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Australia

Gallery: Top tech shots from the Bahrain F1 test

Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes AMG F1 W08 with aero sensors

Photo by: Sutton Images

Giorgio Piola's F1 technical analysis

Giorgio Piola is the preeminent Formula 1 technical journalist. View our full selection of Giorgio's technical illustrative content

Sebastian Vettel, Ferrari SF70-H
A shot of the Ferrari with sensors hung from its diffuser, with F1 teams still coming to terms with the huge volume change that is now allowed within the regulations. The data gathered here could help with any updates that the Scuderia has planned going forward.
Mercedes AMG F1 W08 front wing
Mercedes mechanics await their driver in order to practice a nose and front wing change.
Daniil Kvyat, Scuderia Toro Rosso STR12
Using a cross-shaped sensor over the end of the exhaust's tailpipe, the team measures the exhaust plume's trajectory and velocity. It also installed a new monkey seat, which not only features the main structure but a secondary winglet mounted between the two endplates that make up the primary structure.
Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes AMG F1 W08
Mercedes running the W08 with a kiel probe array mounted behind the front tyre as the team conducts correlation work and uses the data gathered to help understand the deformation of the front tyre and how that has an impact on the surrounding airflow structures.
Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes AMG F1 W08
Another angle of the W08 showing the team utilising kiel probe arrays behind both front wheels in order to collect data about the flow field. Note the absence of the T-wing, which remained off the car for some time, perhaps as the team assesses the impact it will have on performance should the wings be abandoned when the teams next sit down for a Strategy Group meeting.
Esteban Ocon, Sahara Force India F1 VJM10
Esteban Ocon at the wheel of his VJM10 has a kiel probe array mounted behind the rear tyre and diffuser, as the team evaluates how the flow field has changed around the car since the optimisation parts were added for the Bahrain race.
Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes AMG F1 W08
Forward and rearward-facing IR cameras are mounted in the roll hoop positions on the W08, used to collect temperature data on the tyres as Bottas puts the car through its paces.
Pascal Wehrlein, Sauber C36
Sauber made changes to its wing mirrors in Bahrain, setting them further away from the cockpit but reducing their height.
Pierre Gasly, Red Bull Racing RB13
The RB13 is shown with a kiel probe array mounted between the front wheel and floor as the team looks to understand the flow structures created by the deformation of the front tyre.
Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes AMG F1 W08
A strange occurrence as Mercedes runs the W08 with a new enlarged cooling outlet yet devoid of wastegate pipework, which would ordinarily finish where the rings attached to the main exhaust outlet reside.
Esteban Ocon, Sahara Force India F1 VJM10
The VJM10 with a kiel probe array mounted behind the rear tyre and diffuser as the team collects data on the updates introduced during the weekend.
Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes AMG F1 W08
Kiel probe arrays mounted behind the front wheels of the W08, while the team runs without the T-wing.
Antonio Giovinazzi, Ferrari SF70-H
A great overview of the title-challenging Ferrari. Note the team is running with a standard floor, devoid of the cooling conduit and raised platform seen during the GP weekend.
Daniel Ricciardo, Red Bull Racing RB13
Red Bull testing in a higher-downforce configuration complete with a two-tier monkey seat.
Lance Stroll, Williams FW40
The Williams with a kiel probe array between the front wheels and floor, collecting data on how the flow structures change as the tyre deforms.
Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes AMG F1 W08
The W08 is shown in maximum cooling configuration, with enlarged cockpit cooling louvres, a shark fin cooling chimney, an enlarged cooling outlet around the exhaust and slotted bodywork around the upper rear suspension elements.
Daniel Ricciardo, Red Bull Racing RB13
Another look at the two-tier monkey seat at the rear of the RB13, installed to check the high-downforce credentials of the chassis.
Felipe Massa, Williams FW40
The FW40 with flo-viz paint applied to the side of the chassis in order that the team can better understand how the suspension elements interact with the flow structures.
Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes AMG F1 W08
The W08 outfitted with a large kiel probe array that stretched right across the left rear of the car, just ahead of the rear wheel.
Daniel Ricciardo, Red Bull Racing RB13
Red Bull using a pair of much larger kiel probe arrays behind the front wheels. Note the singular stanchions with a further three kiel probes mounted on them.
Sergey Sirotkin, Renault Sport F1 Team RS17
Renault once again testing the blown axle (arrowed)
Antonio Giovinazzi, Ferrari SF70-H
A collection of sensors placed in the path of the rear diffuser in order to understand both its aerodynamic behaviour and that of the tyre alongside.
Pascal Wehrlein, Sauber C36
The C36 was fitted with an additional periscope either side of the engine cover in order to improve cooling of its 2016-spec power unit.
Sebastian Vettel, Ferrari SF70-H
The much talked about deformable floor being used by Ferrari. Note how the forward scroll and reward tyre squirt slot have drifted from their usual position when loaded up (arrowed).
Stoffel Vandoorne, McLaren MCL32
The Woking-based squad using a sensor mounted within the diffuser to monitor the behaviour of the rear tyre.
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