All articles tagged with #pre season testing
Red Bull impresses in pre-season testing with their RB20, while Alpine and Haas struggle for mileage and pace. Ferrari shows promise with improved race simulations, Mercedes sees improvement from last year, and Williams faces challenges with mechanical issues. RB and Aston Martin are seen as potential dark horses for the upcoming season.
Pre-season Formula 1 testing indicates that Red Bull may have a slight advantage over Ferrari and Mercedes in one-lap pace, while Ferrari shows promising race pace. Aston Martin and McLaren also demonstrate competitive performance, while Haas lags behind. The gaps between teams are small, making the order somewhat volatile as the season approaches.
Ferrari tops the timesheets on the final day of pre-season testing in Bahrain, but Red Bull's impressive performance suggests they remain the team to beat in 2024, with a 0.2s advantage per lap over Mercedes and Ferrari in long runs. Mercedes shows improvement compared to last year, while Ferrari continues to make gains and remains competitive. Aston Martin, although not as strong as last year, still appears to be in the mix for best of the rest in race pace.
The F1 pre-season testing in Bahrain revealed that lap times don't guarantee the testing order, with Ferrari's Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc setting headline laps on softer tires not used during the race weekend. Red Bull Racing, particularly Max Verstappen, showed strong raw pace, hinting at a potential advantage. Other teams like Aston Martin, Mercedes, and McLaren also made progress, but the true performance order remains uncertain ahead of the Bahrain Grand Prix.
Red Bull team principal Christian Horner faces an awkward and tense situation as he continues in his roles amid an investigation into allegations against him, with an uncomfortable exchange during a press conference at Formula 1 pre-season testing. While Horner sidestepped questions about the investigation, other F1 figures emphasized the need for transparency and rigour in the investigation. The FIA and F1/Liberty Media have made minimal comments, expressing a desire for a fair and thorough process. The investigation, which has been ongoing for several weeks, is expected to continue into the opening race of the season in Bahrain, with pressure to resolve it quickly due to speculation and misinformation. Ford, a major partner of Red Bull, has urged transparency and thoroughness in the investigation.
Max Verstappen dominated the first day of pre-season testing in Bahrain, setting the fastest time in both morning and afternoon sessions, while also racking up impressive mileage. McLaren and Ferrari followed on the timesheets, with Lando Norris and Carlos Sainz taking over from their teammates. Williams' Logan Sargeant faced disruptions, and George Russell was the sole Mercedes driver in action. Haas pair Kevin Magnussen and Nico Hulkenberg finished at the bottom, with Lewis Hamilton and Sergio Perez set to join the action on Thursday.
Max Verstappen and Red Bull set the pace on the opening morning of pre-season testing at the Bahrain International Circuit, with Charles Leclerc in second for Ferrari and Fernando Alonso in third for Aston Martin. George Russell was the first driver on track, while Albon and Ocon had moments during the session. Haas encountered issues, leaving Magnussen at the foot of the order, and a host of driver changes are expected during the lunch break.
Formula 1 pre-season testing in Bahrain will provide insight into key storylines for the upcoming season, including Red Bull's new car design, Aston Martin's performance, Haas's struggles, McLaren's post-launch updates, and the dynamics between Mercedes and Lewis Hamilton. Additionally, the late appearance of the Williams car raises questions, while Ferrari's conservative approach and Mercedes' new front wing design will be under scrutiny. The controversial "Red Bull clone" car and the ongoing investigation into Red Bull team principal Christian Horner also add intrigue to the testing.
Ferrari has revealed its overhauled 2024 Formula 1 car, the SF-24, which the team claims is "95% new" compared to its predecessor. The car aims to provide a positive driving experience for its drivers, Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz, and maximize the potential of the power unit. The SF-24 features a largely unchanged livery from its predecessor, with some subtle differences. This unveiling leaves only Mercedes, McLaren, and Red Bull to complete their car launches before pre-season testing in Bahrain next week.