David Croft calls Lewis Hamilton’s Ferrari a ‘rocket launcher’ after F1 testing practice start

Follow us on Google Discover

Lewis Hamilton was the fastest driver off the line on both occasions as F1 teams carried out practice starts on day two of Bahrain testing. David Croft was hugely impressed by the Ferrari’s launches.

The FIA have been trialling adjustments to the race start procedure at the end of every testing session. There were concerns last week that inconsistent getaways throughout the field would increase the risk of accidents.

On Thursday, the drivers were asked to complete two formation laps before racing down to the first corner. The hope is that, with more time to prepare, they should be able to get away cleanly.

One theory in the paddock is that Ferrari have designed a smaller turbo, shortening the required build-up. Perhaps this will be a potent weapon.

David Croft raves about Ferrari launches in F1 testing

Hamilton cleared Racing Bulls’ Liam Lawson, Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli, Haas’ Esteban Ocon and Red Bull’s Max Verstappen at the second simulated start. World feed commentator Croft couldn’t help but get excited.

“Lewis Hamilton, as he did at lunchtime, getting the best start of all and takes the lead into the first corner from Kimi Antonelli and Esteban Ocon,” he said.

“That Ferrari, for the second practice start in a row, has been the rocket launcher, as it were, on the grid.”

Anthony Davidson says Ferrari even have an advantage over their engine customers when it comes to launches. If this continues, they could be a threat to take the lead of the Australian Grand Prix even from the second row.

Have Mercedes re-established themselves as favourites at the final test?

Comment

Like or Comment

Have your say Sign-in now for free

Hamilton was fourth-fastest on what is his final day in the car before the season starts. His best time was six-tenths off the benchmark set by Antonelli.

“It’s something that the Ferrari team are doing consistently better than anyone else,” said Davidson. “It sounds good. He even had to sort of back out of it a little bit because others were going so slowly. A sweet start there.

“They might not have the fastest car on the low-fuel runs, but who cares when you can get off the grid and overtake four cars anyway!

“They’ve just got to get on the second row and then that’s job done!”

Will Ferrari use their ‘upside-down’ rear wing again?

Hamilton spent much of the morning in the garage with an unspecified problem, though he still reached a reasonable lap count after lunch despite a red flag caused by Fernando Alonso.

Thursday will be remembered for the first appearance of Ferrari’s ‘upside-down’ rear wing, one of the most radical concepts the sport has seen in years. It’s unclear if the team will use it again.

Early telemetry showed that Hamilton gained around 8-10km/h of top speed with the new wing, though he may have suffered elsewhere in the lap.

Subsequent reports suggested that Ferrari’s wing is an energy-saving measure, rather than a drag reduction device. They reverted to a more conventional design after the break.