Assessment and statistics of the 2018 winter tests

The Barcelona track in Spain hosted the Formula 1 cars between late February and early March for the first runs of the new single-seaters. Spread over two sessions of four days each, these 2018 winter tests already suggest that the strengths present in 2017 are likely to remain at the top in 2018.

Ferrari dominates the top of the rankings with the two best times over the eight days. Sebastian Vettel remains the fastest this winter with a time of 1:17.182, closely followed by his teammate Kimi Räikkönen at 1:17.221. However, the two men in red, unlike their direct competitors at Mercedes, achieved their best times using Pirelli’s softest tire compound, the new Hyper Softs.

Mercedes therefore settled for setting times, which were nonetheless fast, on Ultra Soft tires, placing 8th and 10th for Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas with laps of 1.18.400 for the Briton and 1.18.560 for the Finn respectively.

This strategy of concealment allowed a few outsiders to make a name for themselves. First and foremost, the McLaren team, which spent these two weeks reassuring everyone after numerous mechanical issues. Nonetheless, Fernando Alonso finished in 3rd place with a time of 1:17.784 on Hyper Soft tires. The Renault engine did not prove to be the most reliable as Red Bull and even the parent team had some problems throughout these eight days, but this didn’t hinder their performance as Daniel Ricciardo ranked 4th in 1:18.04 and Carlos Sainz 5th in 1:18.092, also on Hyper Soft tires.

The real surprise came from the Haas team, which impressed observers with its speed, confirmed by Kevin Magnussen’s excellent 6th fastest time of 1.18.360 but with Super Soft tires. Among the surprises, the reliability of the Honda engine, now equipping Toro Rosso, also sparked interest, especially when McLaren was stuck in the pits with mechanical problems. The situation did not amuse everyone in the British box, but it must be acknowledged that the Japanese manufacturer has really progressed over the winter. Especially since only one engine was used per driver during these eight days of testing.

The Sauber team, for its part, is learning the new generation V6 engines as it spent the entire year 2017 with a power unit from 2016. Among the French drivers, Pierre Gasly ranks in the best position with a 7th fastest time of 1:18.363 on his Toro Rosso equipped with Hyper Soft tires, ahead of Romain Grosjean, 9th with a time of 1:18.412 on Ultra Soft tires, and Esteban Ocon in a somewhat disappointing Force India against his direct competitors, only 14th with a time of 1:18.967 equipped with Hyper Soft tires.

Finally, his tests will have been the stage for the grand return of Robert Kubica as an official driver for Williams. The Pole will certainly have driven less than the two main drivers, Sergey Sirotkin and Lance Stroll, but will have had the opportunity to prove that his speed has not left him after all these years.

The times from week 2 being the fastest, here is the ranking of the best times from these winter tests (with only Mazepin having set his best lap in week 1):

The table of laps and kilometers covered by the teams during the eight days: