2023 Pre-Season Testing Discussion

kravitz is a ****ing idiot.

just cos you got some publicity for being a div with a babybel last year doesn't mean the same crap works this year.

 

Verstappen is out now. he is going to fire in a fast time now cos he will be then finished testing by end of the day.

 

Usual pre season testing caveats apply, but I wouldnt bet on Ferrari or Mercedes taking the fight to Red Bull based on what we've seen so far

 

Spot on- he did a great time when the track was still hot too. So ominous but I still think Ferrari are very close

 

Very, very little to suggest the top 2 teams won’t be Red Bull and Ferrari is there?

Other than Aston Martin, who look to have made an excellent step relative to where they were (and who knows, maybe an even bigger one but let’s see what it’s like when all is turned up to 10), the midfield has been incredibly disappointing.

McLaren and Alpine look absolutely nowhere.
Alpha Tauri seem to be no better- whilst Alfa Romeo and Haas look steady but not threatening. Williams still not great.


Mercedes look locked into no man’s land for the opening race - there must be a B-Spec or something else up their sleeve as they seem calm. In a way I hope Aston leapfrog them to give everyone a kick up the arse.

Early days but I’m underwhelmed by what I see.

 

I think we underestimate Mercedes at our peril, that they've continued down the no side-pod route says enough to me. If they unlock the potential they believe their data has shown, it could be a return to the unchallenged dominance they had at the start of the 2nd turbo era, as that is a lot of drag to lose with a greater scope for air-flow control imo.

 

I think you might have a good point. They kept the slim sidepods but added open ducts behind the halo towards the rear to direct flow to the rear wing. I'm assuming that most of their issue last year was caused by the underfloor. So if they have fixed the underfloor then they should have less drag with those sidepods.

I really hope their can be 3 teams in the fight this year but I feel Merc have not hit the ground running and will be a late starter.

 

A promising headline time for Hamilton today, although he was on the C5 tyre to everyone else’s C4, so perhaps not.

 

Wasn't far of with verstappens time but perez was given the free run at 1:30:6 is just about pole last year.

Perez gets the glory then

 

Last few mins of testing and we have a little battle.
Looking forward to next weekend.

 

Well... Though it's just testing and maybe shouldn't read too much in to it, It does feel like this could be stroll for RBR.

Long way to go, but if they can capitalize early, then the rest of the field could be in big trouble.

As for Macca... What is going on there?

 

mclaren are either too heavy or too.much drag.

the articles I saw were talking about drag.

 

After the last few years, where after 8 days running it was “nobody really knows”, it’s interesting that this year after only three days running, everyone who has been following closely seems to have a clear consensus to the order - at least at the front. This suggests to me that the RB and the Ferrari are clearly separated from the rest and each other unfortunately and that much of the interest this year could be at the head of the midfield, with potentially some spicy Alonso/Hamilton battles at points during the year.

 

Well the engine lock down and budget caps means it was always evolution not revolution so a lot of copying has gone on but the main thing is every car more or less had reliability.

the red bull is faster than last years.

the Ferrari is faster than last years

the merc is more stable but looks very unbalanced so far.

the mclaren is not faster bit at least it's brakes work.

the Aston team talks a lot.

 

Interesting vid from Ted:

 

the merc guy didn't want to admit one thing. he basically only said what was public knowledge but the comparisons of rear wings between the 3 teams is interesting

 

reports from testing are that we might just have a repeat of last season.

ferrari competitive in quali over 1 lap, but the test hints towards them just chewing up tyres and losing performance as a result.

 

That would be a real shame- it was an absolute snooze fest from midway last year, and these great big clobbering cars with massive wheels.

We desperately need some teams to step up and surprise.

 

Bahrain preview on Sky right now.

I’ve already gotten sick of Crofty and Craig Slater. What absolutely dreadful broadcasting from Sky- they just cannot have a conversation without fawning over Mercedes.

Ant Davidson levels above these twits

 

That`s the one thing I`m dreading for this new season.`Crofty`. So looking forward to everything else,but this clown is always at the back of my mind and I know he`s going to be on my TV again shouting at me. Can`t there be some sort of campaign to get him out ?Should have gone with Johnny Herbert and Paul di Resta.