Pre-Season BARCELONA TEST 18th-21st Feb 2011

[snowy]

Rubens is now just 4-6 seconds off a respectable dry lap time from last year with a 1:30.045.

 

[snowy]

I don't think you've missed anything the track is only now ready for dry tyres I believe.

Indeed some teams have sent cars out on slicks, notably Virgin.

 

[sportsman]

I think Pirelli are using the new soft compound at this test.Should be interesting.

 

[McZiderRed]

As Pirelli have chosen the hard and soft tyres for the first four races, I presume those will be the dry tyres used for this test. Or will they continue to test the medium and super-soft as well?

 

[snowy]

Button goes quickest on a 1m26.365.

These are of course the kind of conditions Jenson thrives on.

 

[cider_and_toast]

I expect they would test the full range of tyres because this will be the only chance that they will have to do so under test conditions.

Some Rain running would be useful for most teams I guess as it would at least prove the wet tyre and provide some base line data for the rest of the season so it wouldn't be all bad.

 

[snowy]

Θ. 	Driver		Team 		Best Lap 	Last lap 	Diff 	Laps 

1 	J. Button	McLaren 	1:26.365 	1:26.365 		22

2 	J. Alguersuari	Toro Rosso 	1:29.197 	1:29.197 	+2.832 	29

3 	R. Barrichello	Williams 	1:30.045 	1:30.752 	+3.68 	28

4 	H. Kovalainen	Lotus 		1:31.957 	1:34.870 	+5.592 	25

5 	N. Karthikeyan	HRT 		1:33.456 	1:34.619 	+7.091 	40

6 	J. D'Ambrosio	Virgin 		1:33.977 	1:34.889 	+7.612 	32

7 	K. Kobayashi	Sauber 		1:36.264 	1:40.073 	+9.899 	36

8 	F. Alonso	Ferrari 	1:36.978 	1:36.978 	+10.613 20

9 	S. Vettel	Red Bull 	1:37.172 	1:37.172 	+10.807 11

10 	M. Schumacher	Mercedes 	1:37.466 	1:37.466 	+11.101 4

11 	N. Heidfeld	Renault 	1:44.324 	1:48.717 	+17.959 27

 

[snowy]

Bahrain testing is definitely not going to happen. And the race is very, very doubtful.

 

[sportsman]

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/89521 Formula 1 teams will get a chance to try out modified versions of the super soft and soft tyres in Barcelona testing this week - with Pirelli confident that drivers are now getting used to the characteristics of its rubber.

 

[snowy]

Fernando does a 1m25.597.

That is very nearly as quick as he went on day one of the Barcelona test last year.

 

[cider_and_toast]

Wonder if they will arrange a new test session somewhere else?

 

[snowy]

Jenson on a long run, started in the 1:26s and 12 laps in is running in the 1:30s.

 

[snowy]

The quick reply is very flakey, reporting errors for most everything I try to post.

 

[snowy]

Jenson has finished his run. the drop off was very significant. If we ignore the very last lap a 1m33 there was a difference of over 2.5secs from start to finish of a 14 lap run.

 

[snowy]

Drapeau rouge!

 

[snowy]

Rubens has stopped at turn 7.

 

[Jru]

A spokesperson for the Circuit de Catalunya says Red Bull have already asked on behalf of all the teams if the track would be available to stage the fourth test if necessary. And the answer is, yes.

 

[snowy]

Thanks for that heads up Jru.

 

[snowy]

McLaren appear to have yet anohter exhaust outlet on the flank of the sidepod (near the vodafone logo)

 

[tooncheese]

Any news on Luizzi, reports are that he will drive for HRT over the weekend.