 91, 114, 61, 59

You can add that up