News On F1 Forums - Talk Formula 1

The new McLaren is fast and it is leaving the rest in its wake

Best lap times in Valencia and Jerez with more to come

With Montoya and Raikkonen, that car will be untouchable

Watch this space

Graham, how were you feeling this time last year?

Yes I do. The McLaren was fast initially but then cracks started to appear at camp McLaren as the first race approached. This year it looks to be a lot better you have to admit!.

I know all will be revealed come Melbourne but I don't have to always assume the worse do I ?

And so far the MP4/20 is ahead of the rest

Now, now Gee, ALL Im suggesting is that when the BAR is 3plus seconds a lap slower we should perhaps temper the euphoria just a tad. hmmm?

By the looks of things, Renault and McLaren are fast. BAR, Williams and Ferrari aren't

I just hope the McLaren can get reliable in time and NOT midseason!!

Ferrari was slow this time last year, right up til 1st practice in Melbourne

julian mayo wrote:Ferrari was slow this time last year, right up til 1st practice in Melbourne

Exactly and the same will happen this year

Pity Schuey will stick it into the bunker on lap3

Given the Ferrari on Bridgestones will be a dog, it is very likely that he'll go off trying too hard

Read somewhere Barrichello complaining about lack of grip on the Bridgestones the first few laps

If schuey has to push hard to catch people, history says he is prone to leaving the black stuff. In fact he has been known to do it twice in one lap!!!

The test times from McLaren are encouraging and the Barcelona test this week will give us a slightly better idea but we really won't know until the race in Melbourne.
I reckon tyre wear will be the most important factor and testing tells us nothing about that.

The other salient factor is the Melbourne weather. It can be 35degrees, plus. I hope they have been testing with blanked off rads!