Here’s hoping for clear skies
PRE-SEASON: F1 TESTING EFFECTIVELY LOST DUE TO SNOW, SUB-ZERO TEMPERATURES, RAIN
Renault, Toro Rosso, Aston Martin Red Bull, Haas and Sahara Force vying for glory.
The first pre-season F1 testing is over and the weather certainly added an extra dimension to the programme. Heavy rain, sub zero temperatures and snow are not the norm in sunny Spain, but there we were. So what have we learned so far? As expected, not a lot. It is always difficult to obtain meaningful information at this stage as not one team is keen to show their hand, but there were some encouraging results.
McLaren and Toro Rosso must be a lot happier than last season when they both had a very torrid time.
The Faenza-based team ended the first test sessions last year with only 183 laps on the board and the Woking team with 208 laps.
Interesting that Toro Rosso was Renault powered and McLaren powered by a Honda engine at that stage.
This season the two teams have swapped power unit suppliers – and the results are fascinating.
McLaren have logged 260 laps with Stoffel Vandoorne running 147 of those, Toro Rosso topped the sheets with 324 laps, 229 completed by Pierre Gasly.
It appears reliability is looking promising but you have to consider that they are well off the pace of Ferrari and Mercedes.
This week could see an improvement.
Often the second session of pre-season testing, which was due to commence yesterday, is the real indicator of relative speed differentials.
Williams and Renault must be reasonably happy with a tally of 276 and 273 laps.
The Alfa Romeo Sauber outfit clocked up a very impressive 283 laps using this year’s power plant from Maranello.
The three teams yet to show the true potential of this year’s cars are Aston Martin Red Bull accumulating 209 laps, Haas earning 187 and Sahara Force India just 166 laps.
No surprises at the top of the table with Mercedes and Ferrari setting an impressive pace and excellent durability with 306 laps for the Brackley team and the Scuderia a creditable 298.
With a day effectively lost due to snow the teams will be hoping for better climatic conditions this week.
Melbourne gets ever closer.