F1 testing spree promising

The eight days of pre-season testing have come to an end and this year it’s even more difficult to make worthwhile predictions on who’s who in the 2018 F1 season’s pecking order.

The teams put in some surprisingly good lap times, despite a number of laps that were seriously hampered by cold and wet weather.

The temperatures were extraordinarily low for Barcelona, so attempting to extract any really useful information on the differing tyre compounds was almost impossible.

Week two was an improvement and this is reflected in the lap times.

The almost vintage record lap record held by Filipe Massa since 2008 was totally demolished, initially by Daniel Ricciardo of Red Bull and then the Ferrari of Sebastian Vettel.

In fact, several of the teams were running at around Massa’s pace during testing, a sign of the improved tyre technology and innovative engineering systems achieved since the inception of the hybrid cars.

It appears the favourites are once again the Mercedes team followed by Ferrari and a resurgent Red Bull team. Many of the pundits are reporting that Mercedes is over a second faster than the rest.

But Valtteri Bottas said: “That is incorrect. We are definitely not that far ahead of the others.”

One can only hope he means it and is not sandbagging. F1 needs an open fight for the championship this year to try and regain its popularity. It has been interesting to watch the progress of the Toro Rosso team and McLaren, who have swapped engine suppliers.

Toro Rosso Honda achieved 822 laps – the third highest behind Mercedes and Ferrari – but needs to find more pace to make an impression on the mid-field battle.

McLaren Renault looked to headed for another disastrous start to a season with multiple problems, but a lap right behind Vettel’s excellent time put Alonso second quickest. But, with only 599 laps completed, the proof of reliability is yet to be shown.

The teams have now left Spain and are on the great Antipodean trek to Melbourne where the real action begins.

Then the real picture will begin to be revealed. With the engine limitations now regulated to four per season, Renault-powered teams are reportedly possibly using four per driver.

Auto Motor und Sport reported that the French manufacturer may be advising its users to plan on four engines and take a voluntary penalty during the season.

Renault team chief Cyril Abiteboul was reported as saying: “Because the engine life is longer, it slows down the development. The balance between reliability and development for more power is incredibly hard to find.” By utilising four power units Renault can bring in more developments. Red Bull, whose TAG Heuer engine comes from the French facility, appear to approve of the plan.

Dr Helmut Marko is quoted as saying: “If you strategically plan the penalties, you will not lose so much. We started from the back in Monza last year and finished fourth.”

Still with Renault, there have been some questions regarding the rear wing of the R.B.18, but according to the team’s technical chief Nick Chester there have been no complaints.

It was noticed that the exhaust outlet is pointing upwards in the direction of the rear wing and that wing has been reinforced with heat resistant material.

Following test runs, apparently the wing showed definite signs of charring, which indicates that the car is deriving an advantage by using illegal exhaust blowing.

Chester is reported as saying: “You can arrange the exhaust in various ways and we have just put it closer to the top of the bodywork. “On most of the cars, the exhaust gas flow is directed more or less towards the wing, which is why we’ve developed a solution to make the most of the opportunities that the regulations allow.”

Chester added: “If the exhaust pipe is located where it is allowed to be, I don’t see the problem.” I guarantee that if the competitors see an advantage in this system protests will arise faster than the gas can flow over the wing.