Pre-Season 2013 F1 Winter Testing: 3 - Circuit de Catalunya, 28 February-3 March

[Brogan]

No, they're just tyres from the backup factory.

This is a Tweet from Paul Hembery yesterday but it applies nonetheless.

Hamilton using prototype SOFT for his time. Tyres are identical to 2013 range, just back up production location.

https://twitter.com/PaulHembery/status/307788463812534272

 

[Soumya Banerjee]

Can't see why they would have Ferrari below the five teams you've listed to be honest. To me they look very strong. The reason I say that is Massa is putting in very good times, in fact he is often matching Alonso. I think most would agree the car must be very good for Massa to be nearly equalling Alonso's times. Massa need a well balanced car to get the best from himself.

Thank you for your views!!!

 

[Jos the Boss]

Titch If it was stuck on, that would be extremely dangerous! I think it was just a rumour and nothing more

 

[snowy]

Does unmarked mean they're keeping it secret?

No, they are soft Pirelli tyres made in Rumania.

 

[tranquility2k9]

Bit annoying how most the live timing websites are not operating properly today. I've been bugging autosport and sky sports live feed for lap time overview and have just got an overview of Rosberg's latest 17 lap stint on Mediums:

1:27.630 / 1:27.138 / 1:27.060 / 1:27.602 / 1:40.369 / 1:28.313 / 1:28.732 / 1:30.664 / 1:29.930 / 1:34.409 / 1:29.130 / 1:29.304 / 1:29.349 / 1:29. 455 / 1:39.710 / 1:29.442.

Apart from the odd very slow lap (unexplained) their degradation is very good!

 

[snowy]

Johnny Herbert has just noticed that the Mercedes has been setting consistent laps on long runs...

 

[snowy]

I've been bugging autosport and sky sports live feed for lap time overview and have just got an overview of Rosberg's latest 17 lap stint on Mediums:

Excellent work.

Keep on at them, they have to learn!

 

[Greenlantern101]

Day Four timesheet at 2.12pm UK time

1. Nico Rosberg, Mercedes, 1:20.130, 89 laps (S);
2. Fernando Alonso, Ferrari, 1:20.494, 84 laps (S);
3. Jenson Button, McLaren, 1:21.444, 70 laps (Unmarked);
4. Nico Hulkenberg, Sauber, 1:21.541, 79 laps (S);
5. Paul di Resta, Force India, 1:21.664, 74 laps;
6. Pastor Maldonado, Williams, 1:22.415, 42 laps;
7. Sebastian Vettel, Red Bull, 1:22.514, 59 laps (Unmarked);
8. Charles Pic, Caterham, 1:23.115, 92 laps;
9. Jules Bianchi, Marussia, 1:23.167, 62 laps;
10. Daniel Ricciardo, Toro Rosso, 1:23.628, 46 laps;
11. Kimi Raikkonen, Lotus, 1:23.762, 29 laps (M);
12. Valtteri Bottas, Williams, 1:24.882, 5 laps;
13. Max Chilton, Marussia, 1:30.080, 27 laps.

 

[Greenlantern101]

Sky commentary team reckon 'fuel corrected' the top 5 teams are only 0.2 seconds apart. Sounds good. I hope they are correct.

 

[tranquility2k9]

Jenson Button's previous stint on the hard tyre: 1:29.562 / 1:29.720 / 1:30.262 / 1:30.100 / 1:30.808 / 1:31.454 / 1:31.785 / 1:32.240 / 1:32.578

He is on a race sim, think that is the 2nd stint.

First stint on Medium was: 1:32.434 / 1:32.351 / 1:32.133 / 1:32.699 / 1:33.605 / 1:33.512 / 1:33.020

 

[Slyboogy]

Why don't teams use the 'unmarked' tyres often? I understand they aren't allocated many 'unmarked' ones, but if they are going to sandbag, this will give them another element.

 

[tranquility2k9]

Sky F1’s Mark Hughes’ Testing Pointers http://www1.skysports.com/formula-1/news/12433/8537098/Barcelona-Final-Day-Live-

Race Pace:
Red Bull, Mercedes, Lotus as fast as each other in race pace.
McLaren struggling for consistency and with tyre degradation.
Ferrari better than McLaren over race stint

Qualifying Pace:
Red Bull running on heavier fuel loads, looking potentially faster by a small margin of about two-tenths of a seconds.
Nothing to choose between Mercedes, Lotus, McLaren, Ferrari
Top five teams could be separated by as little as two-tenths
Williams running heavy and potentially the best of the rest.

 

[Titch]

I have a feeling that it's going to be a bad year for McLaren.

 

[tranquility2k9]

Times for Rosberg’s last run (on the medium tyre): 1:27.232; 1:26.816; 1:26.980; 1:27.184; 1:27.618; 1:28.226; 1:28.488; 1:29.513; 1:29.840; 1:29.750; 1:35.979; 1:31.805; 1:34.097.

He let Alonso through towards the end of the stint.

 

[FB]

Crofty and Damon very negative about McLaren's chances in the early fly away races. You watch them go and win the lot.

 

[tranquility2k9]

If we compare these 2 stints from Rosberg:

1st stint: 1:27.630 / 1:27.138 / 1:27.060 / 1:27.602 / 1:40.369 / 1:28.313 / 1:28.732 / 1:30.664 / 1:29.930 / 1:34.409 / 1:29.130 / 1:29.304 / 1:29.349 / 1:29. 455 / 1:39.710 / 1:29.442.

2nd stint: 1:27.232; 1:26.816; 1:26.980; 1:27.184; 1:27.618; 1:28.226; 1:28.488; 1:29.513; 1:29.840; 1:29.750; 1:35.979; 1:31.805; 1:34.097.

The second stint started off faster and dropped off comparably, however, after he let Alonso through (where he did a 1.35), the lap times seemed to drop off significantly. I think they're doing comparative runs on a new set of Mediums comparing what happens if you push early stint, compared to taking easier and reaping the rewards longer term as they did in the 1st stint.

 

[Brogan]

I will laugh my arse off if Mercedes are ahead of McLaren after all the negative comments and criticism.

 

[Greenlantern101]

Crofty and Damon very negative about McLaren's chances in the early fly away races. You watch them go and win the lot.

Erm.. cough.
http://cliptheapex.com/threads/2013-predictions.5852/#post-175292

 

[snowy]

Watching Lewis's race simulation on the tele was a bit of an eye opener, he spent so much time in traffic. Hardly any of his laps were representative of his pace.

It was hard enough to tell what was going on in testing without having our feed cut.

 

[snowy]

Watching Sky live today is so annoying! If they transmitted this mornings session I suspect I would have several orgasms.