Any lap time predictions for winter testing?

[FrukostScones]

U-Turn hairpin end of pit lane short cut most likely.

[Yurasyk]

Here we can see a confirmation that a shortcut before the turn 1 is opened these days
https://youtu.be/EixDrunQKa0?t=5s

[bauc]

At what time does the testing starts tomorrow, 8 or 9 am (Barcelona) time?

[McMrocks]

At what time does the testing starts tomorrow, 8 or 9 am (Barcelona) time?

9am CET.

At least AMUS ticker starts at 8:45 they say

[Juzh]

So if race pace is on average 4-5s faster, is there any reason to believe quali will not be the same? I predict a high 1.17 for pole lap come race weekend.

[Wass85]

Does anyone believe Massa's all time fastest lap around the circuit will be broke next week?

[Wass85]

I do wonder what times the 2004-2005 cars could do on a hot lap with slick tyres.

[godlameroso]

I'll be very surprised if we see a 1:17, probably not. I think all out these cars are capable of low 19's or high 18's.

[Juzh]

I'll be very surprised if we see a 1:17, probably not. I think all out these cars are capable of low 19's or high 18's.

I think you're in for a bit of a shock if you think low 19s is all they'll manage.

[godlameroso]

I know they're fast, but with soft tires I don't see them going faster than that. 1:17 is probably after a year of development, but I don't think we'll see that this test.

[Wass85]

I know they're fast, but with soft tires I don't see them going faster than that. 1:17 is probably after a year of development, but I don't think we'll see that this test.

We've seen the massive development of the cars from 2014-2016, does anyone believe we could get that rate of development with these cars?

[Fulcrum]

The sector times of the Alonso 2006 Pole lap were:

22.440, 29.727, 22.481 - 74.648

The best sector times from Day 3 of the first test were:

23.074, 29.713, 26.761 - 79.548

Comparing the times up to the end of Sector 2 we have:

52.167 (2006) vs. 52.787 (2017 W1)

As evidenced, Sector 2 times are faster, Sector 1 times much slower. If you factor in the temperature differential, then the Winter equivalent of Alonso's Pole lap would be faster still.

Also worth noting is the fact that Alonso's Sector 1 time represented 43.016% of his time to the end of Sector 2, while the best Sector 1 time from Winter testing so far is 43.712% of the total time to the end of Sector 2. Obviously, Alonso's data is consistent - generated by 1 car - while the best sectors are aggregates from two cars. Irrespective, I think this gives some degree of evidence that engines are running well below peak output levels. Probably also an indication of the increased drag penalty of the larger tyres.

Anyone managing to lap the circuit in 77.500 - 78.000 is probably driving in the vicinity of Alonso's 2006 Pole time.

[Fulcrum]

Relative to last year's Pole lap:

22.370 - 23.074
30.779 - 29.713
28.736 - 26.761

The slower the sector, the bigger the gain it seems - reasonable considering the increased mechanical grip. I'd expect the biggest jumps in lap time relative to last year to be in Monaco, Hungary, Singapore, and possibly Japan.

Could Baku, Canada and Monza possibly be slower than last year?

[Wass85]

I wonder how they compared to the 2005 cars over the first two sectors?

[Godius]

Apparently in a Q&A Alonso said that they (Mclaren) probably could have done a low 1:19m easily on de first week of testing but according to Alonso the Mercedes could have done a low 1:17m
http://www.marca.com/motor/formula1/201 ... b464c.html