Ahead of the first Winter Test of the 2017 Formula One season, I posted five prediction polls on Twitter. How many predictions did you get correct? Find out here!
1. WHICH TEAM WILL BE FASTEST?
1. Which team will set the fastest lap over the four days over the first test? #F1Testing #F1
— Lights Out ●●●●● (@LightsOutF1Blog) February 26, 2017
Your Prediction: Mercedes
Correct Answer: Mercedes
Mercedes did indeed set the fastest time of the week, with Valtteri Bottas clocking in a 1:19.705 on the third day of the test. He set his time on the purple ultra-soft tyres. His closest challenger to the top spot was Sebastian Vettel, who set a 1:19.952 on the soft tyre. Expect the lap times to tumble further next week as the drivers push their new 2017 machinery even closer to the limit.
2. WILL IT RAIN ON ANY DAY OF THE TEST?
2. Will it rain on any day of testing? (Not counting any sprinkler systems…) #F1Testing #F1
— Lights Out ●●●●● (@LightsOutF1Blog) February 26, 2017
Your Prediction: No
Correct Answer: No
It stayed dry all week apart from on Thursday, though the dampness was artificial. The track was soaked by three tanks dispersing 250,000 litres of water over the track. The water was apparently taken from a nearby pig farm, and was not suitable for drinking.
3. WHICH ENGINE WILL FAIL FIRST?
3. Which engine will be first to suffer from some kind of problem? #F1Testing #F1
— Lights Out ●●●●● (@LightsOutF1Blog) February 26, 2017
Your Prediction: Honda
Correct Answer: Honda
Yes, somewhat predictably, it was Honda who suffered the most with engine problems throughout the first week of testing. Fernando Alonso managed just 29 laps on the first day of the winter test due to Honda engine issues.
4. WILL ANY DRIVER BE TOO FATIGUED TO DRIVE?
4. Will any driver be forced to sit out due to fatigue? #F1Testing #F1
— Lights Out ●●●●● (@LightsOutF1Blog) February 26, 2017
Your Prediction: No
Correct Answer: No
The drivers appeared to have done plenty of training over the winter, and have been fit enough to complete stints longer than race distances on each day of the test. Sebastian Vettel appeared to have the most stamina, completing 128 laps on the first day of the test, and 139 laps on the third day. Mercedes’ new driver Valtteri Bottas did the most laps in total over the four days, with 324 tours of the Catalunya circuit.
5. WHAT WILL THE FASTEST LAP TIME BE?
5. What will the fastest lap time be? (Last year in testing was 1:22.765, pole time was 1:22.000) #F1Testing #F1
— Lights Out ●●●●● (@LightsOutF1Blog) February 26, 2017
Your Prediction: 1:18.001 – 1:20.000
Correct Answer: 1:18.001 – 1:20.000
Ahead of the season, estimations were that the cars would be five seconds faster per lap than we have seen in recent years. The pole position time at Catalunya in 2016 was a 1:22.00 – Valtteri Bottas’ time of 1:19.705 on the third day of the test is over two seconds faster than that. Rumour has it that Mercedes haven’t even run in their highest engine mode yet, so the lap times could, and most likely will, tumble even further by the end of next week.