With the first week of testing for the 2019 Formula One season completed, two interesting points have come to light.
There seems to be a new wave of optimism amongst the Ferrari team, or a shift in culture. While the parting of ways with previous team principal Maurizio Arrivabene is not mentioned, new leader Mattia Binotto has brought fresh optimism. He is reported as saying “The philosophy for next season certainly is try to enjoy [it] .
Coupled with this is a ‘delighted Sebastian Vettel after his first day in testing. According to Autosport.com, ‘Sebastian Vettel has lauded his Ferrari Formula 1 team for an “unbelievable” first day of pre-season testing that he said was “very close to perfection”.’
They say that if a driver is happy with a car ‘straight out of the box’, then the designers have got it right! This is a great omen for Ferrari
The talking point leading up to the testing has been the front wing configuration. All teams have a different interpretation of the new regulations that see a much wider wing and less ‘furniture’ on the front, previously designed to help disrupt the airflow away from the front wheel. The two top teams, Ferrari and Mercedes appear to have quite different versions, almost at different ends of the field.
(Autosport.com have a good video explanation of the differences between the team designs.)
Motor racing is sport and with that comes comparison.
Vettel may well have a smile on his face and ‘skip in his step’ but once the teams hit Melbourne then the serious work begins where drivers and teams will pour over data and the comparisons will begin. Facts cannot be argued with as practice and qualifying times and finishing results will show the differences.
As Theodore Roosevelt said, ‘Comparison is the Thief of Joy!’
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