I've heard Hamilton and Button reminisce recently about when testing was a series of weekends rather than one permitted shakedown/press event and a weekend in Bahrain. Testing this year felt "blink and you'll miss it". It also felt like it went to plan for all the teams; one-lap times that were respectable and successful long-runs. No one was hanging their heads with disbelief at their lack of speed. No team brought a Brawn-style surprise either. There were no big stories for the press. Here is my run down of what little I saw...
Alfa Romeo - Zhou put on the softest tyre on the second day to put in the quickest lap, which would have looked impressive, if everyone couldn't see those tyres. Bottas was third quickest on the final day, which shows the Ferrari engine is strong, a good sign in the championship fight at the front. Or perhaps it was his mullet and moustache helmet propelling him forwards.
Alpha Tauri - I have nothing to say about this team. There are rumours that the team is up for sale. De Vries is stating that he's not a rookie really; let's see when we get racing as he is a testing vet.
Alpine - Gasly says he is going to give 200% every weekend; unless he's bringing his clone, I don't see how (Maths teachers all shaking their heads). All eyes and Netflix are on Gasly and Ocon, who are doing their best to pretend they are friends even though everyone knows they really don't get along.
Aston Martin - the team finished second on Day 1, with Alonso impressing on both one-lap speed and long run times across the testing weekend. The vet is playing it down but must be hopeful for a decent season at last. This year's Driver Who Fell Off Their Pushbike (DWFOTP) was Stroll and the details of his injuries are yet to be released, which is strange, as usually everyone is clear to show that they are on the mend and will be ready to race soon. Drugovich stood in for Stroll and was very happy to be there although his neck didn't look wide enough. He was given a lot of running, potentially to strand in for Stroll for at least the first race weekend. I wonder how Aston Martin's reserve driver, Stoffel van Dorne, will feel about that?
Ferrari - the Italian team put in a very good show at testing and look strong. Their main story though was the arrival of a new team principal. LeClerc, possibly but not the No1 driver, was singing Vasseur's praises and the man himself talks a good talk. Ferrari were showing him off to the press to full advantage. He is calling it the "biggest challenge of his life" and seems chatty, relaxed and ready to face the Italian media with a pinch of salt.
Haas - the team didn't receive much coverage but otherwise Magnussen returns for another year and the Hulk is back in F1, stressing that he is fit enough for this.
McLaren -this is the team that looks to be struggling most. Their speed is not looking good, so perhaps Ricciardo made a wise choice being paid not to drive the car this year.
Mercedes - the car is still not quicker than Red Bull or Ferrari but has stopped the porpoising. Hamilton has been out and about but Russell seems to be hiding.
Williams - Logan Sargeant looks about 15 but seemed to have fun driving the car. They showed excellent reliability and perhaps managed the most laps. As another team with a new principal, there seems to be a lot of scrabbling for teams to figure out how the personnel works now.
I think the 2023 has huge potential to be a goodun' although the money is probably best placed on Verstappen. If I was to make outlandish predictions for the year:
- Everyone will fall out with Verstappen. Hamilton will gain performance and clash with him. The Best Friend Competitors, Le Clerc, will get frustrated and fall out with him. Norris will hold him up during a race as a backmarker and they will no longer be friends. Perez will be assigned No2 Driver very early in the season and take up the Webber stance. The fans will hate Verstappen as they once hated Vettel.
- Hulkenberg and Magnussen will fall out and shunt each other off the track most races.
- Piastri will disappoint.
- De Vries will wipe the floor with his team mate.
- Williams will get a podium.
Red Bull - easily the favourite, with suggestion that Perez isn't sitting as happily in it
