posted Feb 8, 2008

happynick101 -

Yes, at Valencia, which is a McLaren track (even the MP4-19 set quick times at Valencia).

It's far from clear what the state of play will be on a different track, or after a month of further development is completed.

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posted Feb 8, 2008

Ferrari have produced a much better car this season. They haven't backtracked on the long wheelbase, but they've just shortened it enough to make the car react better when steering and make Raikkonen happier. Raikkonen struggled throughout testing and the season with that car, and how he became champion one can only guess.

It seems as though they're producing much better levels of mechanical grip through testing than they managed in last year's car. They've got great aerodynamics and improved their biggest weakness last season, and I think that's going to be tough to beat. Nik Tombazis has pulled it off again, and with Adrian Newey and Mike Coughlin at McLaren in 2005, I think his influence on that ultra fast McLaren was vastly underrated.

The tyre wear issues are interested. It is far easier to get a car to be light on its tyres, and then work them harder, than it is to have a car that is heavy on its tyres and then work out how to solve that issue - without it affecting your speed negatively.

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posted Feb 8, 2008

"Thats over half a second a lap. This is the official line with comparing cars directly.With evidence to prove!"

There is no way that that Ferrari is half a second slower than the McLaren.

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posted Feb 8, 2008

How can Ferrari not beet McLaren in 2008. They have managed to arrange it (through their puppet MM) that certain parts of the car can not be developed.
I have nothing against the drivers in Ferrari, but I would love Mclaren (either driver) to beat them in the first race.

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posted Feb 8, 2008

cilurnum buy a copy of autosport and all is explained, they have rated all teams on short runs and long runs.

Have a look!

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posted Feb 8, 2008

All i can say is Autosport went to press during the Bahrain test so Ferrari were still testing and absolutely flew there. Well we will know more this weekend with the 2nd 3 day test with the majority of the teams, but if McLaren are faster i doubt its by half a second.

I Have been in Kimis fan club for 4 years and i believe Ferrari is his team he looks happy and it is shown in his driving. So i think 2nd world title is definately achievable and hopefully he gets it next season so 3 in a row, then he will probably retire so if that happens at least he will go out on a high!

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posted Feb 9, 2008

while Kimi maybe the favorite to win again in 2008 the F1 is becoming more competative and Ferrari may just have a fight on their hands to defend the title. As a Kimi supporter i would comment that he is made of the stuff to defend his title with a better car maybe but LH and FA and even Kubica may give Kimi a run for his money.

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posted Feb 9, 2008

"cilurnum buy a copy of autosport and all is explained, they have rated all teams on short runs and long runs."

I'm not going to buy a copy at all if that's what they're publishing. Frankly, Autosport is on crack if they believe the McLaren to be half a second quicker than the McLaren. Comparisons between different cars at different circuits, doing different things, gives you no indication of anything.

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posted Feb 9, 2008

"Frankly, Autosport is on crack if they believe the McLaren to be half a second quicker than the McLaren."

That's a lovely sentence............ Should read 'quicker than the Ferrari' of course.

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posted Feb 9, 2008

Cilurnum, your name in real life wouldn't be Murray Walker by any chance?

Last year in Bahrain the pole position was decided in Q3 with the race load of petrol. The fastest time was set by Massa in Q2, being 1:31.359.

So it's no great surprise that in testing conditions Ferrari were quicker than at last year's race meeting.

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