Ready To Go

With F1’s new season getting underway next week, Sam on Sport takes a look at the rule changes and performance of the teams in testing.

Ready To Go

With Formula 1 pre-season testing now over, it has become more clear how some of the regulation changes will really affect the performance of the teams and also which teams will likely be towards the front of pack when the real action starts in Australia next weekend.

Will the McLarens be able to defend their title as well as they like? Will Red Bull’s switch to having in-house Ford engines click straight away? Will Mercedes be as competitive as many think? Will the Ferrari be as quick in a race as Leclerc showed they could be in testing? Is there a best of the rest or just a bunch of no-hopers? These are just some of the questions floating around at the moment.

Firstly it is important to understand why there are so many questions that we are not able to directly answer just now and a lot of that comes down to the new regulations. These changes are seen as perhaps the most radical in the history of the sport, certainly since the introduction of hybrid engines in 2014.

So what are these changes that are so game-changing? Firstly there is a big difference in how the cars are going to be powered. Hybrid power has been a thing for years but there now needs to be a 50/50 split between power from the engine and that from electricity. In fact, the electric output will be nearly three times as much as previously which is a huge shift in a sport where the margins are so fine. All fuel used also needs to be completely sustainable.

Cars will be smaller and lighter due to both these changes and because of new specifications. This means that a complete remodelling will need to be done at every team. Changes in aerodynamics, including moveable front and rear wings will also prove a challenge for the engineers and designers.

The wing changes relate to the new overtaking system which will replace the DRS that was previously in place. Overtake mode will provide an electrical boost when a car is within one second of the one in front and downforce and drag will be reduced.

There have also been a number of safety updates, including both structural elements and those for those working at the courses, which will need to be taken into account by each team when designing various elements of their cars.

In an already technical sport, changes on this scale mean that the job that the teams are faced with is massive and it might actually take a while before we truly know which teams are going to be really successful and who haven’t got it right at all. There are always changes due to upgrades throughout the season but this may be more pronounced than usual as the teams get used to how the cars are working within the new regulations in actual race situations.

This is why we cannot be certain that the form showed during the pre-season tests will be directly transferable to the track. Last year’s champion Lando Norris set the second fastest overall time in his McLaren, and both he and teammate Oscar Piastri put in a significant number of laps, but they were bot using the final updated version of their engine so may well have more to give on race day. They are also renowned for updating well during the season so it is expected they will be strong again.

According to the bookmakers, Mercedes are the favourites to take the constructors’ title with lead driver George Russell tipped to finally make good on his huge potential and walk away with the drivers’ championship. This follows significant time being done on track and impressive results in race simulation based on the design of the new model. Again though, what is simulated does not always turn into reality. Kimi Antonelli had some technical problems which the team will hope to iron out quickly.

Max Verstappen and Red Bull now have their own in-house engine partnership with Ford and were noted to have the best energy deployment on straights. This might not have produced the fastest laps overall during testing but what is lost individually may well be made back and more during an actual race. It may take a little while for this to work out in terms of podiums and wins but with Verstappen on board, anything is possible. They are always one to watch and are often ahead of the game.

Ferrari stole the headlines in testing due to the pace shown by Charles Leclerc and a lap time that was nearly a full second faster than anyone else. Lewis Hamilton was not as fast but but has made positive comments about the car. An innovative design sets it apart but quickness does not always ensure victory with many other factors coming into play and reliability not guaranteed. They started working on this car from fairly early on during last season so will hope for quick results.

Away from those four teams there were headlines to be found but not all of them positive. Aston Martin have been incredibly hopeful of great results, particularly after legendary designer Adrian Newey came on board. However, their testing was wrecked by reliability issues and a perceived lack of power compared to others. The fewest laps of any team means less chance to work out problems and it may take a while for them to get going this season.

Newcomers Cadillac were very steady throughout testing, not blowing anyone away with their pace or performance but not completely failing either. They will expect to be towards the back of the pack but they will be hoping to get through races and show that there is some reliability to their car that may help them to pick up a few points at least. There is experience in the driver ranks in Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez which is always valuable.

Alpine have switched to a Mercedes engine which has seemingly given them more speed with Pierre Gasly setting some decent times over the test period. They can’t do any worse than last year’s last place finish but there are hopes of significant improvement and a push up into the midfield. They have been touted as one to watch in the early races.

Williams got off to a late start due to issues with their car not being ready and then when they were, they didn’t set the world in fire with their times because the car was overweight. However, they put in a lot of mileage in Bahrain and have an experienced driver team in Alex Albon and Carlos Sainz so will be hopeful of building on their fifth place finish from last year.

Red Bull’s sister outfit, the Racing Bulls, have also got Ford power behind them. Testing went fairly smoothly and rookie driver Arvid Linblad was keen to get as many miles on the clock as he could. They will be in the midfield battle, hoping to pick up as many points as they possibly can and will be looking for consistent performance.

The Haas cars looked very reliable during testing, always a good sign early in the season. They managed to spend a lot of time on track which is crucial in trying to work out any kinks in performance. There is a positivity around the team and the moment and they too will be hopeful to try and reach the pinnacle of the midfield.

Audi are now running their own works outfit, having taken over the team that was previously Kick Sauber. They experienced some technical issues but seemed to become more reliable as testing progressed. It is always difficult for a new team, even if they have a base to build on, but they will be hoping for a solid start and getting their cars through the first couple of races would be just that.

It will be incredibly interesting to see what difference the changes will make when the lights finally go out and also how the new teams will fare. F1 remains as popular and in the spotlight as it has ever been, fuelled, like it or not, by the hugely successful Netflix series Drive to Survive. Whatever the shakeup of the new season is, millions will be watching.