Formula One 2023 Motor Sport

[Son Of Jack]

First Day of Testing

Ignoring the times, reliability seemed to be pretty good today? I don't think there were many red flags, one for Drugovich in the morning for sure. Max was the only driver doing morning and afternoon, he has the morning again tomorrow and then Perez get's the remaining 3 sessions.

McLaren had brake issues again in the afternoon, same as last year I believe.

Max Verstappen (Red Bull) - 1:32.837 (157 laps)
Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin) +0.029, (60 laps)
Carlos Sainz (Ferrari) +0.416 (72 laps)
Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) +0.430 (64 laps)
Lando Norris (McLaren) +0.625 (40 laps)
Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) +0.671 (83 laps)
Alex Albon (Williams) +0.834 (74 laps)
Zhou Guanyu (Alfa Romeo) +0.886 (67 laps)
George Russell (Mercedes) +1.337 (69 laps)
Logan Sargeant (Williams) +1.487 (75 laps)
Nico Hulkenberg (Haas) +1.587, (51 laps)
Valtteri Bottas (Alfa Romeo) +1.721, (71 laps)
Nyck de Vries (Williams) +1.722, (85 laps)
Felipe Drugovich (Aston Martin) +1.727, (40 laps)
Yuki Tsunoda (Alpha Tauri) +1.834, (46 laps)
Pierre Gasly (Alpine) +1.985, (60 laps)
Esteban Ocon (Alpine) +2.034, (53 laps)
Oscar Piastri (McLaren) +2.051, (52 laps)
Kevin Magnussen (Haas) +2.250, (57 laps)

 

[Crabtree]

All drivers covered by 2.25 seconds is unheard of on the first day of testing.

That new Red Bull looks an absolute beast and certainly the one to beat along with great reliability.

McLaren going nowhere with their current management structure. I see them as the next Williams

 

[Ray Gin]

The Ferrari looks fantastic on track but it will probably be another year of disappointment as a Ferrari fan

 

[Ghost]

Interesting that Max did almost twice the laps than anyone else. I might be jumping to conclusions a bit but it perhaps suggests they're either very happy or not happy at all with their car. It's very hard for a fan to take anything from these sessions though, even practise sessions tell us nothing.

DTS Season 5 dropped today for those with an interest. Max supposedly taking part for the first time

 

[Bandit]

That's another good day in the bag for Red Bull, Ferrari looked better today as well.

I still think Red Bull are holding back a tad...

 

[Son Of Jack]

McLaren going nowhere with their current management structure. I see them as the next Williams

I think McLaren have the most interesting driver line up this year. I'm fascinated to see how Piastri gets on and how Norris deals with being the senior driver. I'd imagine they will be fighting for 4th best with Alpine this year.

 

[Ginger Ted]

Is it bye bye Red Bull B Team. Sorry, Alpha Tauri?

 https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1629471158541201408

 

[Son Of Jack]

Is it bye bye Red Bull B Team. Sorry, Alpha Tauri?

 https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1629471158541201408

Kinda wondering why moving to England is a cost saving move? Is that to move into the Milton Keynes campus and share costs?

 

[Tom]

From the BBC Sport website...

Aston Martin have refused to rule out the possibility of Sebastian Vettel making a shock comeback at the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix.

Team principal Mike Krack admitted he had spoken to the four-time champion since Aston Martin's Lance Stroll was forced to miss pre-season testing.

But he refused to say whether Vettel, who retired at the end of last season, had expressed an interest in being a stand-in.


Stroll has suffered a wrist injury.

Krack said "Plan A" was for Stroll to recover in time for next weekend's race.

He added: "Plan B we will speak about next week."

Krack said: "I have had a couple of phone calls with Sebastian but this has been also [the case] last year and will continue in the future."

Asked whether Vettel had said he was prepared to come back in the event Aston Martin needed a driver to substitute for Stroll, Krack said: "I will not tell you."

"First our plan is to have Lance in the car and then we continue to see," he said, adding: "You can ask me five times, we have not made a final decision."

Alonso vs Vettel. That would be fun to watch.

If you're their reserve driver you've gotta be pissed off. I personally don't see this happening. I doubt Vettel would be fit enough.

 

[Crabtree]

The new season is upon us

Friday 3rd March FP1 11.30am
Friday 3rd March FP2 3pm
Saturday 4th March FP3 11.30am
Saturday 4th March Qualifying 3pm
Sunday 5th March Race 3pm