The 2016 Pre-Season Testing Thread

Post by **Ataxia** » 22 Feb 2016, 11:52

We're approaching lunchtime at Barcelona on the opening day, so I thought I'd start this thread.

Sauber are using their 2015 C34 for this test as they put the finishing touches to their new car, whilst Alfonso Celis Jr will be doing two days in the Force India.

A red flag put a brief pause on the session after Romain Grosjean's front wing came off; Haas will have to work on strengthening that to deal with high loads on a consistent basis. As Autosport said, it's not uncommon; Hamilton had a similar issue two years ago, ending with his car in the wall.

Jan Magnussen · Post by **Rob Dylan** » 22 Feb 2016, 16:25

Hey, want to see me tempt fate? Here goes!

The McLaren looks somewhat reliable :shock:

58 laps for Button so far, and the session's not over yet. How many laps did they manage in the entire first testing week last year?

SuzukiSwift · Post by **SuzukiSwift** » 22 Feb 2016, 19:08

McLaren did better than I expected.

Dj_bereta · Post by **Dj_bereta** » 22 Feb 2016, 20:02

Looks like Maldonado isn't missing anything. Looks like Renault will repeat what McLaren did in the last year but with Manor much more closer.

Post by **mario** » 22 Feb 2016, 20:15

SuzukiSwift wrote:McLaren did better than I expected.

McLaren do seem to be pleased that the data they're collecting on track ties up well with their models, although it seems Boullier was hoping to cover even more mileage.

Generally, though, I imagine that a number of teams will be reasonably pleased with how testing went today. Most of the teams managed to complete a reasonable number of laps, and the observations from some of Autosport's commentators suggest that Ferrari and McLaren seemed to have pretty stable cars (with Toro Rosso and Haas also getting something of a mention as well).

Over at Mercedes, meanwhile, I imagine that they will be very pleased with the fact that their runs were very consistent and the car was extremely reliable, with Hamilton racking up close to double the amount of miles of his next nearest competitor (Mercedes will, no doubt, be very keen to iron out any possibility of reliability issues if Ferrari have closed up on them - it seems Ferrari may be more competitive, but there have been a few whispers that increased performance has come at the cost of reduced reliability).

All in all, whilst it is really too early to say much more, it sounds as if things have gone fairly smoothly today for most teams - it will be interesting to see what the longer runs from the next few days indicate.

DanielPT · Post by **DanielPT** » 23 Feb 2016, 10:40

I like how Haas as it the ground running and doesn't look way off the pace. Manor also seems to have closed in as they are some 2.8 seconds faster than their qualifying times last year! It was bad having the "old" teams some 3 to 4 seconds clear of the "new" teams. Now, if Haas has some success in the back of the midfield that could encourage more people to take the jump. In this day an age, it is hard to get in there alone. Partnerships seem the new way to go. Renault looks to have improved their engine as RBR found for now some 2s between this year and last year qualifying pace and I am sure not all of it was due to the chassis or Tag Heuer branding...

Wallio · Post by **Wallio** » 23 Feb 2016, 15:45

Here;'s a stupid question. Teams are only allowed to run one car now due to "cost savings". So do they just bring one car and switch out the seats and numbers for each driver, or do they still bring two tubs? If they still bring both, how do they save any money?

DanielPT · Post by **DanielPT** » 23 Feb 2016, 16:50

Wallio wrote:Here;'s a stupid question. Teams are only allowed to run one car now due to "cost savings". So do they just bring one car and switch out the seats and numbers for each driver, or do they still bring two tubs? If they still bring both, how do they save any money?

Either they bring both tubs or not, I will say they save on fuel, tyres, parts and, more importantly, in staff and all that comes with it that otherwise would need to be duplicated in order to run two parallel testing programs.

Post by **mario** » 23 Feb 2016, 18:28

DanielPT wrote:
Wallio wrote:Here;'s a stupid question. Teams are only allowed to run one car now due to "cost savings". So do they just bring one car and switch out the seats and numbers for each driver, or do they still bring two tubs? If they still bring both, how do they save any money?

Either they bring both tubs or not, I will say they save on fuel, tyres, parts and, more importantly, in staff and all that comes with it that otherwise would need to be duplicated in order to run two parallel testing programs.

I believe that the teams do tend to bring a spare chassis with them in case one is damaged.

DanielPT is right that the main savings don't come directly from the cars themselves, but from the fact that the teams require less manpower in order to operate.

Post by **Miguel98** » 23 Feb 2016, 19:14

And following the pre-season testing...

http://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/f1-teams-agree-elimination-style-qualifying-for-2016-675278/

Hum.. What?! Like, what sort of drugs are this guys doing? It's an interesting idea, but I feel like that it won't matter much. Everyone will just go on the softs and pray they don't ruin their laps. It's basically 1 lap qualifying system, but multiple times over a session. Or once, since it won't matter much if the running order is always the same. And seeing that 2017 bodywork, power unit supplies and cockpit protection was discussed, we have to wait a bit more to see what sort of other stuff we'll come out.

FullMetalJack · Post by **FullMetalJack** » 23 Feb 2016, 23:46

I know it's only winter testing, which is rarely an indication of who's competitive and who's not, but it's very encouraging to see Manor and Haas mixing it with the other teams. Here's hoping the pace is genuine, because exciting times are ahead for the two teams if it is.

CoopsII · Post by **CoopsII** » 24 Feb 2016, 09:34

FullMetalJack wrote:I know it's only winter testing, which is rarely an indication of who's competitive and who's not, but it's very encouraging to see Manor and Haas mixing it with the other teams.

It really is. I mean, just the fact that they're running puts them ahead of some teams in the past.

DanielPT · Post by **DanielPT** » 24 Feb 2016, 10:34

CoopsII wrote:
FullMetalJack wrote:I know it's only winter testing, which is rarely an indication of who's competitive and who's not, but it's very encouraging to see Manor and Haas mixing it with the other teams.

It really is. I mean, just the fact that they're running puts them ahead of some teams in the past.

From what I saw thus far, the pace is genuine. I mean, they are mixing with the big guys using the same tyres as them and, from what I could assess thus far, doing decent mileage and no glory runs. It really is encouraging.

Also, between Manor and Haas, I think that the inexperienced Manor line-up might set them back in that particular battle.

FullMetalJack · Post by **FullMetalJack** » 24 Feb 2016, 17:27

At the end of day 3, Nico Hulkenberg is quickest with Romain Grosjean 2nd in the Haas. Things are looking very good for the new boys on the block.

Haas seemingly doing well is really making me look forward to the new season more and more.

Post by **Ataxia** » 24 Feb 2016, 17:27

FullMetalJack wrote:At the end of day 3, Nico Hulkenberg is quickest with Romain Grosjean 2nd in the Haas.

I think we can go ahead and end the season here, really...

Wallio · Post by **Wallio** » 24 Feb 2016, 17:35

Glad to see Haas up there but more importantly glad to see them rack up some mileage today. Glad to see FI at the top, although the massive (nearly 3 second) gap makes me wonder if the quick tie wasn't a glory run? Merc's massive lap count, and Honda's(!) too are damn impressive as well.

SuzukiSwift · Post by **SuzukiSwift** » 24 Feb 2016, 19:41

Nice to see Haas up there, testing times be damned.

rachel1990 · Post by **rachel1990** » 24 Feb 2016, 21:17

Its not looking bad for Manor so far especially since Mclaren and Renault don't look great. Possibly some points available early in the year
(Mclaren might be sandbagging but god knows why).

WeirdKerr · Post by **WeirdKerr** » 24 Feb 2016, 22:22

having watch formula 1 for what seams millennia (technicaly correct seeing as I started watching in 1987)I just ignore the times in testing as its... lol slightly meaningless as teams can run light....

Nessafox · Post by **Nessafox** » 24 Feb 2016, 23:15

So far i think
-Haas got their act together, and the more pictures i see of that car, the more i like it. It somewhat reminds me of an early days American fighter jet.
-Force India is showing off a bit too much to know where they really stand. Probably the same level as Williams, who are trying their best to not get noticed. They're probably both decent but not specacular. Both liveries are 'same as last year'
-Mercedes is like a swiss watch. I just hope they crash into each other a few times, to give other people a chance. Their livery is a bit too dark because of the black, but i'm starting to love the combination of silver and cyan.
-Manor is okayish and seems to at least be able to mix it with Renault and McLaren and probably Sauber (altough it remains to be seen how their new car will perform). The livery is nice, but from some angles the car looks like 2 different cars botched together. But from other angles it looks good.
-Renault is in for a difficult year. Perhaps their car is black so people won't notice them and think 'oh it's just a Honda'
-McLaren might be in for another difficult year. And in some photos, the livery has the same colour as the asphalt. Everything about asphalt screams excitement. That is if you'e in a seventies german electronic band.
-Ferrari look to have some good pace, but i'm not convinced yet. The livery is growing on me, though the white part neer the front wheel suspension still looks out of place and the marlborish logo looks clumsy.
-Toro Rosso will probably will get a good start to the season.
-The Red Bull colours hurt my eyes, no matter how much i look at it. So i just hope they crash out the first corner of every race. That shade of Red, combined to the yellow is really giving me migraine. It's like the ING Renault but then ten times worse. (the matte blue looks nice, but if they could just change into a less fluorescent shade of red, please?). Unfortunately, the car is good, and they even said positive things about the engine.
-Sauber exist.

UncreativeUsername37 · Post by **UncreativeUsername37** » 24 Feb 2016, 23:24

WeirdKerr wrote:having watch formula 1 for what seams millennia (technicaly correct seeing as I started watching in 1987)I just ignore the times in testing as its... lol slightly meaningless as teams can run light....

Same here. I feel like I should be excited because "F1 is back", but since testing is often deceptive anyway, I can't bring myself to care about the first one of the year....

F1000X · Post by **F1000X** » 25 Feb 2016, 00:28

Is it just me, or does the Honda engine sound eerily like one of the blown diffuser engines of 2011?

yannicksamlad · Post by **yannicksamlad** » 25 Feb 2016, 12:32

Looking at the pics it seems that the matte Red Bull might have been chosen to avoid the effect we get on TV of all these late afternoon/ dusk/night races when the shiny cars all reflect the light and become indistinguishable ..might be a good idea. Would've been better if the blue wasn't so dark, but that wasn't really an option for them.

Jan Magnussen · Post by **Rob Dylan** » 01 Mar 2016, 15:25

New Toro Rosso.

Same as the old Toro Rosso.

DanielPT · Post by **DanielPT** » 01 Mar 2016, 15:31

Rob Dylan wrote:New Toro Rosso.

Same as the old Toro Rosso.

They are targeting podiums. It is ambitious really. Given that they present themselves with last year Ferrari engines and engine development have seen more freedom this year, their best chance would be earlier in the season and have to wait for others to not improve much... Besides being on par with Williams which I suspect is the third team at the moment. It is possible, though.

Dj_bereta · Post by **Dj_bereta** » 02 Mar 2016, 19:12

Manor 0.4 faster than Sauber in the last test with the same tyre compound. Too early to say something but this is interesting.

Post by **Bobby Doorknobs** » 03 Mar 2016, 14:00

Raikkonen tested the new halo system today, which looked... odd, to say the least.

His first impressions? The visibility was absolutely fantastic.

UncreativeUsername37 · Post by **UncreativeUsername37** » 03 Mar 2016, 21:56

I don't think the shape of that particular halo is ugly, for me it's just ugly because it looks randomly bolted on to the car instead of being an integral part. One reason it might look like that is because it was, I guess.

Obviously I can't whinge about the looks too much until something is actually finalised (or at least not quickly put together for a concept test), but as of now I don't really hate it.

Enforcer · Post by **Enforcer** » 03 Mar 2016, 23:27

Flo-Vized McLaren:

There's a livery in that.

Jan Magnussen · Post by **Rob Dylan** » 03 Mar 2016, 23:51

Reminds me of those cars in Trackmania. In a good way

Alextrax52 · Post by **Alextrax52** » 04 Mar 2016, 00:19

Whistle whistle at that McLaren in Flo Viz

Nice to see Haas doing relatively well. Anyone reckon they can score points this year?

nome66 · Post by **nome66** » 04 Mar 2016, 05:51

on an honest note, Haas have it in em to be mid-field this season.

CoopsII · Post by **CoopsII** » 04 Mar 2016, 08:13

That awkward moment when your cars' F1 livery looks better covered in gunk than when it's clean.

DanielPT · Post by **DanielPT** » 04 Mar 2016, 10:24

CoopsII wrote:[img]image[/img]

That awkward moment when your cars' F1 livery looks better covered in gunk than when it's clean.

To have a great livery and a crap car didn't sound right at McLaren. They get happier when things match perfectly, so they decided to make a crap livery to go perfectly with their crap car.

FullMetalJack · Post by **FullMetalJack** » 04 Mar 2016, 12:50

Freeze-O-Kimi wrote:Whistle whistle at that McLaren in Flo Viz

Nice to see Haas doing relatively well. Anyone reckon they can score points this year?

Yeah, a good engine along with Grosjean leading the team is a great place to start. I'd be surprised if they didn't. 9th in the WCC seems a realistic goal.

RonDenisDeletraz · Post by **RonDenisDeletraz** » 05 Mar 2016, 11:01

CoopsII wrote:

That awkward moment when your cars' F1 livery looks better covered in gunk than when it's clean.

Ron Dennis on acid.

WeirdKerr · Post by **WeirdKerr** » 05 Mar 2016, 19:28

Post by **Londoner** » 05 Mar 2016, 20:25

We got a spot of handbags, between Ricciardo and the Hulk.

Must say, I agree totally with Ricky, though it is strange to see Hulk expressing some personality for once. A nice dickish heel turn from him.

Nessafox · Post by **Nessafox** » 05 Mar 2016, 20:32

RonDenisDeletraz wrote:
CoopsII wrote:Image

That awkward moment when your cars' F1 livery looks better covered in gunk than when it's clean.

Ron Dennis on acid.

I guess anything is better than a Ron Dennis who knows what he's doing.