New to Kayo? Join now and get your first month for just $1.<\/a><\/p>\nBut it\u2019s in the final hours of today\u2019s test that we\u2019re likely to get a clearer picture of one-lap pace.<\/p>\n
Typically it\u2019s in the very last moments of the last day of testing that teams dare themselves to take out a little bit of fuel, put some soft tyres on and see what their cars can really do.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s not long now before the form guide for Melbourne will become clear.<\/p>\n
MotoGP finds new home with epic new look | 06:55<\/p>\n
FERRARI DEBUTS INNOVATIONS<\/p>\n
Ferrari promised upgrades to its car for this week\u2019s final test in Bahrain, and some of its revealed innovations have certainly turned heads.<\/p>\n
On the opening day of the test the Italian team revealed a new configuration in the exhaust and diffuser area at the back of the car, where it\u2019s installed a little additional rear wing.<\/p>\n
These little scoops are probably used to deflect exhaust gas towards the rear wing in a favourable way, but they also likely effectively extend the diffuser \u2014 the powerful aerodynamic part at the back of the car that greatest downforce via the floor.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s a clever design because, according to reports, the rear of the car would have had to be designed with it in mind given the various constraints placed on bodywork in this area based ultimately on the rear axle.<\/p>\n
While debuting it late means there\u2019s less time for rivals to copy it, there\u2019s also a chance some teams simply won\u2019t be able to replicate it if the locked-in design elements of the car don\u2019t allow for it.<\/p>\n
Ferrari saved a second eye-catching development for this week too \u2014 and it\u2019s one other teams are now frantically analysing back to base to understand if they\u2019ve missed a trick.<\/p>\n
The SF-26 showed off a novel rear wing flap that rotates backwards by something like 250 degrees rather than flipping open like a letterbox, as was common for DRS last year, or sitting down, flattening the entire rear wing, <\/p>\n
This sort of design would have been illegal in previous years, but the movable rear wing \u2014 and the movable front wing \u2014 are an important part of the new rules, which allow more scope for differences.<\/p>\n
The rules are more important because cars now operate in two modes, known as straight-line mode and cornering mode, and they flick between them several times a lap regardless of whether they\u2019re following another car \u2014 they\u2019re no longer overtaking aids but fundamental to the way the cars work.<\/p>\n
The idea is to produce as much downforce as possible in cornering mode but then to dump as much drag as possible in straight-line mode. A car that has the biggest difference between the two modes will theoretically be the most efficient.<\/p>\n
Ferrari\u2019s flip rear wing appears to create a larger opening for airflow than for many other teams, and some have theorised that it would be very effective at cutting drag too.<\/p>\n
The team ditched the flip wing for a race run in the afternoon, describing it as a test item. Perhaps it\u2019ll be used at only certain tracks \u2014 or perhaps it discovered that it wasn\u2019t producing the gains expected.<\/p>\n
Whatever the case, Ferrari \u2014 and, it must be said, not for the first time \u2014 proved that its design department still has a lot of creative energy in it.<\/p>\n
And given the car\u2019s increasingly impressive on-track form, those sorts of novel ideas could make the difference for it this year.<\/p>\n
How Phillip Island became too ‘hard’ | 01:09<\/p>\n
THE STARTS COULD BE CRUCIAL THIS YEAR<\/p>\n
Ferrari demonstrated one other point of difference this week: a habit of making great getaways.<\/p>\n
The start procedure has become a major talking point in Bahrain, particularly after McLaren boss Andrea Stella described the potential for race starts to be dangerous given how much more complicated they are this year.<\/p>\n
Drivers must now rev their cars for around 10 seconds to spool up the turbo \u2014 the MGU-H used to do this for them, but that hybrid element is banned this year \u2014 and even then they\u2019re finding their launches inconsistent.<\/p>\n
A call for rule changes was shot down by Ferrari, however, which reportedly raised this many months ago but was itself shot down.<\/p>\n
Ferrari subsequently made design choice to be more competitive at the start, most likely by building a smaller turbocharger.<\/p>\n
A smaller turbo needs less time to spool up.<\/p>\n
That\u2019s perhaps why the car has been making such great starts this week \u2014 even after the FIA trialled a new starting procedure that gave teams an extra five seconds on the grid to spool up their turbos.<\/p>\n
On Thursday night eight teams took part in a dummy start procedure that included a formation lap, a green flag and the full light sequences, including a new turbo delay.<\/p>\n
Both Lewis Hamilton and Oliver Bearman, in his Ferrari-powered Haas car, made sizzling starts into the first turn.<\/p>\n
Of course it\u2019s only practice, but the advantage was notable \u2014 and it was much the same as a dummy start earlier in the day too.<\/p>\n
And with McLaren drivers getting far worse starts on both occasions, you can understand why Ferrari is in an uncharitable mood on this front.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s definitely not dangerous,\u201d Hamilton said. \u201cIt\u2019s just a different procedure.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou can still pull away without the turbo going. It\u2019s just that you probably will anti-stall a couple of times, so perhaps the anti-stall is something that maybe is a potential for some people.\u201d<\/p>\n
Even Max Verstappen \u2014 and Red Bull Racing\u2019s starts are reasonable without being outstanding \u2014 spoke on similar lines.<\/p>\n
\u201cMaybe they should have looked at it a bit earlier as a team,\u201d he said. \u201cAs for the start, that\u2019s simply the choice you make with the turbo. We consciously made a certain decision there.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThose who have problems with it can also start from the pit lane \u2014 then you\u2019re out of everyone\u2019s way and you can just join the race from there.\u201d<\/p>\n
Safety concerns for Adelaide addressed | 01:19<\/p>\n
MERCEDES STILL THE TEAM TO BEAT DESPITE ENGINE VOTE<\/p>\n
Though there\u2019s a feeling that Ferrari has surged forward in the pre-season stakes, Mercedes has clearly re-established itself as the outright favourite with one day remaining.<\/p>\n
After a patchy first Bahrain test, Mercedes has reasserted itself in the final week, setting the most or second most laps on the opening two days and running fastest on both occasions.<\/p>\n
Andrea Kimi Antonelli\u2019s fastest time on Thursday is almost a second quicker than his leading time from last week and just under three seconds slower than last year\u2019s pole time in Bahrain.<\/p>\n
Time by team, days 1 and 2<\/p>\n
1. Mercedes: 1m 32.803s (Andrea Kimi Antonelli, day 2)<\/p>\n
2. McLaren: +0.058s (Oscar Piastri, day 2)<\/p>\n
3. Red Bull Racing: +0.359s (Max Verstappen, day 2)<\/p>\n
4. Ferrari: +0.605s (Lewis Hamilton, day 2)<\/p>\n
5. Alpine: +1.015s (Franco Colapinto, day 2)<\/p>\n
6. Audi: +1.184s (Nico H\u00fclkenberg, day 2)<\/p>\n
7. Haas: +1.398s (Esteban Ocon, day 2)<\/p>\n
8. Racing Bulls: +1.729s (Liam Lawson, day 2)<\/p>\n
9. Williams: +1.752s (Alex Albon, day 2)<\/p>\n
10. Cadillac: +2.566s (Sergio P\u00e9rez, day 2)<\/p>\n
11. Aston Martin: +3.171s (Lance Stroll, day 1)<\/p>\n
Some of these gains are coming simply through better understanding the most efficient way to use the power unit, with teams getting to grips with how best to keep up the battery charge.<\/p>\n
But Mercedes also brought a significant upgrade to the first day of the week that will be paying dividends as all the cars step closer to the specification they\u2019ll run in at the Australian Grand Prix next month.<\/p>\n
All the usual testing caveats apply \u2014 fuel loads, engine modes, track conditions, sandbagging et cetera \u2014 but certainly the signs for Mercedes are positive, particularly with customer team McLaren close at its heels.<\/p>\n
That\u2019s also good news given the team is almost certain to take a knock later this year after the FIA put its compression ratio rules to a vote.<\/p>\n
Engine manufacturers must vote by the end of next week whether to change the rules to measure the compression ratio when hot \u2014 at 130 degrees \u2014 as well as at ambient temperature.<\/p>\n
Mercedes has found a way to increase its compression ratio when running hot but keep it within the 16:1 limit when cool.<\/p>\n
If approved \u2014 and it\u2019s expected to be approved \u2014 the change would come into effect during the mid-season break.<\/p>\n
It will force Mercedes to revise its power unit, possibly costing it 10s of kilowatts \u2014 though the team says it\u2019s worth single-digit numbers.<\/p>\n
We won\u2019t know for sure until the season proper starts \u2014 and again until after August \u2014 but the works team at least looks like it might have at least some buffer near the top of the order that might cushion it from the mid-year rules backflip.<\/p>\n
Vic lose Phillip Island MotoGP rights | 02:25<\/p>\n
ASTON MARTIN IS THE CRISIS TEAM<\/p>\n
Mercedes controls the top of the lap chart for Bahrain to date, although we\u2019re seeing most teams run reliably at this relatively late stage of the pre-season campaign.<\/p>\n
Long runs and race simulations are the focus now, ensuring healthy lap numbers on most days. Some little niggles are keeping teams garages occasionally, but they\u2019ll all argue that\u2019s the point of testing.<\/p>\n
There is of course one exception.<\/p>\n
Aston Martin has shown no improvement in pace or reliability since last week in Bahrain. The only thing this week has demonstrated is how much the team is struggling.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s still yet to complete more than 100 laps in a day, and serious mechanical problems have seen it trigger two red flags in two days.<\/p>\n
On Wednesday Lance Stroll\u2019s car suffered a gearbox problem that sent him spinning into the gravel. On Thursday Fernando Alonso stopped on track in the middle of a race run and had to be rescued after completing just 28 laps in the post-lunch session.<\/p>\n
Mileage by team, days 1 and 2<\/p>\n
1. Mercedes: 301 laps (1629.0 kilometres)<\/p>\n
2. McLaren: 282 laps (1526.2 kilometres)<\/p>\n
3. Racing Bulls: 242 laps (1309.7 kilometres)<\/p>\n
4. Alpine: 241 laps (1304.3 kilometres)<\/p>\n
5. Haas: 234 laps (1266.4 kilometres)<\/p>\n
6. Williams: 227 laps (1228.5 kilometres)<\/p>\n
7. Audi: 222 laps (1201.5 kilometres)<\/p>\n
8. Red Bull Racing: 205 laps (1109.5 kilometres)<\/p>\n
9. Ferrari: 192 laps (1039.1 kilometres)<\/p>\n
10. Cadillac: 167 laps (903.8 kilometres)<\/p>\n
11. Aston Martin: 122 laps (660.3 kilometres)<\/p>\n
\u201cI think everything can be fixed for sure, short and medium-term,\u201d Fernando Alonso said. \u201cI don\u2019t think there is anything that is impossible to fix, but we need to wait and see.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe will try to fix everything that we can before Australia and after that try to fix as many things as possible in the first couple of races before it\u2019s too late in the championship.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m optimistic. I think there is a solution in place.\u201d<\/p>\n
But the bottom line is that Aston Martin will go into the season-opening race not only with questions over its reliability but with questions about what it doesn\u2019t yet know about its car and bespoke Honda motor. Severely down on laps, testing will effectively continue through the season before it can be certain what it needs from its development program.<\/p>\n
Crisis is a strong word. Aston Martin is at the start of a new chapter in its history, with a new hierarchy, new power unit and new demands on its new factor and many new members of staff.<\/p>\n
But with Cadillac \u2014 a brand-new Formula 1 team \u2014 looking like it\u2019s closest competition, the situation is looking dire.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"With just one day of testing before the season-opening Australian Grand Prix, a pattern is becoming clear. The…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":491550,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[573],"tags":[2620,12295,13273,1724,64,63,689,138374,936,248285,248292,248309,248302,220229,248279,16185,248298,14216,33107,241734,248311,248283,248291,38763,243352,49589,248286,248299,817,845,168856,248303,248288,28118,813,816,240797,248308,248295,248305,2101,3555,248293,248278,825,248297,248289,248280,248281,677,248306,248294,18923,225387,668,142957,171738,101414,248310,16205,64336,2072,1124,85,248300,248284,248296,18394,77367,248301,248290,248304,248307,248312,248287,12000,16198,248282],"class_list":{"0":"post-491549","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-formula-1","8":"tag-agence-france-presse","9":"tag-andrea-kimi-antonelli","10":"tag-andrea-stella","11":"tag-asia","12":"tag-au","13":"tag-australia","14":"tag-australia-and-new-zealand","15":"tag-australian-motorcycle","16":"tag-bahrain","17":"tag-battery-charge","18":"tag-cars-step","19":"tag-cars-work","20":"tag-challenges-people-face","21":"tag-compression-ratio","22":"tag-crisis-team","23":"tag-customer-team","24":"tag-design-choice","25":"tag-design-department","26":"tag-development-program","27":"tag-development-race","28":"tag-diffuser-area","29":"tag-dummy-start","30":"tag-dummy-start-procedure","31":"tag-engine-manufacturers","32":"tag-engine-modes","33":"tag-engine-regulations","34":"tag-engine-vote","35":"tag-exhaust-gas","36":"tag-f1","37":"tag-fernando-alonso","38":"tag-final-test","39":"tag-flip-rear-wing","40":"tag-flip-wing","41":"tag-formation-lap","42":"tag-formula-1","43":"tag-formula1","44":"tag-fuel-loads","45":"tag-gearbox-problem","46":"tag-healthy-lap-numbers","47":"tag-impressive-on-track-form","48":"tag-italian-team","49":"tag-jack-miller","50":"tag-lap-chart","51":"tag-locked-in-design-elements","52":"tag-max-verstappen","53":"tag-mid-year-rules-backflip","54":"tag-movable-front-wing","55":"tag-movable-rear-wing","56":"tag-novel-rear-wing","57":"tag-oceania","58":"tag-penultimate-testing-day","59":"tag-pole-time","60":"tag-power-unit","61":"tag-preseason-testing","62":"tag-press-conference","63":"tag-race-run","64":"tag-race-simulations","65":"tag-rear-wing","66":"tag-rear-wing-flap","67":"tag-rule-changes","68":"tag-safety-concerns","69":"tag-sergio-perez","70":"tag-south-australia","71":"tag-sports","72":"tag-start-procedure","73":"tag-starting-procedure","74":"tag-straight-line-mode","75":"tag-talking-point","76":"tag-talking-pts","77":"tag-teams-dare","78":"tag-teams-garages","79":"tag-teams-run","80":"tag-testing-caveats","81":"tag-turbo-delay","82":"tag-turbo-needs","83":"tag-western-asia","84":"tag-works-team","85":"tag-worth-single-digit-numbers"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/491549","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=491549"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/491549\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/491550"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=491549"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=491549"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=491549"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
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