Lauda: “No one will try to bluff me during the Barcelona tests
Niki Lauda believes that no team will try to hide its game during pre-season testing at the Barcelona track. The new regulations should make teams want to measure themselves against their direct rivals.
The uncertainty of the new 2017 regulations has never been more prevalent than at the beginning of this February. With only a few days left before the first tests of the season, which will start on February 27 on the track in Barcelona, Spain, teams are already beginning to feel a certain amount of pressure.
These tests, which are crucial for taming the new cars, should be very different from those of previous years, as stated by Niki Lauda, the non-executive director of Mercedes: « During the tests in Barcelona, the first four days will be useful for familiarizing ourselves with the new regulations. Then, after the four-day break, we can introduce new features. » he particularly stated to the Swiss newspaper Blick.
The cat and mouse game between teams, usually taking place during pre-season testing and aimed at hiding the true performance of the cars, should not happen this time according to Lauda: « This time, no one will try to bluff and hold their cards only for the first Grand Prix of the season in Australia. We want to know where we stand compared to our competitors. »
A promising beginning to follow closely then, for a season that already promises to be very exciting for fans, according to the Austrian: « I am already impressed by the new cars. Wider cars with wider tires. They look really cool. The fans are going to love them. »
