Finally! F1 is back with pre-season testing, and boy were we excited! Although for some it wasn't edge-of-the-chair thrilling, there is still much to take from the first day of testing in the new 2023 season.
McLaren had a rocky start...
The Papaya outfit would've been looking for an untroublesome pre-season test, after last year's disaster of an opener, yet their hopes came to no avail. Sadly, a steering issue cut short Lando Norris' day, although teammate rookie Oscar Piastri 's session was more successful. They clocked 92 laps overall, the lowest of all teams, and almost an entire Grand Prix length behind lap-leader Red Bull. Due to their limited running, we cannot complete a full prediction of their pace, come the 2023 season.
Aston Martin's day didn't start ideally...
Just 7 minutes into the 2023 season, Lance Stroll replacement Felipe Drugovich brought out the red flags. He halted on the outside of turn 4 and got out of the car. The stoppage was later diagnosed as an electrical issue. Later, Fernando Alonso fell just short of topping the timing sheets, just behind Dutchman Max Verstappen. Although the timings have no real meaning, AMR will be pleased with their apparent forward progress, as they aim for the top in the pinnacle of motorsport.
Red Bull looked ominous...
2-time WDC Max Verstappen spent the whole of the first day in the test driving his RB19. He clocked the fastest lap of the day, and his time behind the wheel had no reliability issues. The outfit clocked the most laps out of all teams over the whole day. Max will drive for half the day tomorrow, then hand duties over to teammate Sergio Perez. RBR fans will be hoping for another dominant season, although the rest of us are willing Ferrari to decrease the gap; we all want to see a title fight, regardless of who you support, right?
Ferrari had an... average day
The SF-23 left the garage as the session started, piloted by Carlos Sainz. The car had similar low-frequency porpoising as last year, although looked quick in both the hands of Leclerc and Sainz; however, their overall package may not match that brought by Red Bull.
Mercedes aren't back... yet
As many Merc. fans were dreading, the bare carbon W14 wasn't the rocketship as hoped. It took much longer to hone in on the setup, and this - as well as their pace over a stint - makes Mercedes look like they may be a top 3 car with occasional top 2 pace. However, testing times have less meaning than Love Island, so we will have to wait for the Bahrain GP itself to see the true pace of that mean-looking W14.
Pre-season testing will continue tomorrow and Saturday, with the same session times - 6.50 to 4pm (GMT).
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