Why pre-season testing is better than ever for F1 fans

"It's the most wonderful time of the year." So sang Andy Williams about Christmas. But Formula 1 fans might argue that right now pips Yuletide. Yes, pre-season testing at Barcelona has just got underway.

Photo: Octane Photography

Test one stretches until this Friday, February 21, then all reconvene one week on, from Wednesday 26 to Friday 28 February.

The excitement this time of year at the season stretched ahead is inimitable. Of course, in an accompanying annual event, testing will come with health warnings about not reading too much into things. But it doesn't stop us trying...

And there's never been a better time for F1 fans to follow it all. Not all that long ago, testing coverage would broadly amount to a few paragraphs and lap times in Autosport. Even until fairly recently the concept of televising testing was not something of this earth.

Not now. As F1 TV Pro – F1's digital platform – will be broadcasting the six days of testing live from 9am to 1pm and 2pm to 6pm (CET). Plus it's added 11 new countries to its roster, bringing the total to 70 which includes the United States.

And if you subscribe to F1 TV during this testing period – from today until February 28 – you will get 25% off. There are more details via this link.

This year we'll get even more to look at too as for the first time the tests are organised directly by F1 which means, among other things, those dreaded screens in front of team's garages are banned, unless they are repairing the car after a crash or failure.

The F1 TV coverage will include the on-track running, pitlane and garage filming, graphics and pit and trackside reporting, plus there's a range of on-demand content.

In another innovation, there will be press conferences with drivers and team representatives, footage available on demand, in every test day's lunch break. F1 TV Pro subscribers also get Sky UK and F1's daily round-up show, produced in the paddock in the hour after testing finishes.

The inimitable Will Buxton will also each day host 'Tech Talk' and on either Friday host 'Paddock Pass'. There also will be round-up 'What we learned' programmes on either Saturday, while on Friday February 28, after the final test concludes, Jolyon Palmer will give his take plus his predictions – no doubt in his usual no-holds-barred style.

Live Timing has also been beefed up and this, as well as features, clips, 'Paddock Pass' and 'What we learned', will be accessible on Formula1.com too.

Why the UK’s F1 fans won’t miss out on pre-season testing

For Formula 1 fans there is nothing quite like pre-season testing. At this time of year any number of possibilities stretch ahead, and testing offers our first clues for resolving the big questions.

Photo: Octane Photography

This year is no different. Will the dominant Mercedes and Lewis Hamilton be toppled? If so, will it be by Ferrari or Red Bull? At Ferrari, can Sebastian Vettel strike back against his young team-mate Charles Leclerc? Who will top the midfield? Can famous old Williams recover from its woeful 2019?

The opening test starts today and continues until Friday, and test two is exactly a week on, from Wednesday 26 to Friday 28 February.

And this year F1 fans will be able to follow in more detail than ever. The UK isn't one of the 70 countries with access to F1 TV Pro which is televising testing live, but it's far from the case that UK fans will miss out.

As for the first time they will be able to watch all six days of testing live on Sky F1, starting at 8am UK time and stretching through each day to 5pm, with an hour's lunch break. Sky F1 also has a 'Story So Far' hour-long round-up show from the paddock at 5pm each test day.

What's more, UK-based F1 fans can get F1 TV Access. Its subscribers get F1's live timing, which via the F1 app is much richer this year. Fans will not only be able to follow drivers' times in the usual three in-lap sectors, but also in detailed segments within the sectors. They also can compare drivers' performance via a new tab, as well as see real-time telemetry, tyre usage history, driver maps and hear the best of team radio.

F1 TV Access also is a treasure trove for lovers of F1 history, as you can watch footage from over 650 historic races, starting from the 1981 season, as well as exclusive documentaries.

F1 TV Access costs just £19.99 a year or £2.29 a month. And if you subscribe to F1 TV Access during testing – from today until February 28 – you will get 25% off. You can subscribe or find more details via this link.

There also is plenty available via F1's website, Formula1.com. In addition to full live timing, there's content including, among other things, clips from testing as well as F1 TV's 'Paddock Pass' and 'What we learned' programmes providing additional insight from Barcelona.

Motor Verso F1 2018 Season Summary - Spanish Grand Prix review

Photo: Octane Photography

My ever-growing Motor Verso F1 2018 season summary now has my take on the Spanish Grand Prix added.

It wasn't a race big on thrills but it may have been a race big on significance. Or perhaps not.

You can check out the latest article with the Barcelona review added, illustrated and complete with the best of the internet, via this link: https://www.motorverso.com/2018-f1-summary/

Do check out the Motor Verso site too; you'll find motoring news, car reviews and features - the team on the site carry out week-long test drives of the latest cars - as well as photos and videos of the machines.

Spanish GP Report - Meet the new boss, same as the old boss

There are two things we associate chiefly with Spanish Grands Prix at the Barcelona track. One is dull races with little overtaking. The other is a strong steer of the competitive pecking order among the competing cars.

Mercedes and particularly Lewis Hamilton
dominated the Spanish Grand Prix
Photo: Octane Photography 

We certainly got the former this time. It was indeed, to use the well-worn euphemism, not a thriller. But if the latter applies too it then it's ominous. And a familiar sort of ominous.

As if this one was dull it was made so in large part by Mercedes's dominance. And particularly that of Lewis Hamilton.

"It's one of those happy Lewis days when he's unbeatable," opined Martin Brundle early on, noting something that hasn't been present all that often in 2018 prior to this one. It had that sort of inevitability about it from the point poleman Lewis led into turn one.

He won by 20 seconds and probably would have been happy to drive his W09 straight home to Monaco too if such things were allowed.

Lewis Hamilton: 'Zero Comfortability' in Title Race

Despite the fact that he is currently atop the drivers' standings, Lewis Hamilton admits that he has not raced up to his calibre so far this term. Hamilton shot to the top of the standings two weeks ago after a wild Azerbaijan GP last week, but the Mercedes driver said that his current form will not be good enough to stave off Ferrari and Sebastian Vettel over the course of a full season.

Lewis Hamilton enters the Spanish Grand Prix
weekend in reflective moods
Photo: Octane Photography

Ahead of the upcoming Spanish Grand Prix Hamilton told the press, "At the moment I am punching below my weight, and that is not sufficient to win a world championship. I have zero comfortability. Since the last race I have not thought for one second that I am leading the world championship."

Hamilton's win in Azerbaijan coupled with Vettel's relatively disappointing fourth-place finish propelled Hamilton to the top of the standings on 70 points. Vettel is second with 66, while his Ferrari team-mate Kimi Raikkonen is further adrift in third on 48 points. Those betting on F1 will have a tough call to make with the two at the top so close together.

Spanish GP Betting Preview - After the watershed

The Spanish Grand Prix this weekend is a watershed - from a betting point of view at least. After three rounds in which he looked the fastest all else being equal the bookies have twigged and Sebastian Vettel is now favourite for pole and win, ending a lengthy run of Lewis Hamilton having the shortest odds.

For the first time in a long time Sebastian Vettel
has the shortest odds to prevail
Photo: Octane Photography

They bookies might be counter-cyclical though, as Spain could be a good place for Mercedes to bounce back. The long turns and harder tyre compounds than usual should suit Mercedes and go some way to solve its rubber warm-up problems of the last three rounds.

Still Ferrari and Sebastian Vettel have this year been near-perennials at the front on Saturday and Sunday and are not to be written off readily. The odds reflect the close call, Vettel is 17/11 to get the pole and 13/8 to win; Lewis Hamilton's respective odds are 2/1 and 7/4.

Something the bookies haven't quite twigged on though is the form of their respective team-mates Valtteri Bottas and Kimi Raikkonen - form that is not reflected in their points totals. Both have tempting long odds to win or to get on the podium this weekend. Bottas can be backed at 9/1 to win and 6/5 to finish in the top three, while the respective odds for Raikkonen are 12/1 and 7/5.

Barcelona Preview: Moment of clarity?

F1 in 2018 has been as clear as mud. Four rounds in we still don't have a strong sense of the pecking order. All rounds have contained surprises and then have been shaken up by a safety car (actual or virtual) intervention.

The Spanish Grand Prix at Barcelona -
F1's standard round?
Photo: Octane Photography

But if we want a normal dull stop-off that gives us a steer of which cars are hot and which not then the Spanish Grand Prix coming this weekend at Barcelona would be top of our list to provide it.

It has been known as F1's bellwether - the correlation between getting pole at Barcelona and going onto win that year's title was for a time near exact.

Three in every four Grands Prix at this track have been won by the pole-sitter; only on three occasions has it been won from a start off the front row, and all of that trio came in peculiar circumstances.

The circuit's many medium-to-fast speed long-ish turns reward a car that is working well - ill-handling machines can't be hustled around this place readily. That it's a default testing venue takes away another variable, as all have a firm sense of the optimum set-up. Grids here often have a Noah's Ark look. Also the modern aero-laden F1 car can't follow another very happily through this layout, and therefore overtaking often is rare.

New Motorsport Week article: Formula 1 learning that small things make a big difference

Photo: Octane Photography

It's true what they say, that small things can make a big difference. Not least in that they can create a virtuous momentum of their own.

F1 is demonstrating this in 2017, and not just because of the small, but big, things it's started to do to promote itself better. The on track action is much more captivating too, as in a small, but big, change the two protagonists at the front are not from inside the same team.

And the difference on show in the Barcelona race just passed, compared with what we got used to in the intra-Mercedes fights of previous years, could not have been more stark. Not least in the strategic punch and counter punch.

You can read my take on it all via this link: https://www.motorsportweek.com/news/id/14730

Inside Line F1 Podcast - FIA Should Have Penalised Verstappen & Raikkonen

The 2017 Spanish Grand Prix was epic. Lewis Hamilton won a race he had almost lost. As for Sebastian Vettel, he managed a perfect start, a super overtake of Bottas, a valiant defence from Hamilton only to finish 2nd. Why did Ferrari choose to not pit Vettel in the last 12-15 laps and set him a target to chase Hamilton? This question will remain unanswered.

3-into-1 has always entertained in Formula 1, but in the Verstappen-Raikkonen-Bottas sandwich, should the FIA have penalised Verstappen & Raikkonen for unsafe rejoining of the track? We believe that the FIA need to rethink the Virtual Safety Car deployment - can we limit it to the particular sector and not the entire track? And of course, the FIA needs to sit with the teams (Force India, in particular) and standardise driver sticker spots.

Lastly, why is Bernie Ecclestone keen to demote himself to being a team owner? That too of a mid-field team? Is this is a hint of the sign of times to come? We speculate.

Subscribe to the Inside Line F1 Podcast on iTunes and audioBoom for your weekly dose of Formula 1 humour.

Tune in!

(Season 2017, Episode 18)

Spanish Grand Prix review for Motor Verso - Just the two of us

Photo: Octane Photography

F1 returned to fundamentals in Spain. Not only the fundamentals of giving us a great race, but also the fundamentals of this season - Seb vs. Lewis, and Ferrari vs. Mercedes. A race that was all about those pairs, and a World Drivers' Championship that's tearing that way too.

And what a race all those fundamentals gave us...

My review of a thrilling Spanish GP for Motor Verso can be read here: http://www.motorverso.com/spanish-gp-2017-report-just-two-us/

Do check out the Motor Verso site too; you'll find motoring news, car reviews and features - the team on the site carry out week-long test drives of the latest cars - as well as photos and videos of the machines.

Spanish GP Report - A game for two players

"This is what the sport needs to be every single race and this is why I race, what got me into racing."

Lewis Hamilton won out after a race long
battle with Sebastian Vettel
Photo: Octane Photography

So noted the victor Lewis Hamilton afterwards. It was hard to argue.

Hard pushing of F1 cars by two world-class drivers contesting the win - one of whom sounded breathless on the radio throughout such were his exertions. Two fine on track overtakes for the lead. An intriguing, varied strategic battle too, that only was resolved late. The Barcelona circuit - associated usually with all things dull - must be losing its edge. Or perhaps F1 is gaining one.

F1 returned to fundamentals for the Spanish Grand Prix today, not least with its fundamental for 2017 tete-a-tete at the front between Sebastian Vettel and the afore mentioned Hamilton. For most of the way the rest were distant things that made noise. And for much of the way the race looked Seb's to lose. Once again he got the better start and scampered off in a way straight from his Red Bull pomp - 2.2 seconds clear after one lap.

Lewis indeed in the opening stint admitted on his radio that it was "not easy to keep up", though he at least managed to hold the gap at something like 2.5 for a while, and then started to chip at it not long before the first stops.

Barcelona Qualifying - Acting in unison

Just how often does this happen? We come to Barcelona for the Spanish Grand Prix with the air rich of talk of technical transformation; 'B spec' cars even in some cases. And in the end? We end up pretty much where we were. Everyone improves but improves almost in unison.

In a familiar theme, Lewis Hamilton had the
 qualifying edge and took pole
Photo: Octane Photography

It happened again this time. In yesterday's practice at the Montmelo track it looked like normality was going to be restored. The normality as established in recent years that is, of Mercedes dominating.

The sleek new silver machine looked well clear of all others - 'new' being the operative word. "Bloody hell. It's all new. All of it. That's incredible," noted one reserve driver to Will Buxton of the revised W08 on show, far from alone in the view.

But come practice running this morning it was fairly clear that Ferrari wasn't going anywhere after all. And in the acid test of qualifying it was another normality, the one that we've got used to in 2017, that prevailed. Mercedes and Ferrari with almost nothing between them, and Lewis Hamilton having the edge on a Saturday at least. He took his third pole position from five this season. Sochi it appears was indeed one of his outliers.

Spanish GP Betting Preview – The ‘predictable’ race that’s hard to predict

If this betting column is proving anything it's that you should listen to me, but only kind of listen to me. Last time out for the Russian race I said that things would swing back to Mercedes over Ferrari. Which came true, kind of. Eventually.

Will Mercedes be back in front of Ferrari in Spain?
Photo: Octane Photography

I also said that the eventual victor Valtteri Bottas has a good record at the Sochi track, though managed to only mention his odds for pole (which he didn't get) and for getting in the race top three (which I suppose technically he did).

But thankfully the Spanish Grand Prix this weekend coming is notorious for being predictable. Right? Well, again, kind of. Up to a point. And it's reflected by the odds on offer on betting sites.

As this is F1 2017-style which is characterised by a close, and unpredictable, face-off at the front between Ferrari and Mercedes. And reflecting a race that, as outlined in my event preview, is hard to call there's not much between the two usual suspects Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel for race victory in Spain. Lewis is available at 13/8 to win; Seb can be got at 9/5. Both appear reasonable value.

But the big value may be in backing Valtteri Bottas to triumph for the second race in a row – as odds for that to happen looks highly generous at 4/1. A case can be put together for another win for him: if as in Russia Valtteri can lead at turn one it'll be nine-tenths of the battle; Valtteri's a strong qualifier plus track characteristics should mean that Merc shouldn't repeat its Sochi qualifying struggles. Merc's quali talisman should return.

If you want to seek to make good on that assumption you can also get 7/2 on Bottas to get pole, and 5/4 for Lewis. Given the time-honoured difficulties of passing at the Barcelona circuit, this may further make the Mercs the way to go for race win betting too.

A related market that may be fruitful is that of the pole winning margin. At this track the car does the work – poor cars can't be hustled to a great extent – grids often are in two-by-two formation, and the gap between the front two – presumably in the same machine – could therefore be close. Go therefore for 19/20 on a pole winning margin of less than 0.150 seconds.

Of the rest of the pack, you might want a bit of a punt on a Red Bull driver finishing in the top three. It's an outside shot, given how far Ferrari and Mercedes are ahead these days. But attrition and/or Red Bull's much-anticipated upgrade working well could make it happen (as could the rain that is forecast for Sunday). Daniel Ricciardo is 4/1 to get onto the podium in Spain.

Toro Rosso's Carlos Sainz meanwhile has a very good record at this track – last year he finished sixth while the year before qualified fifth. You can get him to finish in the top six again this time at 6/1.

Barcelona Preview: Intrigue rather than invigoration

'Is F1 too boring?' Time was that such shrieks were an annual event, after every Spanish Grand Prix at the Montmelo track near Barcelona it seemed. There may be more of it this time.

The Montmelo track near Barcelona has long been
associated with follow-my-leader
Photo: Octane Photography

For all of the feelgood about this year's F1, on-track racing - or lack of it - remains an elephant in the otherwise pristine room. We also have just gone through a race in Russia with zero overtakes. And now we have one at Montmelo, long associated with passing being theoretical only.

The numbers back this up. No fewer than three in every four Grands Prix here have been won by the pole-sitter while on only three occasions since the race debuted in 1991 has it been won from a start off the front row. All of that trio too had peculiar circumstances (not least last year when the two front row starters helpfully wiped each other out before turn four...).

The theory backs it up also. It's a circuit with plenty of medium-to-fast long-ish turns that the modern aero-laden F1 car can't follow another through very happily. That it's a default testing venue takes away another variable, as all have a firm sense of the optimum set-up.

Inside Line F1 Podcast - PR Laps To Hoodwink Sponsors

The second pre-season test is underway in Barcelona. While the form factor of most teams is predictable, in this week's episode of the Inside Line F1 Podcast, Mithila and Kunal wonder which team will actually put in a 'PR' lap. Also, which team needs one the most?

On the note of sponsors, there's talk that Force India might turn pink IF a particular sponsor joins them. We tell you Vijay Mallya's link with the brand and name Pinky and why at least two people wouldn't mind the Force India being coloured pink.

Williams followed up their JCB announcement with a partnership announcement with Bombardier. Is the air plane partner the best (and cheapest) way to transport spares across the world just in case Lance Stroll turns out to be the next Pastor Maldonado?

Finally, we talk about Hamilton-Bottas's team-mate relationship, Hamilton-branded Monster Energy can, the dip in Formula 1 viewership in 2016 before we finally conclude with our 'The Joke's On McLaren' section. Tune in!

Remember to subscribe to the Inside Line F1 Podcast on iTunes and audioBoom for your weekly dose of Formula 1 humour.

Inside Line F1 Podcast - From T-Bone To T-Wing

The 't-wing' has been the talk of the paddock and the pre-season test in Barcelona. While most teams have one, Mercedes have gone and got themselves two! Will the t-wing be outlawed, like the t-bone? And then what about the shark-fin cover which seems more like an ugly whiteboard this season? The 2017 cars look sexy, no doubt, but get rid of these aero add-ons, please?

In this week's episode of the Inside Line F1 Podcast, Mithila and Kunal refrain from cracking too many McLaren-Honda jokes and then settle for a self-imposed of at least a joke each. If Lewis Hamilton says that overtaking might be difficult in these new cars, there's a serious cause of worry, especially because there's only one Max 'Overtake' Verstappen on the grid.

They also discuss the trigger for Williams-JCB partnership, Liberty Media's liberty to Formula 1 teams for generating social media content, Fernando Alonso's Red Bull Racing inspired helmet design and how RAI won Hamilton's helmet design competition. Tune in!

Remember to subscribe to the Inside Line F1 Podcast on iTunes and audioBoom for your weekly dose of Formula 1 humour.

(Season 2017, Episode 08)

New Motorsport Week article: What to look for (and not) in Barcelona testing

Photo: Octane Photography

And so, one of the most anticipated points on the F1 calendar is just about upon us. The opening pre-season test, where all the gleaming new machines be be running on track together. And this year with a host of new technical rules the anticipation is even more keen than usual.

But...as we keep being reminded interpreting the goings-on in F1 testing is rather an intricate exercise, certainly is not nearly as simple as looking at the headline lap times.

In my latest though for Motorsport Week I outline a few things from my meandering experience of watching testing that may help in unravelling the knotted but key matter of who is quick and who is not. You can have a read here: https://www.motorsportweek.com/news/id/13873

Inside Line F1 Podcast - Max Verstappen, Talent Of The Century

Lewis Hamilton must be pissed with Niki Lauda for two reasons - first, Lauda blamed Hamilton for the Mercedes collision and second, Lauda called Max Verstappen the 'talent of the century.' Well, for that compliment, even Sebastian Vettel must be pissed!

Max Verstappen's maiden race victory on his Red Bull Racing debut gives us plenty to cheer about. We heard the Dutch national anthem on the Formula 1 podium for the first time ever and it seems fans should get used to hearing this anthem very often.

The 'Civil War' that broke out on track between the Mercedes drivers - who was to blame? We give you our view, but we wonder if the Lauda-Hamilton bromance has actually come to a premature end.

Did Red Bull Racing favour a Verstappen win over Ricciardo? For a brand built on 'shock marketing', a Verstappen win would and was perfect PR for their 'Gives You Wings' tagline. Horner has labelled Verstappen as the 'future' of Red Bull Racing - will they now chase the Formula 1's 'Youngest World Champion' record? And where does this leave Ricciardo?

We find amusement in Alonso's lack of power (yes, it's still funny), Kimi racing against both generations of Verstappens and Vettel's cranky rants. Also, is Red Bull Racing Ferrari's Young Drivers' Program?

Tune in!

(Season 2016, Episode 16)

Spanish Grand Prix review for Motor Verso - Crash and Burn

It started with a crash - that long anticipated but somehow not quite comprehensible in reality prang of the imperious Mercedes taking each other out. Then it ended with the astonishing young talent Max Verstappen burning the rest.

Photo: Octane Photography

The oft-cited hypothetical of what would races be like without the Mercs was therefore played out in the Spanish Grand Prix. And it played out as Red Bull vs. Ferrari, and by the looks of things Daniel Ricciardo vs. Sebastian Vettel. Being Barcelona the battle was strategic rather than wheel-to-wheel.

But it took another twist for Max to triumph, as the fall back strategies given the the 'second' Red Bull and Ferrari just in case turned out to be the best one, Max's astonishing assurance did the rest as he held off a challenge from Kimi Raikkonen for several laps to still be out front by the end. It truly was a day for the other guy.

I give my take on it all in my latest Motor Verso race review. You can read it here:
http://www.motorverso.com/spanish-gp-2016-review-crash-burn/

Do check out the Motor Verso site too; you'll find motoring news, car reviews and features - the team on the site carry out week-long test drives of the latest cars - as well as photos and videos of the machines.

Spanish GP Report - F1 to the Max

We never learn, do we? We - and I include myself in this - love to look at the numbers and everything else then conclude anew that we can predict with confidence what lays ahead in F1. Often we can in fairness, yet sometimes, just sometimes, we can't. As in this game things can happen. Every so often they are big things. And the Spanish Grand Prix of 2016 will be long remembered as the scene of more than one of those big things occurring on the same afternoon.

Max Verstappen was a highly unlikely victor
Photo: Octane Photography

Unlike in many sports, in F1 whatever your wares your day can be ended at a stroke, and it can have nothing to do with the one who ends up taking advantage to triumph. The two Mercedes team mates who were expected to run and hide in Barcelona did for each other after just a few corners, in that way we'd often speculated about but just like the content of some wacky dream we couldn't quite comprehend it happening for real.

And were that not enough for startling stories, after some adventures along the way we got our youngest winner in the sport's history in their stead. A man still a teenager. A man who wasn't even driving for his current team in the previous round. The first Grand Prix triumph for a truly astonishing young racer, who keeps on facing down without a flinch every latest and greater challenge before him in his progression. Yes you may have worked out that I'm talking about Max Verstappen. With today's win you could hardly see a minor ripple in his apparently inexorable upward trajectory.