F1 - General discussion and 2017

[caroper]

VETTEL PITS, GROSJEAN PUSHING
The Ferrari pits on his 128th lap.
The Ferrari-powered Haas of Romain Grosjean is setting personal bets sectors...
...and he's up to seventh place! A 1:22.118 thanks to the super soft tyres.

Hulkenberg manages a personal best in the first two sectors, but just fails to improve again. He's on softs.

 

[caroper]

Haas F1 Team
@HaasF1Team
View attachment 420994
.@RGrosjean pictured out on track during that last run debuting on the #PZero Reds. #F1Testing @Circuitcat_eng
https://images.scribblelive.com/2017/3/1/8bff1813-b93e-4942-9c75-300beb4b2ba3_800.jpg

 

[caroper]

THAT'S 600KM FOR VETTEL!
129 laps means that Ferrari have hit 600 kilometres for the third day of testing.
They're only a couple of laps away from two full Spanish Grand Prix race distances.

 

[caroper]

Just the Mercedes and Ferrari on track at the moment. Will they be fighting each other for wins this year? And what about Red Bull, which has kept itself quiet so far this week...

IMPROVEMENT FOR HAMILTON
The Briton is down to a 1:22.100.
He's on the soft tyre, so unless Mercedes bring him back in, he might not be challenging the top times today.

 

[caroper]

Despite only jumping in the W08 after the lunchbreak, Hamilton could still just about reach a 100 laps for his afternoon's work with the Briton just eight shorts with 10 minutes remaining on the clock.

It's been another mighty impressive day from the world champions, with a combined tally of 167 laps across their two drivers.

 

[caroper]

Red Flag:
Ah, but maybe Hamilton won't now reach the ton after all as the session has been red-flagged yet again.

This time it's a red car which has stopped on the pit straight - the Ferrari SF70-H of Sebastian Vettel. The first stoppage for the Scuderia this winter on the track, although if there's a time to have one it's in the closing minutes of a test day!

 

[caroper]

Vettel has racked up 138 laps on his own for Ferrari today - a fine feat - so perhaps this is just that SF70-H running out of fuel on the pit-straight.

That's a wrap! Not much more running after Sebastian Vettel is pulled into the garage, and that'll close Day Three.

Report coming for you very soon...

Day Three timesheet

1) Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes, 75 laps, 1:19.705

2) Sebastian Vettel, Ferrari, 139 laps, 1:19.952

3) Daniel Ricciardo, Red Bull, 70 laps, 1:21.153

4) Jolyon Palmer, Renault, 51 laps, 1:21.396

5) Nico Hulkenberg, Renault, 1:21.791

6) Marcus Ericsson, Sauber, 124 laps, 1:21.824

7) Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes, 95 laps, 1:22.090

8) Romain Grosjean, Haas, 56 laps, 1:22.118

9) Lance Stroll, Williams, 98 laps, 1:22.351

10) Fernando Alonso, McLaren, 71 laps, 1:22.598

11) Carlos Sainz, Toro Rosso, 32 laps, 1:24.029

12) Alfonso Celis, Force India, 70 laps, 1:23.568

13) Daniil Kvyat, Toro Rosso, 31 laps, 1:23.952

 

[sox63]

At least for Mclaren, 78 laps at more than crawling pace is a good showing. Suggestions though the power is fine and the problem is the chassis is surprising

 

[Polish]

At least for Mclaren, 78 laps at more than crawling pace is a good showing. Suggestions though the power is fine and the problem is the chassis is surprising

yupp, better running today and only a few secs off pace, even under testing.

there is still hope

 

[caroper]

SUMMARY

• Both Mercedes driver complete successful race simulation. Total of 165 laps for Mercedes.
• Late problems for Ferrari see Vettel stop on the pit straight.
• Lance Stroll hits the wall after losing the car on the exit of turn five.
• Stroll also spun towards the end of the morning session, stopping in the gravel trap.
• Mistake for Carlos Sainz at turn four. He ran wide and was stuck in the gravel trap, bringing out the red flags.
• Palmer spun at turn three early on due to cooler conditions, bringing out the red flag.

Youtube links for "Paddock Uncut" and "Ted’s Notebook" tomorrow morning (they only air at 11:30 PM our time).


https://pbs.twimg.com/media/C52qukdWMAAmD3w.jpg:large

 

[caroper]

[video=youtube_share;UHyxX2XMQWg]https://youtu.be/UHyxX2XMQWg[/video]

 

[caroper]

Technical Insight and Paddock Walk
[video=youtube_share;DDfdCKNtzj0]https://youtu.be/DDfdCKNtzj0[/video]

 

[caroper]

[video=youtube_share;MhaiO1-lvN0]https://youtu.be/MhaiO1-lvN0[/video]

 

[caroper]

Test Day 4 : Wet-weather runs to be held today
Driver lineup

 

[caroper]

MERCEDES AMG F1
@MercedesAMGF1

Even the @Circuitcat_eng pitlane is officially soggy this morning!
#F1Testing #F1
https://images.scribblelive.com/2017/3/2/64f8ab1d-243a-43df-9fd7-3ce6b46821ae_800.jpg

 

[mubeend]

Think anyone gonna attempt a casual stroll along the wall today.

 

[caroper]

McLaren
@McLarenF1

Wet track but no rain? It can mean only one thing. Wet tyre test! Stoff will hop back in the #MCL32 for the final day of Test 1. ☔️
#F1Testing #F1
https://images.scribblelive.com/2017/3/2/5bd7c952-89dd-48ea-bfbf-d7a75915eb76_800.jpg

 

[caroper]

It'll be interesting to see how long the track actually stays wet. The weather is nice here, a decent amount of sunshine around, so once we get some cars circulating, the water could shift pretty quickly.


https://images.scribblelive.com/2017/3/2/88609ce7-dfbd-4288-ac97-4e9b400bc6a6_800.jpg

 

[caroper]

It's not quite replicating last year's downpours in Britain and Brazil, but several water tankers have been out to douse the track - creating a 'patchy' water effect.

It's not clear if all the teams will bother to run while the track remains wet, with spare parts at a premium for most teams this early in pre-season.

There's also general uncertainty about Williams after Lance Stroll damaged the FW40 for the second time in as many days yesterday afternoon.

BREAKING NEWS FROM WILLIAMS

The team will not be running their FW40 today...

Following a thorough inspection overnight some damage to the FW40 chassis was discovered 1/3

 

[thestaggy]

Its not looking good for Stroll and Williams. Youngster can't keep it on the black stuff.