Testing stats begin to paint a picture

23/02/2014
NEWS STORY

Although drivers and team bosses insist that little should be read into the current test times the stats reveal that a clear pattern is already forming.

While the Jerez test, what with its changeable weather, not to mention the initial problems encountered as the teams tried out most of their packages for the first time, might be regarded as FP1 and FP2, things got a little more serious in Bahrain this week as the focus switched to FP3 and qualifying.

It is correct to say that because so little is known about fuel loads, tyre compounds and the like we are not able to predict with any real authority who is quickest, we can certainly see who has reliability... and who hasn't.

In terms of pace, Mercedes heads McLaren, with Ferrari seemingly third ahead of a close group which includes Williams and Force India. In other words, Mercedes powered cars fill four of the top five places.

This carries across in terms of reliability also, with the Mercedes powered teams completing 6,264 miles in Jerez and Bahrain, more than Ferrari (3,094) and Lotus (2,497) combined. And let's not forget that Ferrari is supplying three teams to Lotus four.

Unsurprisingly, Mercedes powered drivers are right up there in terms of driver mileage, though Fernando Alonso (as ever) is giving them a run for their money.

It was once said that politicians use statistics like drunkards use lampposts: not for illumination, but for support. While it would be foolhardy to look at these stats and bet your house on Mercedes winning the title, surely it would be equally silly to totally ignore them and not recognise that - certainly in the early stages of the season - Mercedes will have the edge and last year's champions have a lot of work to do.

Driver Test Mileage - Jerez and Bahrain

Driver Team Miles Kms
Rosberg Mercedes 1102.41 1774.1
Alonso Ferrari 1017.42 1637.3
Magnussen McLaren 872.82 1404.6
Hamilton Mercedes 807.09 1298.8
Button McLaren 796.7 1282.1
Bottas Williams 690.62 1111.4
Gutierrez Sauber 672.88 1082.9
Raikkonen Ferrari 641.09 1031.7
Massa Williams 584.53 940.7
Sutil Sauber 582.7 937.7
Hulkenberg Force India 507.49 816.7
Kobayashi Caterham 427.7 688.3
Perez Force India 387.65 623.8
Vergne Toro Rosso 382.76 616.0
Ericsson Caterham 376.03 605.1
Nasr Williams 292.57 470.8
Maldonado Lotus 285.85 460.0
Vettel Red Bull 275.76 443.8
Frijns Caterham 256.19 412.3
Kvyat Toro Rosso 233.26 375.4
Juncadella Force India 222.87 358.7
Ricciardo Red Bull 172.12 277.0
Bianchi Marussia 95.69 154.0
Grosjean Lotus 87.44 140.7
Chilton Marussia 84.38 135.8

Team Test Mileage - Jerez and Bahrain

Team Miles Kms
Mercedes 1909.5 3073.0
McLaren 1669.52 2686.8
Ferrari 1658.51 2669.0
Williams 1567.72 2522.9
Sauber 1255.58 2020.6
Force India 1118.01 1799.2
Caterham 1059.92 1705.7
Toro Rosso 616.02 991.4
Red Bull 447.88 720.8
Lotus 373.29 600.7
Marussia 180.07 289.8

Engine Manufacturer Test Mileage - Jerez and Bahrain

Engine Manufacturer Miles Kms
Mercedes 6264.75 10081.9
Ferrari 3094.16 4979.4
Renault 2497.11 4018.6

Final Times in Bahrain

Date Driver Team Tyres Time Gap
22-Feb Rosberg Mercedes SN 1:33.283 129.784 mph
21-Feb Hamilton Mercedes SN 1:34.263 0.980
20-Feb Magnussen McLaren SSN 1:34.910 1.627
22-Feb Button McLaren SN 1:34.957 1.674
20-Feb Hulkenberg Force India SN 1:36.445 3.162
20-Feb Alonso Ferrari SU 1:36.516 3.233
22-Feb Raikkonen Ferrari SN 1:36.718 3.435
21-Feb Massa Williams SN 1:37.066 3.783
21-Feb Gutierrez Sauber SN 1:37.180 3.897
20-Feb Bottas Williams MN 1:37.328 4.045
21-Feb Perez Force India SN 1:37.367 4.084
22-Feb Nasr Williams MN 1:37.569 4.286
22-Feb Maldonado Lotus SN 1:38.707 5.424
21-Feb Kvyat Toro Rosso SN 1:38.974 5.691
22-Feb Ricciardo Red Bull MN 1:39.837 6.554
20-Feb Kobayashi Caterham SN 1:39.855 6.572
20-Feb Vettel Red Bull MN 1:40.224 6.941
19-Feb Sutil Sauber MN 1:40.443 7.160
22-Feb Vergne Toro Rosso MN 1:40.472 7.189
20-Feb Grosjean Lotus HN 1:41.670 8.387
21-Feb Ericsson Caterham SU 1:42.130 8.847
20-Feb Chilton Marussia WNU 1:42.511 9.228
19-Feb Frijns Caterham MU 1:42.534 9.251
19-Feb Bianchi Marussia No Time

Final Times in Jerez

Date Driver Team Tyres Time Gap
30-Jan Magnussen McLaren MN 1:23.276 118.944 mph
30-Jan Massa Williams HU 1:23.700 0.424
30-Jan Hamilton Mercedes MN 1:23.952 0.676
29-Jan Button McLaren MN 1:24.165 0.889
28-Jan Raikkonen Ferrari MU 1:24.812 1.536
28-Jan Bottas Williams WNN 1:25.344 2.068
30-Jan Alonso Ferrari MU 1:25.495 2.219
29-Jan Rosberg Mercedes HN 1:25.588 2.312
30-Jan Hulkenberg Force India MN 1:26.096 2.820
28-Jan Perez Force India MU 1:28.376 5.100
31-Jan Juncadella Force India SN 1:29.457 6.181
30-Jan Vergne Toro Rosso WNU 1:29.915 6.639
30-Jan Sutil Sauber MU 1:30.161 6.885
31-Jan Bianchi Marussia MN 1:32.222 8.946
28-Jan Gutierrez Sauber WNU 1:33.270 9.994
29-Jan Ericsson Caterham WNU 1:37.975 14.699
29-Jan Vettel Red Bull IU 1:38.320 15.044
31-Jan Kobayashi Caterham IU 1:43.193 19.917
31-Jan Kvyat Toro Rosso WU 1:44.016 20.740
31-Jan Ricciardo Red Bull WU 1:45.374 22.098

Chris Balfe

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Published: 23/02/2014
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