The Merc looks like it’s in a wrinkled distorted picture to these eyes. Interesting!

And the cars get uglier again.

Mich Schumacher 5th fastest on medium tires . Hopefully that pace is real and accurate vs the competition .

http://gptoday.com/full_story/view/821292/F1_Testing_Live_updates_from_Day_3_in_Bahrain/

I didn't really enjoy "Drive to Survive" that much, except for the final episode. I liked watching Toto whine "Mikey Noooo! " What a creep. Big winners were Jost Capito, and probably Zak. They were portrayed as sympathetic figures. Big loser was Toto Wolff who looked like a spoiled baby like Mazepin. I though Hamilto was gracious in defeat. I was very happy for Max. I was also impressed at all of the good fathers: Christian, Toto, Jos, and Dimitry Mazepin.

Colton Herta signs a test and development deal with F1 team McLaren.

http://gptoday.com/full_story/view/821406/McLaren_signs_Herta_to_Formula_1_development_deal/

Excellent! How he reacts/adapts to the increased technology and car sensitivity will be interesting.

Testing over Mich Schumacher was 2nd fastest today behind only Verstappen. Haas have to be feeling pretty good heading into the season opener.

https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/106105/haas-ends-test-week-on-a-high-schumacher-sets-second-time.html

Haas looking good, that would be something if they were in it this.

The usual Merc pre-season PR. https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/hamilton-mercedes-not-in-hunt-for-f1-wins-right-now/8928209/

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1647162255.jpg

Looks a bit like the mercedes

So, predictions now that we saw all the testing?

I see red Bull ahead. Ferrari/Mercedes right behind and McLaren occasionally also with those 2.

Then - everybody else. I kinda think - hope - there will be a giant midfield now that changes race to race - no more back end of the grid.

Ps: the side pod free Merc looks like one of those bottom feeder fishes. Spectacularly ugly.

I don't think Merc is as fast as Ferrari yet. I think it's RBR in front, then Ferrari and McLaren. Those three looked the most stable in testing - if McLaren sort out their front brake issues.

The Merc looks like a rainbow trout.

I am hoping to see Haas/Alfa/Williams consistently getting points . And Alpha/McLaren/AM fighting with the top three . I also hope winning the pole is NOT a guarantee that you win the race . Plenty of passing would be nice .

This is my hope for the season as well. I would like to see more real passing, not DRS influenced bs.

Will be interesting to see how the new tires are a factor . If they hold up longer than the previous iteration then maybe pit strategy can be more of a factor . I am looking forward to the first race but more importantly races 2-5 . That is when we will see many updates and the teams reacting to what the first race tells them . An unknown is reliability .

Come the weekend and Mercedes stops sandbagging...

I will be most interested in how following and passing will be improved with the new aero, otherwise what’s the point?

This.

How many times has practice and testing looked like Mercedes is on the back foot and struggling, and come qualifying, the engine suddenly comes to life, and the suspension and aerodynamics magically starts working better than the rest of the field.

I honestly hope the reset of all the new rules puts them in the mix in the top of the mid pack. I want to see Mercedes have to race from midfield and with a car that is only equal to the rest, and not a clearly superior car.

Totally agree. Yet at the same time, if Mercedes (and Red Bull) can put out another pair of fast cars--especially in this time of cost-cap budgets and the fact that they had to spend a lot of resources developing last year's car while other teams could work in this year's--that will be really impressive. Maybe not the best for "the show" (though look at what happened when Masi tried to do things to make for a good show), but if they can build a car that beats everyone by 2 laps, then so be it.