Vettel Cruises to the Top in Penultimate Test Day

[Bethonie Waring]

Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel cruised to the top of the timings in the penultimate day of testing whilst more problems for McLaren limited their running.

Things started well for McLaren. Stoffel Vandoorne set McLaren’s best time of the whole preseason, a 1:21.671 which put him P7 in the overall running. Vandoorne managed to get to the final hour of the morning session before stopping at the end of the main straight, an electrical problem bringing the car to a halt. The rookie did manage to get back out again in the final moments of the session, only top stop again on the outside of turn ten, bringing out the red flag and ending the session.

It had been a busy morning for all teams, especially Ferrari. Sebastian Vettel teased fans as he soared around the track only to slow down at the end of the lap to creep across the line. The sandbagging meant the Ferrari didn’t dip in to the 1:18s, but he did set a 1:19.024, coasting over the line, in the final few minutes of the session, more than three tenths of a second faster than Lewis Hamilton’s fastest lap of the day.

Both times would remain at the top of the timing screens by the end of the day.

Ferrari and Red Bull spent the afternoon focusing on race simulations, which were disturbed by a number of red flags. The first came from Daniil Kvyat, a possible gear box problem bringing him to a stop at turn five. Renault’s Jolyon Palmer was the next man to bring out the red flags, stopping at turn 10 following a power unit change.

It’s yet to be confirmed what caused Palmer’s stoppage but, if it is engine related, this is far from the first time we’ve seen problems for the French manufacturers. Honda may be stealing the headlines with their problems, but all three teams running Renault engines have battled problems so far this preseason.

McLaren fans would be relieved to know Vandoorne faced no more problems in the afternoon. The team spent the afternoon session of the penultimate day of testing running basic aero checks, backing Fernando Alonso’s observation that they have completed only about two days’ worth of testing.

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Could Ferrari have really bounced back after a disappointing 2016? Do you think Renault really have serious problems? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.

 

[howitzer155mm]

I personally think that the problem with Honda is simply that they are having bad luck. They are tasked to create their own power plant in a concept where many have had reliability issues, let's not forget that Red Bull dropped Reault and basically threatened to quit F1 if Volkswagen-Audi Group did not agree to work with them.

Honda has simply never had much experience with this concept. You can say "Honda can't build engines" all you want, but don't forget about their success in IndyCar, DP class and F1 dominance (with McLaren) in the late 80's and early 90's.

 

[thewarmer]

You can never write Honda off their four wheeled & two wheeled history in racing proves they have what it takes to produce a winning package.if given time.

 

[Andy 'Mars Bar' Graham]

You can never write Honda off their four wheeled & two wheeled history in racing proves they have what it takes to produce a winning package.if given time.

Who cares about the past, this is the present and Honda are doing a terrible job. It's not just in F1, look at how far behind Chevrolet they got in IndyCar.

 

[Mathias André]

- let's not forget that Red Bull dropped Reault and basically threatened to quit F1 if Volkswagen-Audi Group did not agree to work with them.

Bad luck is one thing, bad design is another. Renault has indeed had many problems in the first year of the V6, although they did improve quite a bit last year. Red Bull did throw a tantrum, but in the end they had no other way than to stick with Renault (the Tag Heuer label is not fooling anyone). They seem to struggle with reliability again at the moment, but I guess we'll only know for sure in Melbourne.

All that to say that that past success have no value in motorsport, all that matters is what they can achieve now.

 

[Terry Rock]

Renault's unreliability caused lots of concern.
It at least, made some power before it failed.
Honda's engine on the other hand, is unreliable while also down on power.

 

[Bethonie Waring]

Renault's unreliability caused lots of concern.
It at least, made some power before it failed.
Honda's engine on the other hand, is unreliable while also down on power.

The Honda is very reliable. You can rely on it to have a problem

 

[MJRL]

They don't know how to put power in a WTCC, how can be expected they do it in F1?

 

[grahamw]

Just to remind us how Honda do know how to build engines

Ok a bit of nostalgia guys and gals

 

[Fanapryde]

Just to remind us how Honda do know how to build engines

Ok a bit of nostalgia guys and gals

True... Fernando and Stoffel will be very pleased...

 

[grahamw]

You can't help feeling for Fernado probably could have done so much more if he kept his mouth and attitude under control would have got snapped up by better teams and had a few more successes to his name may be even titles.

 

[MrCharme]

Damn that Ferrari is fast...
Alonso might be a bit salty right now...

It's the preseason test so I think Honda will get its act together (at least I hope so), but I say Mclaren won't be better than Sauber.
And if Ferrari manages to be that quick in Melbourne, Merc will be pretty nervous.

 

[Scottt]

You can't help feeling for Fernado probably could have done so much more if he kept his mouth and attitude under control would have got snapped up by better teams and had a few more successes to his name may be even titles.

When he was being considered for the Mercedes ride; McLaren was adamant that they weren't letting him out of his contract. His attitude isn't the reason he didn't get another ride.