2016 Mercedes-AMG F1 Automobile Units Unofficial Lap File At Sonoma Raceway

Ex-Formulation 1 driver Esteban Gutierrez has set an unofficial lap file at Sonoma Raceway in California behind the wheel of the Mercedes-AMG 2016 Formulation 1 racer.

The Mexican took to the observe in the course of the latest Sonoma Velocity Fest within the Mercedes-AMG W07, which is the second most-dominant automotive in F1 historical past having gained 19 of the 21 races that it entered. It is likely one of the quickest automobiles on the planet, however possibly not fairly as quick as you could initially anticipate.

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Heading into the Sonoma Velocity Fest, the official observe file was held by Josef Newgarden in a Chevrolet Dallara DW12 IndyCar, who lapped the circuit in simply 1:15.520 again in 2017. Gutierrez was capable of lap the circuit barely sooner, recording a greatest time of 1:15.430.

Footage from the run reveals that the Mercedes-AMG W07 Hybrid had a number of minor grip points in the course of the run and we’ve obtained little doubt present F1 automotive with its extra excessive aerodynamic bundle could possibly be sooner. We additionally suspect that the Mercedes-AMG group spent little time and assets truly establishing the automotive for the distinctive challenges of Sonoma Raceway, whereas Gutierrez additionally doesn’t have all that a lot expertise on the circuit, particularly in comparison with drivers that race there frequently.

Sadly for him, Gutierrez’s greatest lap gained’t go down into the file books as an official lap file as a result of it was not set throughout a sanctioned race, which implies that, technically, Newgarden nonetheless holds the crown.