F1 testing analysis: Jerez speed traps expose Mercedes advantage
Ferrari's performance grabbed the headlines at last week's Jerez Formula 1 test, but closer analysis of speed trap data shows there may still be a gulf between it and Mercedes
Kimi Raikkonen and Sebastian Vettel were quickest on three of the four days in Spain last week, while Felipe Nasr in the Ferrari-powered Sauber took the top time on the other day.
That prompted talk that Ferrari may have made significant gains with its power unit over the winter to become a challenger for the dominant Mercedes outfit.
But, according to speed trap figures that have been obtained by AUTOSPORT, Mercedes still appears to have a significant margin in power terms.
With the top speeds of all the cars measured towards the end of the back straight at Jerez before braking for the Dry Sack hairpin, it is telling that the top three fastest cars were Mercedes-powered.
Felipe Massa in the Williams and Nico Rosberg in the Mercedes were both clocked at 307.6 km/h on the middle two days of the test, with Pastor Maldonado recording 306.8km/h in the Mercedes-powered Lotus.
The nearest challengers to the Mercedes were Max Verstappen in the Renault-powered Toro Rosso and Marcus Ericsson in the Ferrari-powered Sauber - both of whom recorded 303.3 km/h.
Raikkonen was the only Ferrari driver to record a representative speed, because Sebastian Vettel's efforts on the first two days of testing could not be logged due to transponder problems.
Although Ferrari set the fastest time of the test on the final day with Raikkonen, his top speed through the trap was nearly 7 km/h down on the Mercedes.
While the speed trap data cannot provide a definitive answer on the power of each engine, for downforce levels, fuel and engine settings can affect the results, it does offer a hint that Ferrari and Renault still have to produce more than they did at Jerez if they are to threaten Mercedes.
SPEED TRAP FIGURES
Jerez F1 test, February 1-4
1 Felipe Massa (Williams-Mercedes) 307.6 km/h
2 Nico Rosberg (Mercedes) 307.6 km/h
3 Pastor Maldonado (Lotus-Mercedes) 306.8 km/h
4 Max Verstappen (Toro Rosso-Renault) 303.3 km/h
5 Marcus Ericsson (Sauber-Ferrari) 303.3 km/h
6 Kimi Raikkonen (Ferrari) 300.8 km/h
7 Daniil Kvyat (Red Bull-Renault) 294.2 km/h
8 Jenson Button (McLaren-Honda) 277.6 km/h
Share Or Save This Story
Brundle awarded OBE in King’s New Year’s honours
The new rules dilemma that will define the 2025 F1 season
Jon Noble: An unfair perception or a genuine concern? Lifting the lid on Red Bull’s Tsunoda scepticism
Russell and Mercedes wary of F1's "2022 scenario" – but is it a fair comparison?
How Antonelli aims to keep his momentum despite the F1 April break
What's behind McLaren's fresh A-B F1 team angst?
OTD: Hunt disqualified from 1976 F1 Spanish GP
Verstappen: Red Bull's Miami GP updates have "almost halved" gap to F1 frontrunners
Domenicali: F1 is far from finished with US expansion
F1 Miami GP: Norris beats Antonelli to sprint race pole with upgraded McLaren
Subscribe and access Autosport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
Top Comments