2024-02-24 12:01:00
On the final day of the 2024 F1 Bahrain test, Ferrari topped the time sheets. However, Red Bull Racing’s silky smooth performance left their rivals in no doubt that they would defeat Red Bull in the 2024 season. On the third day of testing, were there any signs that the following teams would give the champion trouble in the record-breaking calendar of 2024? Analyzed by Formula1.com.
Red Bull RB20 is a threat Like many teams, Red Bull focused on long runs to better understand the RB20, which is dramatically different from its predecessor. The results were positive, with Max Verstappen stating that “the performance of the car was very strong”. . Teammate Sergio Perez was equally happy and said he was feeling “very positive”. His feedback was that he was able to get used to the car and adapt to some tweaks to the set-up. Last year we consistently struggled in these two areas. Naturally, Red Bull are playing down Verstappen and Perez’s impressive performance on the final day when they shared the running, but the overwhelming consensus in the paddock is that Red Bull are the better team. The data also supports this. According to data from Formula1.com, based on the final day’s running, Red Bull has a 0.2 second per lap advantage over Mercedes and Ferrari on long runs, and maintains the same advantage over Ferrari on single laps. . Mercedes continues solid start Mercedes are not too excited about their 2024 F1 car, the W15, but there is a noticeable change in their mood compared to this time last year. Technical chief James Allison said the team was in a “world of pain” during the 2023 pre-season when car mistakes became apparent. However, after the third day of 2024 testing, George Russell and Lewis Hamilton say they are in good shape for the opening race. Hamilton completed 123 laps around the Bahrain International Circuit, the second-highest number of laps in a single day during testing. He reported that the car felt more drivable and stable compared to the W14. According to the data, during Friday’s practice it appears to be on a par with Ferrari in terms of long-run pace, but has fallen behind when it comes to single-lap running. Russell ran several performance runs in the final stages and seemed to be on the edge of his seat. Ferrari has had a good day Ferrari posted encouraging numbers on the first day of testing, and that feeling continued into the second day and into Friday. Charles Leclerc reports that the car is “reacting the way I wanted it to” and that the feeling is “better than the base from which we started last year.” Friday’s long run was once again competitive, adding weight to the claim that they had made progress in the areas they most wanted to improve. It was second in the race pace rankings and the team believes from the data that it was able to keep the tires longer and more stable during every stint during the race simulation. It still leaves something to be desired compared to Red Bull, but at least it is joining the following group. And a solid base gives you the stability to improve performance throughout the season if development and upgrades go well. Aston Martin is not as strong as last year In last year’s pre-season testing, Aston Martin emerged as a shocking rival to class leader Red Bull. Although this year has been subdued, team principal Mike Clack said they had “taken a step forward over the winter”, adding that they had delivered “gain and performance in key areas”. The race running on the second day was not very impressive. However, Fernando Alonso’s performance on Friday in C1, Pirelli’s hardest compound, suggests that he is in contention for the lead in terms of race pace. They sit fourth, four tenths per lap behind Red Bull, according to figures calculated by Formula1.com’s data team on Friday. Although not as exciting as last year, they are still in the race for the top spot.
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