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F1 2026

Ferrari and McLaren deliberately held back until Tuesday with the Italian team hitting the track as soon as the pitlane opened at 9am.

Red Bull joined Ferrari soon after with Max Verstappen getting his first taste of the RB22, but he caused a red flag on his outlap.

It is understood he briefly went off into the gravel at Turn 5 and was able to continue, but it prompted a pause in the session of just over five minutes.

Ferrari resumed its running as soon as the test restarted and Verstappen was soon back out too.

But around an hour and a half into the session, what had started as light rain set in fully, with the sky around the track looking ominously murky.
 

Big Jeff said:
Ferrari and McLaren deliberately held back until Tuesday with the Italian team hitting the track as soon as the pitlane opened at 9am.

Red Bull joined Ferrari soon after with Max Verstappen getting his first taste of the RB22, but he caused a red flag on his outlap.

It is understood he briefly went off into the gravel at Turn 5 and was able to continue, but it prompted a pause in the session of just over five minutes.

Ferrari resumed its running as soon as the test restarted and Verstappen was soon back out too.

But around an hour and a half into the session, what had started as light rain set in fully, with the sky around the track looking ominously murky.
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That was exciting just reading that 😂😂
 
Beau Peep said:
One chassis and presumably few spare parts. Wonder if it's too late to drive another one down, if they have another.
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Too soft these days.

In March 1961, Jaguar test driver
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undertook a legendary overnight drive from Coventry to Geneva, delivering an open-top E-Type ('77RW') in just over 11 hours to meet overwhelming demand at the Geneva Motor Show.
 
Big Jeff said:
Too soft these days.

In March 1961, Jaguar test driver
You must be logged on to see external links
undertook a legendary overnight drive from Coventry to Geneva, delivering an open-top E-Type ('77RW') in just over 11 hours to meet overwhelming demand at the Geneva Motor Show.
Click to expand...
Reminds me slightly of the Belgian GP at Spa ‘99 when both Villeneuve & Zonta each destroyed their chassis trying to take Eau Rogue flat out in qualifying.

BAR had to effectively ship 2 new cars from Brackley for the race the next day. Different times now of course with the cost cap.

Canny podcast about it here -

podcast:%20The%20inside%20story%20of%20BAR%E2%80%99s%20$6%20million%20shunts%20%E2%80%93%20and%20the%20most%20dramatic%20all-nighter%20in%20F1%20historyhttps://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article/podcast-the-inside-story-of-bars-usd6-million-shunts-and-the-most-dramatic.4wbBunEdtiWbpxGsm6WQI2
 
Given that this is not an FIA or FOM-operated test, with the two authorities on the ground merely to lend ground support and test out their own systems ahead of the season, there can be no expectation of either to release any information about the events of what is essentially a series of track days, booked out by particularly high-end clients.

Like any privately operated test, such as a Testing of Previous Cars (TPC) outing, there is simply no requirement for the teams to provide any information and, indeed, the fact that any imagery or information is released at all is more than what was originally planned.
 
Watching last night's Shakedown show, that Red Bull is absolutely gorgeous, the small sidepods and packaging around the engine are incredibly neat and slick. Thought the Ferrari looked tidy as well but that looks a different level. Time will tell if the engine has the grunt and whether the aero is as good as it looks. They all already look smaller, sleeker and more manoeurvable than the boats we had before.

It's a funny thing in F1 that beauty often translates to performance. Remember that bulbous Alpine Alonso drove a few years back, and the zero pod Merc which just looked clumsy from the first run.
 
Beau Peep said:
Watching last night's Shakedown show, that Red Bull is absolutely gorgeous, the small sidepods and packaging around the engine are incredibly neat and slick. Thought the Ferrari looked tidy as well but that looks a different level. Time will tell if the engine has the grunt and whether the aero is as good as it looks. They all already look smaller, sleeker and more manoeurvable than the boats we had before.

It's a funny thing in F1 that beauty often translates to performance. Remember that bulbous Alpine Alonso drove a few years back, and the zero pod Merc which just looked clumsy from the first run.
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I associate Williams downfall from the moment they turned up with that car with the tusks in the mid noughties!
 
Mercedes times yesterday were consistent and reliable 1:17.4 and 1:17.6. Lap record is 1:15.7 so on the face of it, impressive, particularly given these cars are supposed to be two seconds slower!

Speed trap reading 347 km/h Monday and 337 km/h Wednesday, compared to 320 km/h for the old cars. Wow!

zebediah said:
Lando does not like this
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I should point out, I was trying to be funny :oops: but I don't think I'm particularly excited for a "Norris era" and now all the awful people have left Red Bull (except one) I don't even mind them so much.

I know they can't all be James Hunt, but this lot are a dull bunch of drivers and he's an insipid champion. Piastri will be stronger and more mature and the field will be shaken up by the regs. Who knows who has nailed their car. I would bet it's not Ferrari or Aston Martin mind! Right now I'm leaning to Mercedes.
 
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Beau Peep said:
Mercedes times yesterday were consistent and reliable 1:17.4 and 1:17.6. Lap record is 1:15.7 so on the face of it, impressive, particularly given these cars are supposed to be two seconds slower!

Speed trap reading 347 km/h Monday and 337 km/h Wednesday, compared to 320 km/h for the old cars. Wow!
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That's 215mph. Is Barca especially high speed? I know the last corner is now a fast bend so its quicker than it used to be. But I guess we'll see much higher at Monza?
 
PTR said:
That's 215mph. Is Barca especially high speed? I know the last corner is now a fast bend so its quicker than it used to be. But I guess we'll see much higher at Monza?
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Pretty fast, fairly low drag car setup, and it's a long straight, but 215 is getting on for Monza speeds
 
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