As the first two days of testing in Barcelona have concluded, a definite pattern on the time charts has developed: Ferrari set the fastest times in both days. To many this is a sign that Ferrari have taken a step closer to beating Mercedes, but Nico Rosberg warns “it’s not possible to say how quick we are”.
Pre-season testing, especially the first test of the season, is intended to give teams a chance to test the reliability of the cars that they crafted over the winter break. This includes fitting a ton of data collection equipment to the car. Therefore, fast lap times are not a priority and many teams sandbag through the test, meaning that they are deliberately slow so that they mask their true pace. Rosberg says that it’s very hard to judge the car’s pace because of this.
“The opposition are chasing us hard and we need to keep being innovative to stay ahead,” he said after the second day of testing. “At this time it’s not possible to say how quick we are compared to the others. We will maybe know more at the end of next week – but only Melbourne will give the full picture.”
The Mercedes’ position on the time charts is no different from the first pre-season test last year. In Jerez, they were consistently in third and fourth on the time sheets at the end of the day, while Ferrari completed faster lap times. In 2015, Mercedes went on to claim both championship titles.
The car seems to be on the some track this season, as Nico Rosberg complimented the car, saying that he was “very happy and proud of what the boys and girls at Brackley and Brixworth have done over the winter” and that he “already feel[s] very comfortable in the car”.
