P1racenews AI automatic summary:
It has been said that you should never look at the lap times when in pre-season testing, but do the timesheets actually tell us something?
During Formula 1 testing, drivers emphasize the importance of mileage over lap times to assess car performance accurately. Teams often strategically hide their true speed by adjusting fuel loads and tire choices, leading to the term “sandbagging.” Misleading testing performances can create surprises during the actual race season, as seen in past instances with different teams like Mercedes and Ferrari. While fastest testing times can hint at a team’s performance, they do not guarantee success in the actual championship standings. Therefore, it’s essential to consider the bigger picture and not solely rely on testing times when predicting the F1 pecking order. Only the races will reveal the true competitiveness of teams in the 2024 season.
