With the wrap of pre-season testing, the countdown to the first race of the season is officially a go! And, as always with testing, we have come away with numerous talking points that have gotten us completely and utterly hyped up for the season ahead. Shall we dig in to a few of these?
Red Bull's Advantage
Let's kick things off with Red Bull. The team that obliterated the pack in 2023 have had, bar a few technical niggles here and there, a dream testing session, topping the time sheets on Day One with a time that was over a second quicker than the next car behind. Of course, this quickly diminished F1 aficionados hopes of a Championship battle in 2024 and Max Verstappen's comment of "a very positive test" didn't help when it comes to the perceptions fans may have of the upcoming season. However, the reckless optimists in us will be believing anything can happen, while keeping a close eye on Ferrari who, so far, could be the ones to challenge the dominant force of the Bull.
The Raging Bull vs The Prancing Horse
Remember the 2022 Formula One Season that gave us some incredible racing between Red Bull and Ferrari? Well, listen up folks, we could be getting a repeat of that in 2024. Ok, testing is a funny one when it comes to the pecking order, but with Carlos Sainz topping Day Two, Charles Leclerc topping Day Three, and an overall positive few days of testing, maybe there is some pace in that car to take the fight to Red Bull? Even both Sainz and Leclerc have commented on their revived confidence that they are feeling compared to this time last year. That, in itself, is a positive sign. Let's keep everything crossed that Ferrari can max out their strategies without the odd blunder that we've come to regularly expect.
Hope for McLaren
This time in 2023 was dismal for McLaren. Their car was slow and completely unreliable. Not what you want going into a Formula One season. However, as we remember well, towards the end of 2023 they found their footing and became Red Bull's "main pain in the backside," so to speak. Luckily for the Papaya team, they have managed to continue where they left off, with "overall grip" being their main priority to remain in the chasing pack. Even driver Oscar Piastri was heard talking about how this year's test was completely different - in a positive way, when compared with 2023. Surely, this team has what it takes to keep fighting onwards and upwards!
No Shock Surprises
In previous years there has usually been at least one team that surpasses all expectations for the upcoming season. Take Aston Martin last season. Before testing, you'd be crazy to gamble on a podium for the British team in the first race of the season. After testing, you would have been mad not to! Alas, in 2024 the pecking order is looking eerily similar to 2023, in that Red Bull's domination continues and the pack behind is made up of the likes of Ferrari, McLaren, Mercedes and Aston Martin. Not the best news for those who are crossing everything in the hopes of a season that isn't dominated by Max Verstappen and Red Bull for a third/fourth consecutive season.
Drains
It may be a new season, however the talk of lose drain covers is still milling around the Formula One community after two stoppages during the second and third days due to, you guessed it, drains. You would think that after numerous issues with drain covers in races such as Las Vegas in 2023 and others that have preceded that, the FIA and FOM would do something about it. But, I guess not. Could this be a subject that is revisited again later on in the year?
As always with pre-season testing there is usually tonnes to talk about. I could have easily included Alpines struggles and Fernando Alonso's claim that "19 out of 20 drivers" already believe Verstappen will make it a fourth WDC in 2024. But time is off the essence, with less than a week before the first race weekend of the season gets underway. I am so excited, I've really missed having Formula One in my life over the Winter Break. You'd think that after twnety-odd years I would have found something to fill that void! Anyway, see you next Saturday for the Bahrain Grand Prix. Yippee!
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