Mark Gillan analyzes the results of the tests

Mark Gillan analyzes the results of the tests

After the first test session of the year 2013 at Jerez it was difficult to draw certain conclusions that might set some benchmarks on the eve of the upcoming season: say, to get the pole in Melbourne, it was still not possible. However, the tests yielded enough food for thought.
It was possible to see some trends, see what machines the team are going to work in the new season, estimate how well they interact with new rubber, how to cope with fast and with a long series of laps. British expert and commentator James Allen invited former Williams chief engineer Mark Gillanu to machine different teams brief technical analysis.
Red Bull Racing

New chassis RB9 is a step forward compared with the previous year's machine, which at the end of the season to win races, speed is not yielding to McLaren. Like all of Adrian Newey, it has good aerodynamics. And while she has not impressed by its speed, it can be assumed that in the Red Bull, as always, are reluctant to disclose all the cards.
Continuing the trend of previous years: Red Bull machine occupies penultimate place when measured at the maximum speed on the straight: Sebastian Vettel topped out at up to 291 kph, while Force India racers and Lotus showed 305 km/h.
Last year, by the end of the season by double DRS team managed to raise the maximum speed on the straight, without losing the pressure force in bends. But without this system gives Red Bull machine technology rivals. However, it is not so much if the machine still enables you to win qualification and start from pole. But if the rider has to fight with rivals on the track, such a lack of top speed on straight may prove to be the weak point of RB9.

On the long series of laps the Red Bull pilots demonstrated speed and stability, therefore they should be considered as candidates for victory. However, the team lost some benefits, which provide flexible front wings, as their requirements changed, rigidity, and engineers based at Red Bull Racing will examine the telemetry to understand how great the loss of speed related.
Ferrari

Felipe Massa behind the wheel of the third day session F138 showed the best time tests in Jerez: 1 min. 17.879 seconds. The new Ferrari is a significant step forward compared to the last year's machine. Uniquely, the team does not deliver F138 problems similar to those with which they are faced to the pre-season tests a year ago. On the second day of the Scuderie was able to begin testing new components such as the exhaust system of a different design, a diffuser and front wing. Undoubtedly, in Barcelona, the Italian team plans to bring many new products.
Ferrari used the development that increases the effectiveness of DRS, based on hydraulic breaker, which redirects the air flow when the speed exceeds a certain limit. To achieve stable operation of such a system in a race is not easy, but if at Maranello will be successful, it could give a definite advantage. Most of the commands, probably during the season will experiment with these things.
It seems that such a development could become the first in the list of "mandatory" innovation that we see in the year 2013. The Ferrari challenge is to start the season with a machine that will fight for seats in the first row, then Fernando Alonso will have some basis to achieve sustainable results once again to fight for the title.
Mclaren

The first tests the McLaren was somewhat in the shadows, but that's not a fact. On the first day of Jenson button on the hard rubber on a muddy track drove lap after 1 min. 18.861 seconds, which surprised many. After that, the team is not good speed, but has continued to surprise opponents.
At this stage of the test car MP4 Player 28 looks better on hard tires than soft, but the team that tests the effectiveness of a large number of new products, experimenting with settings, so that the conclusions about how McLaren will look during the season, making early. When you consider that the difference in speed between the Hard and Soft is about a second, then the result Button, shown on the first day, it is comparable with the best result of tests revealed a mass on Thursday, when the route to go is clearly faster. So the speed of the McLaren is not minimized.
Lotus

It is possible that Lotus can be considered the most stable team last year, and its new car looks better than the E20. The speed of it is a little inferior to the leaders, if not inferior, and this is good news for fans of Kimi Raikkonen.
Designers team under the direction of the Technical Director, James Ellison, the pragmatic approach is applied, if the bold new ideas are no longer justified. So far, so good, the new machine is fast on a single lap on soft rubber. Qualifications were the weak point of the Lotus in 2012, and if a team claims the higher results, this problem needs to be addressed.



Mercedes

The first two days of the team solved technical problems, but generally left the impression that W04 inferior in speed of the Red Bull cars, Lotus, McLaren and Ferrari. It was noticeable that the long series of laps on the car Mercedes wear out tires, so there is still a lot of work. But Lewis Hamilton set up quite positively, so now all depends on the pace of development of the chassis.
Sauber

Sauber is always considered a dark horse. Last year the team was impressed by how carefully the machine worked with rubber. Budget budget can be compared with the Sauber formula one Team Lotus, and Hinwil always work. They are not so much lose to leaders, and perhaps even at this stage ahead of Mercedes.
Esteban Gutierrez drew general attention to speed and stability on long series of laps on the final day of the test. But shine on tests not that hard: harder it would have in the days racing week-end, when you would need to show real results. Interesting to see what he can achieve.
What teams are trying to decide on the tests?

The team set themselves clear objectives: they work with 4 levels of fuel: 20 kg, 60 kg, 80 kg and 140 kg. The tests in tanks of cars with 60-80 kg of fuel. All tanks are filled only when a simulating a race. And the only time in the tanks may be less than 20 kg is when a simulating qualification.
Serious teams generally do not fill in with less than 20 kg-enough for a series of six laps. But caution must be exercised, since tires can withstand a couple of fast laps.
Temperatures this week have been at the level of 15 degrees, which is not so bad for the winter tests, but it cannot be compared with the actual race weekend when the air can warm up to 30 degrees and above. However, winter tests provide answers to all the questions is not.
Tags: Mark Gillan