[Training] Pre-season Testing 2012

[bella]

looks like bianchi is going to keep hulkenberg and di resta on their toes! (and presumably massa too)

[strider]

This is what I've been missing (apart from his driving):

''We(reporters) missed you but did you miss us''?''I think you missed me more'', Räikkönen said and made the reporters laugh.

[Marbot]

Short and to the point. Classic Kimi.

[wolfhound]

Originally Posted by bella

looks like bianchi is going to keep hulkenberg and di resta on their toes! (and presumably massa too)

Yea they are now worried about what condition their car is in after his early morning trip to the gravel!!!

http://live.autosport.com/commentary.php/id/437

[Flavio Galtieri]

Originally Posted by bella

looks like bianchi is going to keep hulkenberg and di resta on their toes! (and presumably massa too)

I thought that was a great debut. It's going to be a lot of fun watching those three this year.

Shame he's fallen off this morning!

[F1Pete]

Yes it's only testing, but the Lotus Renault is looking good!! Another fast run on day 3.

[Marbot]

Ferrari are "not happy" with car, but confident that they can sort things out.

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/97453

Day 3

1. Nico Rosberg Germany Mercedes-Mercedes 1m 17.613s*
2. Romain Grosjean France Lotus-Renault 1m 18.419s
3. Sebastian Vettel Germany Red Bull-Renault 1m 19.297s
4. Lewis Hamilton Britain McLaren-Mercedes 1m 19.464s
5. Jean-Eric Vergne France Toro Rosso-Ferrari 1m 19.734s
6. Sergio Perez Mexico Sauber-Ferrari 1m 19.770s
7. Fernando Alonso Spain Ferrari-Ferrari 1m 20.412s
8. Bruno Senna Brazil Williams-Renault 1m 21.293s
9. Giedo van der Garde Holland Caterham-Renault 1m 23.324s

* 2011 car

[AussieTimmeh]

Originally Posted by Marbot

Ferrari are "not happy" with car, but confident that they can sort things out.

Oh dear, another year like that for them? Sounds familiar.

[MJones94]

I know it is just, but as the Mercs have been fastest for 2 days in a row now, does that mean that the 2011 cars are faster due to the higher noses? Or are the teams running their new cars just getting used to them and hence the reason why they are slower than the 2011 cars?

[wolfhound]

Originally Posted by MJones94

I know it is just, but as the Mercs have been fastest for 2 days in a row now, does that mean that the 2011 cars are faster due to the higher noses? Or are the teams running their new cars just getting used to them and hence the reason why they are slower than the 2011 cars?

I suspect the blown diffuser is the biggest difference the top of the nose is marginal as the underside of the nose has the bigger effect on the car.

[Marbot]

The 2011 car has had a whole years worth of tinkering and modifications done to it to be able to get it just right. The 2012 cars haven't had any time to get an optimum set up sorted out or to even make sure that all of their systems are running well, and there will always be those little niggly problems you get with a new car. Even so, the 2012 cars are much faster than the 2011 cars were at the same time last season.

[strider]

Originally Posted by F1Pete

Yes it's only testing, but the Lotus Renault is looking good!! Another fast run on day 3.

I think Grosjean did a low fuel run, but apart from that track side observers were saying that the Lotus and the Red Bull were looking really planted around the corners.

Kimi had his chance to go for a time on day one and took it with both hands. Yesterday he had different objectives. At one point he was wringing the car by its neck, I think trying to find out where the limits were. Hence the two off-course excursions.

When things calmed down he had three separate runs of three laps where the lap times were within 0.06s of each other, which is astonishing consistency.

[JeremySmith]

I am very glad they have given him a good car..

[p-matt]

Even Lewis was quite glowing about the Lotus.

But it's very reminiscent of last year. Everyone was saying that the Renault was looking strong and that the Red Bull was the only car that was a match in the fast corners. We all know how that turned out.

Even though he wasn't chasing laptimes I was quite impressed with what Senna was doing in the Williams. His times were very consistent, which is not an area I rated him previously. And he seems to be taking the lead in the setup and direction of the car which is good to see. I hope he has a strong year.

[spider]

For me it appears Caterham is a little off the back of the Williams, who themselves are currently a little adrift of the midfield huddle, with Sauber next up.

TR and Force India look like they're next up, with Lotus maybe a tad ahead of Ferrari. I remember Lewis last year, and others waxing lyrical about TR, in the same way as they are about Lotus, and they were hardly a threat from the first race...having said that, Grosjean's time yesterday was pretty mega.

Still, would be bloody amazed if a Lotus qualified in the top 3 at the 1st race, can't see it...

RB/Mac seem fairly even, with probably RB a little ahead.

Though it'll obviously ebb and flow as the next test comes along...

[steve nielsen]

Ferrari seems to be picking up speed.

Alonso already set a 1.18.877 today

[Marbot]

Webber reckons that he can do a 1m.16s around Jerez in last years car, so the times mean very little at the moment.

Vettel has just done an 11 lap run with an average time of 1m21.025s.

Hamilton did a slightly shorter run with an average time of 1m21.996s.

[chillibowl]

Originally Posted by p-matt

Even though he wasn't chasing laptimes I was quite impressed with what Senna was doing in the Williams. His times were very consistent, which is not an area I rated him previously. And he seems to be taking the lead in the setup and direction of the car which is good to see. I hope he has a strong year.

and 98 laps before lunch is not too shabby at all!

[Marbot]

Final day.

Pos. Driver Team Time Laps

1. Fernando Alonso Ferrari 01:18.877 39
2. Jean-Eric Vergne Scuderia Toro Rosso 01:19.597 80
3. Sebastian Vettel Red Bull 01:19.606 50
4. Lewis Hamilton McLaren 01:19.640 86
5. Romain Grosjean Lotus Renault 01:19.729 95
6. Kamui Kobayashi Sauber 01:19.834 76
7. Nico Hulkenberg Force India F1 01:19.977 90
8. Bruno Senna Williams 01:20.132 125
9. Jarno Trulli Caterham 01:22.198 117

[luke g28]

I dont think you can take much from the times. Its like trying to guess who will be pole from FP1. None of the major players are showing their hands. Theres a feeling that Ferrari went for a bit of a glory lap today as everybody has been muttering about them struggling.

I dont think the 2011 cars are quicker than the 2012s just running a lighter fuel load

[strider]

Originally Posted by luke g28

I dont think the 2011 cars are quicker than the 2012s just running a lighter fuel load

Sorry, but that's plain wrong. Read this from Adrian Newey to understand why: http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/97390

The only time the cars raced without exhaust blown diffusers last season was at Silverstone, whilst the FIA made up its mind about them. The Ferrari was immediately competitive and Alonso took his only win of the season. That's the difference.

[TF110]

Originally Posted by Marbot

Webber reckons that he can do a 1m.16s around Jerez in last years car, so the times mean very little at the moment.

Vettel has just done an 11 lap run with an average time of 1m21.025s.

Hamilton did a slightly shorter run with an average time of 1m21.996s.

One of Hamilton's run was interrupted by a red flag. He then went back out and did more laps right afterwards. I think he then did a 14 lap stint with a faster average time than Vettel's 11 lap stint. But the average times are a bit of fail as well considering they take into account the slow laps where they back off.

[Marbot]

Originally Posted by TF110

One of Hamilton's run was interrupted by a red flag. He then went back out and did more laps right afterwards. I think he then did a 14 lap stint with a faster average time than Vettel's 11 lap stint. But the average times are a bit of fail as well considering they take into account the slow laps where they back off.

The runs that I identified were done at a similar time of day with the same compound tyres fitted.

But as we all know, it's only testing.

[Tazio]

Just saw footage of a ferrari with a large fin above the airbox. Anyone know what it is or does

[Inigo Montoya]

I believe that is just to collect data (pressure/velocity, temp) for testing purposes.