Look at the engine cover. Massively different
Alonso is looking fast in the Aston Martin
Not hearing good things about McLaren. Seems only Haas are slower so far.
Alonso looking good.
Even the Williams are looking like they have made a step forward (or is that me just being optimistic?).
Ferrari & Red Bull looking to be the ones to beat (Red Bull looking like they've come out of the blocks flying).
McLaren looking a bit cak, which is a shame for Norris.
Merc looking like they have still not got the pace to stick with Red Bull & Ferrari (assuming Ferrari don't implode like last year).
stumpy01
Full MemberEven the Williams are looking like they have made a step forward (or is that me just being optimistic?).
Hard to say, but i'm cautiously optimistic! Sargeant looks to be doing a good job
I like watching the testing if only to see how the new cars look but, and im not sure if this is still happening (im meaning the underweight to look good) but whos running under weight to look fast to try and bag a few extra £££ from sponsors? who up front is sandbagging to not give anything away and of course whos running at their true pace?
At least we dont have long to find out.
and im not sure if this is still happening (im meaning the underweight to look good) but whos running under weight to look fast to try and bag a few extra £££ from sponsors?
Not really anymore - they all seem well funded.
The opposite, no one wants to show their real pace.
And did anyone see Ted's Notebook last night? WTF was he doing carving lumps out of cheese! A load of waffle from drivers and very little 'tech'.
Potentially light fuel, but given the teams are going bare carbon to save weight I doubt anyone is running underweight to look good.
A few of the bigger teams will just be running their programmes and not really caring about times.
Red Bull are looking strong again and their pace will be real
Ferrari/Merc look fairly even
Hoping the Aston pace is genuine and Alonso may be able to battle at the front of the mid-pack
Similar with Williams, although battling at the back
McLaren seem like they are struggling again, so Piastri may regret not being in the Alpine
Alpine wouldn’t guarantee a 2023 drive for Piastri - so he signed for McLaren - then Vettel retired and Alonso left!
Alonso may, for once, have moved to a better team.
Alonso may, for once, have moved to a better team.
Which suggests Alpine are probably trying a little bit harder than everyone else to get a good time...😆😆
Just started watching DTS - team bosses in a small car is a great feature, needs more of that. Then on to everyone telling George that his new car looks shit 😂
Hamilton showing a little pace, briefly topping the leader board
Hamilton showing a little pace, briefly topping the leader board
But on a softer tyre than perez - not clear if that actually helped Hamilton over a full lap though, but (with respect to perez) we know that verstappen would be a few tenths quicker too.
Oh and it's only testing, times don't mean a thing until this time next week.
This was fun
But on a softer tyre than perez – not clear if that actually helped Hamilton over a full lap though, but (with respect to perez) we know that verstappen would be a few tenths quicker too.
Ant was saying on Sky it looked like the rears had gone before the end of the lap on Lewis’s car.
C5 is basically too soft for this circuit and C3 will be the soft for the race. Merc had no new C4s left to do a run on those which Ant felt would be better as they’d last a lap.
But, you know, just testing! 🤣🤣
Yep, nice to see a glimmer of hope tho!
How about Honda to buy Alpha Tauri?
Anyone seen any more about Lando punching walls at McLaren. Saw something in Twitter but can’t remember who posted it now!
EDIT: Found it - Will Buxton he’s back-tracking now!…
https://twitter.com/wbuxtonofficial/status/1629755259693195265?s=12&t=2TTcaRY0HXvYTZW3jWJ9LA
Lando punching walls at McLaren
Can see his frustration as presumably he signed such a long contract in anticipation of them making progress. He needs to be careful punching walls though, or there might be 2 teams after Vettel next weekend!
How about Honda to buy Alpha Tauri?
It's not for sale.
It’s not for sale.
officially
If it was for sale, Michael Andretti would have bought it.
If Red Bull agreed to sell it to him. They’ll not do so unless there’s more in it for them than money. Such as an agreement that RB get to propose drivers, or that the buyer will use RB Powertrain engines. Mercedes as a works team have arguably done as well as RB in terms of nurturing talent and have done so without a b-team, but leveraging the engine supplier route. RB might take a similar approach.
Such as an agreement that RB get to propose drivers, or that the buyer will use RB Powertrain engines.
Can't see Honda buying a team on condition they run Ford engines, let alone that they agree to running Ford development drivers. If Red Bull want to sell it, they aren't going to be able to keep running it as their B team.
If it was for sale, Michael Andretti would have bought it.
Andretti won't be in F1 - he's all talk.
WTF is up with F1 today - we thought Miami was bad. Seems they aren't after fans in the US, just celebs and influencers who want to be seen without any of that pesky noise in the background...
https://www.racefans.net/2023/02/28/no-support-races-at-formula-1s-las-vegas-grand-prix/
If anyone is looking for someone new to follow - this guy posts some fantastic old and new F1 and motorsport photos...
https://twitter.com/NetoDemetriou
Any more info on Stroll's injury?
I saw an article yesterday saying the rumour is that he's broken both wrists. If that's true, he won't be back in the car any time soon, will he? 6 weeks min, I would have thought?
Will be a bit embarrassing/awkward if Drugovich gets a few races under his belt & shows him up.
Not sure that Arsula Undress's driving suit would meet modern standards.
Any more info on Stroll’s injury?
Hes been in the simulator, so its not overly serious.
Guessing the decision will be if hes recovered enough to do a full race distance.
The second seat next to Alonso is going to be a poised chalice, as almost everyone else is going to look very average.
Good to hear Jennie Gow on Chequered Flag podcast (albeit v briefly)
It was, although it sounds like it's a long road to recovery for her. Fingers crossed it's quicker - I think she's an excellent presenter; I listen to the 5live race broadcasts all the time as a non Sky person...
After FP2 there are 8 cars all within about a little under a 10th of each other. This time last year there were 4 cars within a second
Let’s hope that gets replicated in the race
Let’s hope that gets replicated in the race
I know practice times don't mean anything, but I would love to see that FP2 order as the starting grid.
'Nando (nearly) matched max in his long run, obviously you don't know fuel etc but it's looking good for them
Chew
Hes been in the simulator, so its not overly serious.
Guessing the decision will be if hes recovered enough to do a full race distance.
He was having to take different lines today in fp2 because his hands were hurting
1.9s covering the whole field!
Edit: 1 tiny mistake and you’re out in Q 1/2, could be interesting
I know practice times don’t mean anything
From FP2 it seems that the long run pace of redbull will make it a race for 3rd - but I'd love to see Nando getting in the mix.
thepurist
Full MemberI know practice times don’t mean anything
From FP2 it seems that the long run pace of redbull will make it a race for 3rd – but I’d love to see Nando getting in the mix.
Alonso was only 0.02 back from max!
Alonso was only 0.02 back from max
Benson reckoned he was under fuelled compared to the red bulls and he did a strange run pattern. I really hope that pace is representative though - would love to see Nando with his elbows out against max.
get Drugovich back in there!
There’s a time limit for being able to get out of the car isn’t there? Can’t remember what it is but was discussed a lot when the halo came in. Doesn’t look like he’d be able to pass it from those photos
I can think of nothing worse than a Verstappen/Alonso battle all season...can't stand either of them. I know Alonso is supposed to be one of the greats, but to me he's a backstabbing, conniving, cheaty git - (There's no way he wasn't 100% complicit in "crashgate")
I can think of nothing worse than a Verstappen/Alonso battle all season…can’t stand either of them. I know Alonso is supposed to be one of the greats, but to me he’s a backstabbing, conniving, cheaty git – (There’s no way he wasn’t 100% complicit in “crashgate”)
Its a duel destined for a crash and a punch up. I haven't caught up yet, about to settle in for Beer and highlights.
