2015 F1 Cars Show Big Improvement over 2014 Models After 1st Day of Testing
Preseason testing for the 2015 Formula One season began Sundayย at the Circuito de Jerez in southern Spain. For anyone who complained that the 2014 F1 cars were too slow, the early results look promising.
Last year was the first season of a new V6 hybrid engine formula and, with the restrictions on in-season development of the power units, it was always going to take some time for the new cars to get up to speed. Now, after a full cycle of racing and offseason development, it appears the cars have made a big leap forward for 2015.
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Recently, Pirelli's motorsport director Paul Hembery toldย Autosport's Jonathan Noble that the F1 tyre supplier was prepared for times, "two to three seconds per lap quicker than last season."
After just one day of testing in Andalusia, that prediction is looking goodโit might even be a bit conservative.
Before we start comparing lap times, though, remember that different weather, different tyre compounds and different programs for each team make it difficult to draw any firm conclusions from test results. Still, the early lap times are promising.
"Cold day, cold tarmac today at @circuitodejerez. This the key activity from Pirelli today to learn the most on tyres pic.twitter.com/3Z8wlJEiy2
โ Pirelli Motorsport (@pirellisport) February 1, 2015"
First, compare the best laps for the top five drivers on Sunday to the top five drivers' best times from the first 2014 preseason test at Jerez (the 2014 results are for the entire test, not just the first day):
| Kevin Magnussen (McLaren) | 1m 23.276s | Sebastian Vettel (Ferrari) | 1m 22.620s |
| Felipe Massa (Williams) | 1m 23.700s | Marcus Ericsson (Sauber) | 1m 22.777s |
| Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) | 1m 23.952s | Nico Rosberg (Mercedes) | 1m 23.106s |
| Jenson Button (McLaren) | 1m 24.165s | Daniel Ricciardo (Red Bull) | 1m 23.338s |
| Kimi Raikkonen (Ferrari) | 1m 24.812s | Valtteri Bottas (Williams) | 1m 23.906s |
Already, Ferrari, Sauber and Mercedes have posted quicker times than Kevin Magnussen managed for McLaren last year. And Magnussen posted that time on the day three.
As any lingering mechanical issues get worked out and the drivers become more comfortable in their new cars, the lap times will drop even further.
"Today was a good start," saidย Sebastian Vettel, who clocked the fastest time on Sunday in his first official test for Ferrari, in a team press release.ย "I canโt say more than that, because this is only the beginning. Everything is different, even the philosophy behind the car, when compared to what I was used to."
Just wait until the four-time world champion really starts to feel at home with the Italian team.
If we compare the lap times from Sunday to just the first day of testing in 2014, the differences are even more pronounced:
| Kimi Raikkonen (Ferrari) | 1m 27.104s | Sebastian Vettel (Ferrari) | 1m 22.620s |
| Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) | 1m 27.820s | Marcus Ericsson (Sauber) | 1m 22.777s |
| Valtteri Bottas (Williams) | 1m 30.082s | Nico Rosberg (Mercedes) | 1m 23.106s |
| Sergio Perez (Force India) | 1m 33.161s | Daniel Ricciardo (Red Bull) | 1m 23.338s |
| Jean-Eric Vergne (Toro Rosso) | 1m 36.530s | Valtteri Bottas (Williams) | 1m 23.906s |
Ferrari topped the time sheets both days, but Kimi Raikkonen's best time on the first day last season is nearly 4.5 seconds slower than Vettel managed this year.
The fact that Raikkonen turned in the fastest lap on day one last year should also serve as a caution for any tifosi getting too excited about Vettel's performance Sunday. Ferrari may have been quick out of the gate in 2014, but the company eventually stumbled its way to its first winless season in two decades.
Taken as a whole, though, the times from Sunday hint that the 2015 cars will regularly approach the performance of the 2013 models, the last season of the old V8 engines. Last year, there were two races where the fastest lap was quicker than it was in 2013: Belgium and Brazil. This year, we won't have to wait until the summer for that to happen.
It is still six weeks until the first race in Melbourne, but the cars are already flying, and the engines are roaring (or whistling, at least). There was plenty of great racing in 2014โthis year, it will just be happening at higher speeds.
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