3 Takeaways from Day Two of Formula 1 Testing

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Recap day 1 of testing here.

Brake Problems

Day two of testing saw a continued trend of significant lockups, where the front tires completely quit rotating under braking, skidding across the track, and ruining a set of tires. In Bahrain, the most prominent spot for lockups is in turn 10, where the braking zone is in the middle of a turn, the classic setup for front wheel locking.

But it didn’t just end with the lockups. McLaren spent most of the day in the garage with brake troubles thwarting their efforts to get out on track. Williams had a rear brake failure on track, forcing Nicholas Latifi to stop on track after his breaks caught fire, ending his running for several hours.

Surely the teams will be working hard to solve this, but it seems like the heavier cars for this season are causing some troubles on what are often the more basic aspects of the cars. We’ll soon find out if teams have found a solution.

The Classic Compromise Between Straight Line Speed and Low-Speed Stability

This is not necessarily a new takeaway of Formula One, but it seems that the compromise between pure speed and traction through low-speed corners is going to be more of a conversation than ever. The cars look very clunky in low-speed situations, particularly in turns eight and 10 in Bahrain.

What I notice most is how different the cars look going through these turns than in previous years. Typically, drivers are able to attack these slower speed turns and carry some momentum through them. But this year, they appear to be coaxing the cars around these low-speed turns, working hard to keep them under control.

Ferrari Looking Strong – BetUS Odds

While it is still too early to tell who is on top, Ferrari has appeared to have the smoothest test through two days, running many laps with no major hiccups, and spending plenty of time towards the top of the leader board.

The betting odds have also already shifted to reflect this trend. Whereas Ferrari was originally over +1000 on BetUs, the odds have now dropped to +275. While the potential yield is down on a Ferrari bet, the line for Charles Leclerc winning the championship is currently +700 and for Carlos Sainz is +1200.

Best Bet

With Ferrari’s current performance and Sainz’s stellar 2021, I would feel comfortable putting some money on Sainz at this early stage. He is a good option to put some early money on while you build your bank elsewhere throughout the season.

3 Takeaways from Day One of Formula 1 Testing