Williams fastest on top speed chart, Red Bull slow

  • Published on 25 Feb 2015 14:02
  • comments 0
  • By: Rob Veenstra
Williams has the fastest car in 2015. That is not the finding of the stopwatch, but the speedtrap at the Barcelona test last week. Valtteri Bottas' top speed of 337.5kph on the front straight demonstrated not only the power of the Mercedes engine, but the low drag of the FW37 car.

Just 1kph behind is the new Lotus, now also powered by Mercedes, after struggling last season with Renault. Romain Grosjean, meanwhile, set the fastest overall laptime in Barcelona last week. "Last year we were the slowest on the straight," Pastor Maldonado grinned to Germany's Auto Motor und Sport, "and now we are at the front. This shows that we now have a completely different car."

Ferrari, however, has also made progress in the horse power department since 2014, with customer Sauber the third quickest car in a straight line at the Circuit de Catalunya with its 335.4kph. Renault, on the other hand, may still be struggling, despite Speed Week reporting that a 60-75 horse power deficit last year might have been cut in half.

But the fastest French-powered car in Barcelona was the Toro Rosso, at 330kph, while the works Red Bull was dead last with its 325kph. Dr Helmut Marko insisted: "Measure us in the slow corners and we are the best."

In top speed, however, Red Bull-Renault was beaten even by the F1 newcomer McLaren-Honda, whose top speed of 326kph is a surprise compared to the works Mercedes' 327, putting it behind the works Ferrari. "Either Mercedes is not yet at full power," read the German media report, "or its engineers have put everything into downforce."

Indeed, Sauber is not necessarily celebrating its 'podium' placing on the top speed charts, with an engineer admitting: "It could mean that we are missing some downforce." (GMM)

Replies (0)

Login to reply

BE Grand Prix of Belgium

Local time 

BEGrand Prix of Belgium

Local time 

World Championship standings 2024

Show full world champion standings

Test calendar

See full test schedule

Related news

Give your opinion!

Will Bottas challenge Hamilton for the world championship in 2020?

Formula 1 Calendar - 2024

Date
Grand Prix
Circuit
-
Bahrain
29 - Mar 2
Bahrain
7 - Mar 9
Saudi Arabia
22 - Mar 24
Australia
5 - Apr 7
Japan
19 - Apr 21
China
3 - May 5
United States of America
17 - May 19
Italy
24 - May 26
Monaco
7 - Jun 9
Canada
21 - Jun 23
Spain
28 - Jun 30
Austria
5 - Jul 7
United Kingdom
19 - Jul 21
Hungary
26 - Jul 28
Belgium
23 - Aug 25
Netherlands
30 - Sep 1
Italy
13 - Sep 15
Azerbaijan
20 - Sep 22
Singapore
18 - Oct 20
United States of America
25 - Oct 27
Mexico
1 - Nov 3
Brazil
22 - Nov 24
United States of America
29 - Dec 1
Qatar
6 - Dec 8
United Arab Emirates
See full schedule

Formula 1 Calendar - 2024

Date
Grand Prix & Circuit
29 - Mar 2
7 - Mar 9
Saudi Arabia Jeddah Street Circuit
22 - Mar 24
Australia Albert Park
5 - Apr 7
19 - Apr 21
3 - May 5
United States of America Miami International Autodrome
17 - May 19
24 - May 26
Monaco Monte Carlo
7 - Jun 9
21 - Jun 23
28 - Jun 30
Austria Red Bull Ring
5 - Jul 7
United Kingdom Silverstone
19 - Jul 21
Hungary Hungaroring
26 - Jul 28
23 - Aug 25
Netherlands Circuit Zandvoort
30 - Sep 1
Italy Monza
13 - Sep 15
Azerbaijan Baku City Circuit
20 - Sep 22
18 - Oct 20
United States of America Circuit of the Americas
25 - Oct 27
1 - Nov 3
Brazil Interlagos
22 - Nov 24
United States of America Las Vegas Street Circuit
29 - Dec 1
6 - Dec 8
United Arab Emirates Yas Marina Circuit
See full schedule

Driver profile

  • Team Sauber
  • Points 1,608
  • Podiums 61
  • Grand Prix 188
  • Country FI
  • Date of b. Aug 28 1989 (34)
  • Place of b. Nastola, FI
  • Weight 70 kg
  • Length 1.73 m
Show full profile

Team profile

Show full profile
show sidebar