- Video
-
Club Roar
Captured a great grassroots sporting moment? We want to see it!Content Collections
The Roar Community
- Join
- Login
The Formula One pre-season testing continued over the weekend, with another four-day run this time at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya.
Unlike the Jerez circuit, which was the venue for first test, the track in Barcelona actually has a place on the grand prix calendar, meaning that information that teams collected from this run can give them a concise understanding of how their cars are faring.
Once again, however, it is fruitless to compare and contrast each team’s performances directly relative to each other, even on a circuit as relevant as this.
Here are another five key observations from the Barcelona test, which address more than just the fast lap times.
Is Lotus back on form?
The Enstone-based squad enjoyed better reliability compared to their new E23 Hybrid’s debut back in Jerez a few weeks ago.
In total the team were able to rack up 361 laps between their three drivers. Pastor Maldonado took control of the car for two of the four days, and was fastest overall on both days, while Lotus’ new reserve driver in the form of reigning GP2 Series champion Jolyon Palmer completed 77 laps on his debut.
Romain Grosjean on the final day completed 111 laps, also with the quickest time, albeit on the super-soft tyres.
Overall the feedback on the new Mercedes-Benz powered E23 Hybrid has been positive. The team, along with their drivers, have stressed that it has not been as simple as ‘strapping a Mercedes-Benz engine in the back’ and going fast. All the components have had to be meticulously linked together in order for the full package to run.
And considering where Lotus is coming from in 2014 drivability and reliability, these signs only speak praise for what lies ahead.
McLaren upbeat despite faulty car
Reliability once again plagued McLaren’s progress during this second test, with a faulty seal on the MGU-K component of the Honda power-unit having been the issue since day one.
That didn’t stop Fernando Alonso, however, on day two, putting together a consistent run of 59 laps as well as a lap time that was the closest to the leading car so far over the pre-season.
Unfortunately for the team, their final day was ended prematurely after a nasty crash involving the Spaniard hitting the wall between turns three and four. As a result he was airlifted to a local hospital and kept under observation overnight for further signs of concussion.
McLaren confirmed that their driver was uninjured and conscious.
Nevertheless there was only optimism coming out of the McLaren camp, with Jenson Button having told Autosport that “we are not going to have a race-winning car at the first race, but we might have one at the last race”.
Illness can’t even stop Lewis Hamilton
Reigning world champion Lewis Hamilton demonstrated that not even a fever will stop him from defending his title this year.
The Mercedes AMG driver was forced to abandon his running on the first day of the test after he succumbed to a fever, allowing the team’s reserve driver Pascal Wehrlein to debut for the Silver Arrows.
However, on day two when his teammate Nico Rosberg was due to run for the entirety of the day, a croaky Hamilton was back in the car to cover for the German, who was being cautious about a trapped nerve in his neck.
With only less than half a second separating him from leading car on the day and a total of 89 laps, Hamilton displayed the might of a Formula One driver and a world champion.
On top of that, the Silver Arrows once again showed how far ahead they are compared to their rivals as they were able to run full race simulations across the four-day test.
Red Bull enjoy better reliability
After what was a fairly low key outing in Jerez, Red Bull, still with their camouflage livery, were able to punch in more laps than the previous test.
Between Daniel Ricciardo and Daniil Kvyat, a total of 417 laps were completed, including Ricciardo’s fastest overall time on day two.
Despite the improvement with reliability, the team still are expressing their discontent with the performance from their Renault power-unit. It seems that even with only two teams to supply power-units to now, Renault are still lacking the progress that it appears Ferrari have made over the off-season, and definitely are behind Mercedes-Benz.
Force India was allowed to use their 2014 car?
Yes, despite rather controversially blocking the newly resurrected Manor Racing team from being allowed to race with the 2014 Marussia chassis this year, Force India for the second test in a row have been unable to debut their VJM08.
They missed the first test in favour of more wind tunnel testing time, and it was speculated that they may have even missed the first test in Barcelona. However they had made it to Barcelona, though with their 2014 car.
On two of the four days, the team were leased Pascal Wehrlein, the Mercedes AMG reserve and test driver.
Rumours have been rife though about the team potentially encountering financial strains and there is even a risk that they may not make it to the first race in Melbourne. With the acquirement of an array of new sponsorship from Mexico over the off-season, it is difficult to comprehend where the team lack funding now.
The final test of the pre-season will commence on February 26, with this being the last opportunity for the teams to have track time before the first practice session in Melbourne on Friday March 13.
Looking for great odds on racing and sport? Get into the action with PlayUp today. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.