2019 Pre-Season Testing

[Chrill]

This does not start well for Williams:
https://www.racefans.net/2019/02/17/williams-will-not-run-on-first-day-of-testing/

[Matt]

Their drivers have a lot of experience in current F1 cars and 2018 was a good year for them. Should be fine.

[Chrill]

Both very true and valid points. One wonders why the top teams bother testing at all.

[Penfold]

Seems like Williams isn't going to bother with too much of it: https://www.racefans.net/2019/02/18/williams-will-not-run-on-second-day-of-testing/

[Chrill]

Well, are they even going to join the grid in Australia?

[Penfold]

The car has made it to Barcelona and should hit the track this afternoon, though they quite probably won't cover any decent mileage until tomorrow. 

[Chrill]

Ferrari looking strong so far, very strong in fact. Mercedes can match them on long runs, but not outrun them too easily. Remains to be seen how it looks when the teams really push for quali style laps. That's most likely not until next week.

[Penfold]

Shaping up to be a great battle between Ferrari & Merc, or between Seb & Lewis to be more precise - hopefully Max will be right in the mix at times.  Now though, what about the really big question: who will come out on top between Bottas & 'It is I'?  I'm going to say the youngster wins the day (year).

Sauber Romeo looking good right from the off; Haas, McLaren and Toro Rosso all appear in reasonable shape; Renault performing below expectations based on some of Hulk's comments.

[Chrill]

It's definitely advantage Sauberomeo in the midfield battle, Raikkonen recently lapped 0.9 seconds faster than Leclerc qualified in Spain in 2018. Williams running now too, we'll see if they can get some decent mileage today and tomorrow. Lots of catching up to do.

[Penfold]

That's their 2019 mantra sorted.

Sauberomeo (Alfauber?) going great guns at the moment, and wouldn't it be fantastic to see Kimi battling at the top of Formula 1.5.  Renault has now also shown a decent turn of speed, closing fast on their best times from 2018 (test & race weekend).

[Chrill]

WELL, let us rate the teams after week 1.

1: Ferrari
2: Mercedes
3: Alfa Romeo
4: Red Bull (yup, but they'll be P3 in a week)
5: Haas
6: Renault
7: McLaren
8: Toro Rosso
9: Racing Point
10: Williams

Alfa looks incredibly smooth over kerbs and under acceleration, the only part missing is the braking where they don't quite have the stability of the Ferrari or Mercedes. Red Bull has the braking down, but the cars just don't look 100 percent comfortable through corners. Ferrari and Mercedes both run like clockwork.

Racing Point is running virtually their 2018 car adapted to 2019 regs, and they do not seem fully comfortable.

[Penfold]

Sorting 4th to 7th is the tricky bit.  Doesn't help that teams insist on using different compounds, that we don't know fuel loads, engine settings, how hard drivers are pushing... basically, all the normal stuff that makes testing such a dodgy guide to actual performance.

1. Ferrari
2. Merc
3. Red Bull
4. Alfauber
5. Renault
6. McLaren
7. Haas
8. Toro Rosso
9. Racing Point
15. Williams

[Chrill]

So we rate them exactly identical bar Haas and my admittedly incorrect Alfauber Romauber rating? Good for us.

[Penfold]

I also put Williams five places lower than you.

[Chrill]

This is true.