F1 - Live testing report

[Dunder]

Small shunt for Lucas de Grassi (Virgin).
Early bath.

Alonso (Ferrari) just coming on to track

 

[Dunder]

Webber (Red Bull) fastest so far 1:21.487
That is only about 2 seconds of the fastest lap in qualifying here last year.

The Ferrari looks really well planted in the quicker corners.

 

[Dunder]

Lunch time.
Free access to the paddock today.

 

[Dunder]

Nice burger for lunch.
There is a really big crowd building now (30,000 or so), unreal for a testing session.

Ferrari had an electrical problem this morning which explains their limited running.
Alonso doing an instalation lap now. He and Fauzy (Lotus) are the only cars on track.

 

[Dunder]

No improvement from Alonso, still three seconds off the pace.

Both the Ferrari and McLaren have a distinctly lower engine note, sounds like they are running a lower rev limit (17,500 RPM or so).
Top speeds are 15km/h down on the Red Bull and Williams.

 

[Dunder]

Rosberg (Mercedes) currently 2nd with a 1:22.514 (+1.027)
Schumacher is understood to be running tomorrow with an entirely different aero package.

 

[Dunder]

Webber now running about six seconds off his pace from this morning, presumably with a full race fuel load on board.
Car looks like a real handful with that combined with the narrower front tyres.

Back end is stepping out in T9 which is a nothing corner really, also struggling to get the turn in to T1.
No lift off at all through T3 though which would indicate a big step forward in terms of aerodynamics - no surprise I suppose.

 

[Dunder]

Fauzy (Lotus) improves his time but is still 7.8 seconds off the pace.
It looks like it is going to be a very loooong season for the new teams.

 

[Dunder]

Interestingly and in contrast to last year The Red Bull and Torro Roso have distinctly different shaped body work.
Especially noticable befind the side intakes.

 

[Dunder]

Feck, it is starting to rain.
Laptop off, battery getting low anyway.

 

[Dunder]

Just a very light shower.

Webbers Red Bull stopped on track.
Lots of cars on track, everyone seems to be running with heavy fuel.

 

[Dunder]

Button (McLaren) running consistently around 1:26, they have been doing 10-15 lap stints all day.
To the naked eye, they appear to be using last years diffuser. Not sure if we will see the new one tomorrow.

The McLaren looks stunning (I am biased though)

 

[Dunder]

Much quicker times from Button now in the mid to high 1:23s.
The McLaren looks the most stable car under braking and rides the kerbs very well.

 

[Dunder]

Just 10 minutes left.
Dont think we will see any low fuel gloryruns, today.

Hilkenberg (Williams) improves to go 2nd, Fauzy (Lotus) also improves but still 6.5s off the pace.

 

[Dunder]

Button stops on track.
Session finished, a day where it is safe to say that the teams went through fairly fixed programs keeping cards close to their chest.

1 Webber Red Bull 1m21.487s
2 Hulkenberg Williams 1m22.407s +0.920
3 Rosberg Mercedes 1m22.514s +1.027
4 de la Rosa Sauber 1m23.144s +1.657
5 Button McLaren 1m23.452s +1.965
6 Alonso Ferrari 1m24.170s +2.683
7 Petrov Renault 1m24.173s +2.686
8 Liuzzi Force India 1m24.638s +3.151
9 Alguersuari Toro Rosso 1m24.869s +3.382
10 Di Grassi Virgin 1m27.057s +5.570
11 Fauzy Lotus 1m28.002s +6.515

 

[Dunder]

Had to post this. If this years championship was decided on looks, it would be over already.

 

[Immortality]

Nice picture and great looking car.

Never followed F1. In fact, I am not sure I have ever seen a race.

 

[roguejuror]

WOW awesome thread




thanks dunder!!