Some people have stated that this circuit is not really the best to test on since it only really corresponds to Silverstone and Suzuka. To make things better.... it may rain Weather
Bad news for Ferrari if it rains. Look how much it put RBR back when they needed the miles with a new exhaust layout.
Mclaren may be doing a smart thing by letting Paffett and Turvey do the testing because it will give them a much more accurate comparison for the testing they do at the young driver test at Silverstone in July.
One can only hope they know what they're doing. During the busy summer only the test drivers will have the time for testing new parts in the simulator, but are all the positives enough to account for the drivers not having a go? In the long run maybe. But right now, no.
Do you mean in relation to comparing this year's tyres with next year's? It will be an advantage but I would expect Button and Hamilton to be as good as Turvey and Paffett at neutral driving. I think you're right but I'm not sure how "much more accurate" it will be. It's another reason for McLaren to want to do the young driver test at Silverstone, though. The FIA's solution to stepped noses will be interesting. They're the result of what was supposed to be an interim regulation on the way to lowering the bulkhead and ultimately all the teams are supposed to move towards a lower McLarenesque solution. McLaren would have a distinct advantage running the 2013 tyres with a 2013 chassis while everyone else is running them on a 2012 chassis. I can well imagine Ferrari and Red Bull convincing the FIA to allow them to to raise the height of the nose again...
Definitely but, then again, after bleating about wanting in-season testing back ever since it was banned and insisting the test is held in their own back yard, and then not bringing much in the way of new parts when they're so far behind and have the opportunity to do something about it, Ferrari might just have irked the weather gods somewhat.
I don't believe Lewis or Jenson would be able to learn a lot about the car let alone the tyres over the 3 days. Turvey and Paffett are good drivers and it would be a waste to not use them to find out problems that the 2 main guys might not have noticed before. They wouldn't put them in there if they weren't capable and McLaren seem to think that as well. Also the wet weather won't do many favours either with collecting data so Lewis and Jenson might as well relax and get ready for the european stint.
Well everything really. Mclaren will be able to test tyres stuff, setup work, aero work, etc at Mugello and then be able to do more tyres, setup work, aero work, etc at Silverstone in July with the same two drivers doing the testing and giving the feedback. However well you can drive neutral, different drivers are still going to have different preferences and provide different types of feedback; but with Mclaren using the same drivers for both tests they will be able to provide a baseline at Mugello and then a comparison at Silverstone.
I don't think any driver that takes part in actual F1 testing should be driving at the Young Driver Test, it's unfair on teams who use race drivers at Mugello, and defeats the point in having the young test.
Apparently all tyre compounds are going to Mugello, but with limited numbers of super softs (Paul Hembery's twitter)
And also having 4 drivers with a feel of the car means double the accuracy of considering rooms of improvement. 4 opinions and feedbacks are better than 2 I say when involved in a sport like this. Mclaren are making the right decision I believe, yet a few fans reckon Whitmarsh has gone crazy or something.
