Sunny. Dry. Air + 20 ... 23c, track + 33 ... 35c
The preseason tests in the 2021th were recorded short and late - in just a year and a half, everyone will gather at the Grand Prix of Bahrain. If last year the tests lasted six days, and some recognized that they didn't have done everything, then in 2021 they were reduced to three days.
Mera was forced. When last spring, the base of the teams was closed because of a pandemic for almost six months, in the FIA postponed the transition to a new regulation, and the refinement of machines for 2021 were seriously limited, having allocated two conditional points on it - and each team herself decided to spend them. In fact, the tests were brought a little advanced versions of last year's machines, but with a smaller clamping force due to changes in the regulations on aerodynamics - and at a slower rubber.
Speeds really decreased, but not as serious as everyone expected. Three days ago, the riders were driving a circle during qualifications in Bahrain for 1:27 - 1:28, and on tests the best result was comparable - 1: 28.960.
On the first day of the tests, on Friday, the dusty storm was prevented - the visibility left much to be desired, the cars slid along the sand on the asphalt. On Saturday, the wind is a little verse, and on Sunday the weather was ideal, allowing teams to quietly complete the tests.
One of the key tasks was adaptation to the new Pirelli tires. The cars lost in the clamping force, the rubber became more difficult to make it work, the temperature balance changed between the front and rear wheels - it was necessary to find an approach, and the sand on the asphalt complicated this task.
Interestingly, in Pirelli brought for comparison two options for C3 of one specification. Some tires were made in Romania, where the rubber is produced for formula 1, while others are at the factory of the company in Turkey.
The most time on the tests lost in Mercedes - because of the breakdown of the gearbox and the problems with the machine. And if usually the champion team was the leader on the distances passed on tests, this time turned out to be an outsider.
Lewis and Valtterter complained about the nervous behavior of the rear, on the last day the engineers found a solution, and the car looked more stable, but at the end of the final session of Hamilton again launched.
On Sunday, Lewis Hamilton several times at the end of the session went out on soft tires, but he could not climb the fifth place. The team hopes that the first race of the season will be able to decide.
Sebastian Vettel in Aston Martin also lost one of the three sessions - and also because of the Mercedes gearbox. Last year, Racing Point cars on tests did not surprise the speed, but after the start of the season, it turned out to be very fast.
In the final day of tests, Vettel had to complete work ahead of schedule due to problems with the Mercedes power plant - the pressure loss in the turbine.
No problem worked the program in Alpine. Fernando Alonso and Esteban windows traveled a large distance, but they almost did not work with soft tires, so it is difficult to estimate their speed.
It is also difficult to assess the potential of the new Ferrari. In the manual, the team with confidence is talking about the progress achieved, the larger power of the power plant and the speed on the straight lines. Mattia Binotto said that the scheduled program was fully implemented, but did not rule out that in the course of the season, the team can again encounter serious difficulties.
In Haas F1, last year's car in line with the new regulations and to refine it in the course of the season they do not plan, focusing resources by car 2022. The team can expect progress only at the expense of Ferrari's new power plant, but it will be interesting to observe their performance because of the new composition.
On the first day of the tests of Nikita Mazepine ahead of Mika Schumacher, in the second German turned out to be a little faster, and in the third - Russian. Racers showed very close results - and it is clear that their struggle this season will be fundamental.
On the first day Mick lost a lot of time due to problems with the gearbox, the remaining tests passed without problems.
The new McLaren car turned out to be fast and reliable. Skeptics believed that after the transition to Mercedes power plants, the team could have problems with reliability with hot weather in Bahrain, but everything went smoothly. Daniel Riccardo and Lando Norris have steadily showed a good time and with optimism responded about the car.
The team found an original solution with a channel inside the diffuser, trying to compensate for the loss of the clamping force. The rivals turned to FIA for clarifications about the legality of such a design, but there is no doubt that McLaren has previously agreed.
Against the background of Mercedes problems, the new RED Bull Racing machine was fast and stable. Max Ferstappen is already on the first day, despite the sandy storm, drove 139 laps and headed the protocol. Sergio Perez was not inferior in the distance traveled, but admitted that in three days could not deal with all the features of RB16B.
For the last hour, many traveled in qualifying mode, but the main struggle went between Festappen and the newcomer Alphatauri Yuki Tsonya - on two machines with Honda motors. As a result, Max was on the tenth faster, leaving the best time for three days. The greatest number of circles in one day on Sunday drove Kimi Raikkonen.
Preseason tests are completed. In the course of the season, this year only tests of 18-inch Pirelli tires are provided.
Results of the third day of tests Pilot team Time difference circle tires 1. M.Ferstappen Red Bull 1: 28.960 - 64 C4 2. Yu.Sunod Alphatauri 1: 29.053 +0.093 91 C5 3. K.Sains Ferrari 1: 29.611 +0.651 79 С4 4 . K. Raikkonen Alfa Romeo 1: 29.766 +0.806 166 C5 5. L.Hemilton Mercedes 1: 30.025 +1.065 54 C5 6. D.RASELL WILLIAMS 1: 30.117 +1.157 158 C5 7. D. Gorcardo McLaren 1: 30.144 +1.184 76 C4 8. S.PERES RED BULL 1: 30.187 +1.227 49 C4 9. F. Alonso Alpine 1: 30.318 +1.358 78 C4 10. Sh. Kler Ferrari 1: 30.486 +1.526 80 C3 11. L.Norris McLaren 1: 30.661 +1.701 56 C3 12. P.Gasley Alphatauri 1: 30.828 +1.868 76 C4 13. E.Ookon Alpine 1: 31.310 +2.350 61 C3 14. N.Mazepine Haas 1: 31.531 +2.571 67 C4 15. M.Sumumer Haas 1: 32.053 +3.093 78 C3 16. V.Bottas Mercedes 1: 32.406 +3.446 86 C2 17. S. Felt Aston Martin 1: 35.041 +6.081 56 C3 18. L.STON Martin 1: 36.100 +7.140 80 C3Source: Formula 1 on F1news.ru