Ferrari was the only team to have an engine and chassis package to rival that of Mercedes but they ultimately lost out because their lead driver, Vettel, lost his mind at a crucial phase of the championship. Ferrari can either go forward or backward, that is a historical fact so it depends on how well their engineering facilities are integrated into improving upon what they had last year. If they don’t, then the team tends to revert to its culture of blaming one another and losing focus as a result.The wait is over… @LewisHamilton kicks off our afternoon of #F1Testing! #DrivenByEachOther @F1 pic.twitter.com/4yk3VBEowo
— Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team (@MercedesAMGF1) February 26, 2018
Rival engine manufacturers such as Renault and Honda have no chance to catch up, last year Mercedes seemed to have enough power in reserve and showed when under threat and when needed. Honda is claiming to have made big gains during the off-season, we’ll see the results of these claims at the first race in Austrailia. Red Bull will switch to Honda power in 2019, their Jr team, Torro Rosso, are early recipients of Honda power after the Japanese company ended an engine supply deal with McLaren. Honda has been plagued by reliability issues since their return to the sport three years ago.#SF71H – Discover it now! https://t.co/9poR1oYkLE pic.twitter.com/LHMpKZx0be
— Scuderia Ferrari (@ScuderiaFerrari) February 22, 2018
McLaren, having ended a lucrative supply deal with Honda, switch to Renault power. Time will tell if Renault has made any progress in terms of reliability and matching Mercedes for power. McLaren started the first test of the year in Barcelona by paying a visit to the gravel trap. A loose wheel nut pitched Alonso off the circuit.A frosty finish to a solid first day of winter testing for @danielricciardo 👊❄️#F1Testing pic.twitter.com/BKk0B8bgFf
— Oracle Red Bull Racing (@redbullracing) February 26, 2018
The expectations are that the Mercedes team will again have the best package, and in Lewis Hamilton, they have the best, probably the fastest, driver who can deliver wins on a consistent basis. The mid-field will continue the traditional status quo.On to the Inters and into the rain. It’s getting even wetter out there so Fernando returns for Full-Wets. 💦 pic.twitter.com/2kTmXqJehd
— McLaren (@McLarenF1) February 26, 2018
The Sauber team have been rebranded as Alfa Romeo, but it’s still a Sauber, however, this year it gets a works Ferrari engine instead of a customer, last season-spec, engine. The first winter test of 2018 might be extended as cool track conditions and rain hamper early progress.A round up of the action from day two of pre-season #F1Testing from Barcelona ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/RprYl7CGWA
— Autosport (@autosport) February 27, 2018
So, what we have learned so far about winter testing is absolutely nothing. The only time when we will know which team is where and who has the best package is at the first race of the season.Just how slippery was it on Tuesday morning in Barcelona?
— Formula 1 (@F1) February 27, 2018
THIS slippery 👀
But @KevinMagnussen managed to avoid the barriers 👍#F1 #F1Testing pic.twitter.com/1tXelhUSML
Cold, ice, and even snow couldn't stop the fun on day two of #F1Testing ❄️
— Formula 1 (@F1) February 27, 2018
Join us on Wednesday to see how the order shakes out!#F1 #F1Testing pic.twitter.com/yT4YsWyrQA