February 2, 2015
Formula 1 sizzles at Jerez but Honda sounds sick.
As you read this, F1 teams are in the middle of the second day of pre season testing at Jerez. Engine sounds for 2015 are perhaps even more alien than last year's. All the sizzles and pops and whines are sure to be recorded and spectrum analyzed for clues by all manufacturers.
Day one saw Mercedes dominate in terms of trouble free milage and, unexpectedly, Ferrari in terms of single lap pace.
Mclaren had serious issues with their Honda power unit and got no meaningful running.
The first half of day two has Vettel again on top, setting a faster time than on day one, 1:20.984.
Mclaren is still in trouble with Jenson Button not able to do significant laps so far.
1 Sebastian Vettel Ferrari 1m20.984s
2 Felipe Nasr Sauber 1m21.867s +0.883
3 Valtteri Bottas Williams 1m22.319s +1.335
4 Lewis Hamilton Mercedes 1m22.490s +1.506
5 Max Verstappen Toro Rosso 1m24.167s +3.183
6 Pastor Maldonado Lotus 1m25.802s +4.818
7 Jenson Button McLaren 1m54.655s +33.671
The McLaren-Honda sounds like a spaceship from a SciFi movie. I hope they truly have figured the issue out today. I'd like to hear what it's *supposed* to sound like!
ReplyDeleteThe Merc W06 sounds much different this year. The McLaren sounds like what the W05 sounded like last gear - lower, deeper, grumble. The new W06 sounds a lot like the Renaults and Ferrari PUs now. Any ideas why?
ReplyDeleteThe Honda are just not running correctly that is why they sound so bad.
ReplyDeleteStill looking at the differences it seems all are in heavy testing mode.
It will be good to compare last session test in 2014 against these ones.
mclaren said issue is not with PU.
ReplyDeleteNot sure I understand why the Honda sounds so sick. For sure they must have logged many hours in dyno room before going out in the wild with the car and with their $ they must be able to reproduce the stress that the engine would encounter out there in the car. Electronic gremlins?
ReplyDeleteThe Honda sounded like a pod racer from Star Wars. I was really looking forward to Kimi's impression of the new Ferrari as Vettels runs were impressive. He was very happy today, he may have smiled, I am not sure, he did say this car was a nice step forward from last years so that was encouraging. Hope to see the Red Cars up front again giving the Silver Arrows a good fight. If the Mercs appear to be 2 seconds a lap faster again this season I am not too sure how far into the season I will last this year.
ReplyDelete