Teams' reaction after the three-day pre-season testing

With the only real three-day pre-season testing accomplished and dusted, groups and drivers at the moment are totally targeting analysing the information they’ve gathered over the course of the brief working in Bahrain. F1Technical’s senior author Balázs Szabó delivers the response from the ten groups.

Ferrari

Ferrari have closely revised their 2024 F1 automobile, albeit their SF-24 doesn’t function any evident technical innovation apart from the bridge that connects the halo with the chassis of the automobile. Nevertheless, the Scuderia seem to have made a stable job over the winter, and so they may carry over their late 2023 kind which might cement their standing as a contender for pole positions on sure tracks. The brand new automobile is clearly a step ahead when it comes to wind sensitivity which has supplied the drivers with a way more steady and dependable platform to work with.

Furthermore and extra importantly, Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc carried out a race simulation on Thursday and Friday respectively which clearly indicated that the brand new SF-24 takes care of the tyres way more than its predecessor which might imply that the Scuderia’s single-lap and long term efficiency might converge in 2024.

“Charles Leclerc: We’ve wrapped up our third day of testing, having put in a stable variety of laps and accomplished a variety of completely different exams, which is constructive.

“The automobile is reacting the best way that we needed it to, however it’s nonetheless troublesome to evaluate its stage of competitiveness proper now. The sensation is best than the bottom we began from final 12 months. Now, it’s full deal with the race and I can’t wait to be again on monitor subsequent week.”

Carlos Sainz: “One final push right here in Sakhir, maximising these closing laps earlier than we transfer on with the right Bahrain GP subsequent week. Total, it has been day, regardless of the pink flag that disrupted the working a bit however I loved each single lap within the automobile as we speak. We examined a variety of completely different configurations to gather as a lot information as potential.

“The automobile appears to be in a good place and I’m pleased with the work that the staff has accomplished to finish such a stable check programme.”

Mercedes

Having accomplished a fairly pre-season preparation, Mercedes engineers and drivers look like pretty delighted with the staff’s heavily-upgraded 2024 F1 automobile, the W15. The automobile regarded nervous within the fingers of George Russell and Lewis Hamilton, significantly on a single scorching lap.

It’s due to this fact no marvel that the Brackley-based staff is predicted to wrestle for one-lap tempo in comparison with the field-leading Pink Bull and even to Ferrari, however long term tempo evaluation signifies that the W15 might emerge as second quickest in race trim proper behind the reigning champion and simply forward of the Scuderia.

George Russell: “We’ve had a stable three days right here in Bahrain. We managed to get by way of all of our deliberate programme, regardless of the stoppages. The automobile has been dealing with effectively and correlates to the sensation we had on the simulator forward of coming right here. We’ve received an excellent base to construct from.

“We’re conscious that there’s much more lap time to seek out. We knew that might be the case forward of the check, and Pink Bull are wanting very robust as soon as once more. Nonetheless, I’m assured that we’re in a a lot better place than we have been 12 months in the past. The staff at Brackley and Brixworth have accomplished an important job to get us into this place and with a automobile that may be a step in the proper path. We now have to deal with firstly getting probably the most out of the package deal we now have and secondly, including extra downforce and making an attempt to shut that hole.”

Lewis Hamilton: “Total, it’s been a very good check. I’m actually pleased with everybody trackside and people again on the manufacturing facility. Each single girl and man has been working tirelessly, each at Brackley, Brixworth, and right here in Bahrain. It’s massively encouraging and nice to see everybody working so effectively collectively. The main target, willpower, and communication is one of the best I’ve ever seen.

“We all know we’ve received work to do and we’re not but the place we need to be. We knew that might be the case coming into the check although. We’ve received an important platform to construct on. We’ll go away and work exhausting over the subsequent couple of days to undergo all the information from the check. I’m actually excited for the beginning of the season subsequent week and we’ll be heading into it in good condition.”

Pink Bull

Pink Bull may need endured a troublesome interval internally in current weeks, their progressive 2024 F1 automobile appears to be a category of its personal as soon as once more. Max Verstappen might hardly disguise his massive smile on his face after three three days of pre-season testing that noticed him document an attention-grabbing lap time on a used set of Pirelli’s earlier than performing an ominous long term simulation.

Following a really troublesome season, Sergio Perez sounded constructive when he assessed his and the automobile’s efficiency in Bahrain, however he appeared to have lacked tempo on heavy gas load in comparison with his team-mate.

Max Verstappen: “Total it was superb as we speak. We targeted on the lengthy working to get extra of an understanding of the automobile and it was good to see the efficiency of the automobile was very robust. We made the plan to not deal with pure lap time and tried completely different compounds, so I’m proud of the laps that we did as we speak.

“As we head into the race weekend it’s all about effective tuning the automobile and likewise seeing what the race throws at you while you push the automobile to the restrict. We now have to look into the information a bit extra and attempt to give you a plan for the week forward. We’ve had a very constructive check and we now have realized rather a lot from all the pieces we modified, so we’re wanting ahead to subsequent week.”

Sergio Perez: “It has been begin to the 12 months for the Staff, we now have received loads of mileage over the previous couple of days. The run programme that we put collectively was superb and meant we actually made probably the most out of the times. Now it’s time to stay up for the race subsequent weekend, I’ve feeling within the automobile, so let’s see as soon as we get to race it, however the feeling may be very constructive.”

Visa Money App RB

Pink Bull’s sister staff has gained a brand new identification for 2024 as they may compete as Visa Money App RB as of this 12 months. With the power drink firm’s two groups have intensified their cooperation not too long ago, it’s no marvel that RB have been one of many shock groups in Bahrain with each drivers having reported vital good points with the brand new automobile.

Yuki Tunoda: “Testing went pretty easy. We didn’t precisely comply with our run programme as there have been some points with the monitor, however we responded effectively to them. I felt the automobile has made step ahead in comparison with final 12 months, so I’m proud of it thus far. The stability has improved, and particularly the entrance felt robust.

“We nonetheless have to seek out extra with the rear, however it’s shifting in the proper path. I accomplished many laps during the last couple of days and it was expertise that allowed us to gather good information and assist discover the restrict of the automobile. Wanting on the timesheet, we’re not final, however it’s troublesome to know the place we’re in comparison with the remainder of the sphere, so I’m excited to start out racing once more subsequent week.”

Daniel Ricciardo: “I feel testing has been good and we’ve undoubtedly developed the automobile from final 12 months. I accomplished loads of laps and really feel fairly match. Sadly, there have been some points on monitor with the drain, and we have been fearful we wouldn’t get our race run in, however fortunately, we did. I did some brief runs on Day 1 and a couple of and race simulation this morning. By way of efficiency, I feel we’re the place we anticipated to be.

“We’re aiming to combat within the midfield group and we’ll attempt to profit from what we received. Total, it was a easy check, so I don’t assume we depart right here with any issues. We made some good points and know the place we’re, but when we need to be certain to combat for Q3 and factors constantly, there’s definitely a bit extra we have to discover.”

Stake F1
Valtteri Bottas: “At this time was a bit more difficult because the pink flag price us fairly some working time. Ending the session with some precautionary checks resulted in just a few missed check gadgets and laps, however we nonetheless managed to get by way of our deliberate priorities. We have been in a position to study extra in regards to the C44 and we really feel moderately ready for subsequent week’s race.

“It’s nonetheless fairly troublesome to guage the true efficiency and the aggressive subject, however we’re assured within the information we collected. Now, it’s all about analysing, studying and enhancing forward of the race weekend.”

Zhou Guanyu: “We had one other good day the place we targeted rather a lot on our lengthy runs and managed to finish a second full race distance. We received by way of our programme and experimented with varied setups and configurations to attract our conclusions.

“It’s difficult to guage the total potential, particularly with a very new automobile, and we’ll proceed working and making strides over the subsequent few days to be prepared for the upcoming weekend. Nevertheless, the true efficiency and the way we rank in comparison with the opposite groups is but to be seen till the primary qualifying and race. We really feel good and can use the remaining days to study and discover margins for enchancment.”

Aston Martin

Lance Stroll: “It has been nice to be out in Bahrain for testing – I am particularly happy to be right here after lacking final 12 months’s pre-season check. Time within the automobile is so priceless for all of us: we have been gathering information and studying in regards to the AMR24 with each lap we have accomplished.

“We have made good use of nowadays to run a variety of components and setups – the automobile has felt higher every single day – and we have not had any reliability points. It is nonetheless too early to make any massive predictions, however I am wanting ahead to first race of the 12 months subsequent week.”

Fernando Alonso: “We’ve tried to study as a lot as potential throughout this check and targeted on ourselves. It will be good to have the predictions and data of the place everyone seems to be however that isn’t the case in testing.

“The AMR24 is a step ahead from final 12 months and we simply should see how massive of a step ahead towards all people else. We are going to know extra subsequent week after Qualifying. It was good to get a variety of laps on the board over the three days and I really feel match and able to go for the beginning of the brand new season.”

Williams

Dave Robson, Head of Automobile Efficiency: “We had day to finish the pre-season check. We did one other 120 laps and this time with none automobile points. Alex was in a position to construct on the work accomplished by Logan yesterday and continued to evolve the FW46. Throughout a spread of gas hundreds, the automobile was behaving effectively, and Alex was in a position to full a good race simulation utilizing two of the tyre compounds that will probably be accessible subsequent week.

“Inevitably presently of 12 months, there may be a variety of scope to push the FW46 more durable and to develop it shortly. We’ve just a few days to analyse the information from this week and determine how we construct the vehicles for FP1 and the way we glance to introduce the primary spherical of automobile updates. There’s a lot to do however we now have made a stable begin and have basis to construct on.”

Alex Albon: “Firstly, we’ve received a good automobile to go racing with. I do assume we struggled a bit of bit with the automobile throughout day one and two with simply how completely different it’s, struggling to rebalance it, however we made some massive headway in making the automobile extra driveable. With the altering automobile traits, we shifted a few of our historic issues to completely different areas. Nonetheless, we’ve been in a position to repair a few of these however sadly within the course of, we’ve picked up just a few issues we didn’t like.

“Regardless of this, we did a little bit of a radical set-up as we speak and this labored out for the higher. Taking a look at the remainder of the grid, the midfield has closed up rather a lot with everybody making a giant leap from final 12 months, so it’s all fairly equal all through the sphere. This 12 months goes to be all in regards to the effective particulars and potential tracks that higher swimsuit others, so there are going to be a lot of attention-grabbing battles.

McLaren

Lando Norris: “Remaining day of testing accomplished. I’m proud of what we’ve achieved during the last three days and feeling prepared for the beginning of the season. We encountered one or two setbacks right here and there, however that’s to be anticipated throughout pre-season testing. The vital factor is we now have understanding of the automobile now, we now have loads of information to go over and can come again stronger for the race subsequent weekend. Total, constructive indicators and we now have a greater understanding of the work we now have to do. Convey on race week!”

Oscar Piastri: “That’s the top of testing. We had a easy, enjoyable session as we speak and received loads of laps on the board, which was good. We’re in respectable form and roughly the place we anticipated to be, however we nonetheless have some work to do. It was helpful to get some race sim work accomplished as we speak, we not often get to observe doing races in testing, so it was good to have that chance. We’ll see what all people’s received subsequent week and that can give way more of a sign as to the place we’re. I’m excited and prepared for the primary race.”

Haas

Kevin Magnussen: “You by no means get all of the solutions you want and also you at all times need extra time, as three days of testing – and splitting these days with two drivers – is limiting. Given the restricted time, I feel we’ve accomplished rather a lot, received some good impressions of the automobile and the main focus is making an attempt to be good on Sunday.

“We’ve been doing a variety of high-fuel race working, making an attempt to deal with that concern, and I feel we’re going someplace. We haven’t mounted the problem fully however hopefully it’s sufficient to make a distinction on Sunday. I anticipate it to be very shut between all groups once more this 12 months.”

Nico Hulkenberg: “At this time we received by way of this system and did what we needed to do, in order that was good. We accomplished a race run as effectively – I haven’t seen it in comparison with anybody else’s – however now we’ve received a lot of impressions after three days of testing, a lot of information and issues to research.

“We’ve been in a position to do some experiments like most, as that’s what you do in testing, and it’s been good, constructive. I do not know the place we stand, or what it’s value, however we’ll get that reply in every week. It’s early days, however from within the automobile, from the place I sit, if I evaluate the automobile to final 12 months, it does really feel higher and like we’ve made a step in the proper path.”

Alpine

Esteban Ocon: “Total, it was a productive three-day check for us, most likely one of many strongest throughout my time on the staff. Since I jumped within the automobile, from Day 1 all the pieces has been faultless and powerful from an operational standpoint. The automobile has been working reliably and we managed to finish our testing programme.

“We improved the automobile and made progress from the primary day to the final day. However we now have a variety of work to do and it’s going to be attention-grabbing now to undergo all the information and perceive the place we are able to make enhancements. Three days of testing is brief for a brand new automobile, so there’s nonetheless rather a lot to study and extract from our package deal. Because of everybody on the staff right here, at Enstone and Viry for the lengthy hours over the winter. Now it’s time to go racing.”

Pierre Gasly: “We did a variety of testing this week and now we now have an vital week developing the place we’ll undergo all the information and proceed our understanding of this new automobile idea. It’s important to study all about the whole package deal and understanding how we are able to optimise it. On my aspect, it’s been fairly difficult at instances particularly as we missed out on some working each yesterday and as we speak.

“The pink flag was unlucky on Day 2, then this afternoon we had the wheel forehead coming unfastened from the automobile and that meant we missed a few laps on the finish. Nonetheless, it’s been a productive check for the staff throughout the final three days and that’s most vital. I’m undoubtedly excited for the primary race.”

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