F1 Trials: A final try for the 2019 competitors as the terrain unfolds

The winter tests of F1 are preparing for its latest success this week; Will Ferrari take advantage ahead ahead of Mercedes and Red Bull?

After a fascinating first week in Barcelona, ​​Formula 1 teams have more than four days of pre-season testing before the start of the 2019 championship.

The second and final event will begin on Tuesday and is expected to provide a more accurate overview of the rush order as the Australian GP approaches, opening the season on March 14th.

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It is fair to say that some teams have more work to do than others before an important week.

Will Ferrari build on a good start?
The Test One provided sunshine and favorable temperatures throughout the first four days, allowing teams to test their performances on longer runs than ever before in Barcelona – with a combined total of more than 4,000 completed laps.

And although the emergence of Renault, Toro Rosso and Alfa Romeo at the top of the fastest list shows their excellent work during the winter, the paddock has made its unanimous verdict on the choice of the team to beat so far.

Ferrari Karun Chandhok of Sky F1 said, "They do not seem to have a weak point". The Scuderia has "blitzed" on the first four days, added expert badyst Mark Hughes, who predicted that the team, if eager to end the drought of its title in 2019, " maybe four or five tenths more than the others ".

But as always during the tests, the fuel loads, as well as the recovery of the engine, are not known. As Charles Leclerc, the new rookie of Ferrari explains: "They probably do not grow and we do not either."

And that's what makes the last week so fascinating. Will Mercedes and Red Bull, thought to be neck and neck after the first week, reveal their rhythm cards?

In the case of Mercedes, the world champions ran longer than anyone else last week and seem to have another bull-proof challenger – neither Lewis Hamilton nor Valtteri Bottas have publicly reported any problems – and their goal now will be to unleash the "potential" of the team. W10 in the test two.

"I feel a little enthusiasm in the team to find out more about the car and really try to improve it because it does not seem like we're way ahead of everyone else," added Bottas. "I think it motivates us."

6:27

Craig Slater, James Galloway and Mark Hughes, both of Sky F1, talk about the first four days of winter testing in Barcelona ahead of the 2019 season.

As for Red Bull, they had a promising start for their partnership with Honda. Japanese suppliers, previously much criticized by McLaren, have logged the most miles in a week of pre-season testing, while Red Bull is convinced that it has gained power by switching from Renault engines to Honda . To claim to have enjoyed his "best winter ever" is quite remarkable for a team that has won four world championships.

The lap times of Toro Rosso were even more encouraging for Red Bull. It is expected that the performances they seek to find on their own this week are low.

How will the hierarchical order of the midfielder be put in place?
It is difficult to judge the midfielder just by timing given the difference in appearance between the teams from fourth to ninth place, and the fact that some have written quick lap times on the most flexible tire available while others have not used the compound.

But there are still some conclusions to be drawn from the first week and questions to ask before the second.

• Alfa Romeo and Renault appear to be the first to rank among the "best of the rest". But will Ferrari's power override Renault's on the second try?
• Corrected tire, Toro Rosso and McLaren have experienced similar weeks and will be looking for the same thing, as they seem to have made significant leaps compared to last season.
• What will we see Haas, the surprise package of last year, which suffered more reliability failures than anyone else last week, and Race pointwho did not run long or fast?
• And what an important week it is for Williams. The Grove team, last season's backrunners, are basically four days behind their counterparts after missing their day of shakedown shooting and then the first two days of testing. Is their 2019 car really such an improvement to justify such a delay? We should know this week …

Everything is planned for another four fascinating days.

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