Pre-Season Barcelona Test - 8th to 12th March

[snowy]

Θ. 	Driver		Team 		Best Lap 	Last lap 	Diff	Laps

1 	M. Webber	Red Bull 	1:22.544 	1:31.598 		51

2 	J. Button	McLaren 	1:22.910 	1:22.910 	+0.366 	53

3 	N. Heidfeld	Renault 	1:24.735 	1:27.602 	+2.191 	20

4 	D. Valsecchi	Lotus 		1:25.406 	1:46.107 	+2.862 	50

5 	S. Perez	Sauber 		1:25.443 	1:26.893 	+2.899 	54

6 	N. Hulkenberg	Force India 	1:26.030 	1:26.090 	+3.486 	31

7 	S. Buemi	Toro Rosso 	1:26.087 	1:26.302 	+3.543 	13

8 	J. D'Ambrosio	Virgin 		1:32.060 	1:33.094 	+9.516 	42

9 	L. Razia	Lotus 		1:34.467 	1:34.467 	+11.92 	8

 

[teabagyokel]

It would be omnious to see the big teams 2 seconds clear of everyone else if that were the true picture.

Which it isn't.

 

[snowy]

The track is very quite with only Mark Webber on it again, touring round in 1:28s.

 

[snowy]

McLaren and Mercedes were definitely that sort of ball park off last test, but McLaren have improved and are still using a regular exhaust config.

 

[teabagyokel]

I just can't see two teams being 2 seconds clear of the third in Melbourne, it just doesn't usually work that way...!

 

[snowy]

It would be bonkers!

 

[snowy]

Mark Webber completes an 18 lap run:

----
01:27.891
01:28.390
01:28.458
01:28.763
01:28.883
01:28.636
01:29.254
01:29.033
01:29.008
01:29.171
01:29.398
01:29.668
01:30.304
01:30.296
01:31.247
01:31.814
01:32.800
----

 

[snowy]

Vitaly Petrov eventually takes to the track!

 

[teabagyokel]

Vitaly Petrov eventually takes to the track!

Hope he doesn't catch a cold or they'll have to send Bruno Senna or Romain Grosjean out there!

 

[snowy]

According to Paul di Resta it is raining at turn 1.

 

[Enja]

According to Paul di Resta it is raining at turn 1.

Just what Pirelli wanted.

 

[teabagyokel]

Nick Heidfeld was always on the right tyres...

"No Vitaly, I really feel ill. Why don't you drive the car in the rain..."

 

[snowy]

Still no sign of Petrov's times on the timing screen though he is on track and completing laps!

Θ. 	Driver		Team 		Best Lap 	Last lap 	Diff	Laps

1 	M. Webber	Red Bull 	1:22.544 	1:32.800 		69

2 	J. Button	McLaren 	1:22.910 	1:29.751 	+0.366 	66

3 	N. Heidfeld	Renault 	1:24.735 	1:27.602 	+2.191 	20

4 	D. Valsecchi	Lotus 		1:25.406 	1:46.107 	+2.862 	50

5 	S. Perez	Sauber 		1:25.443 	1:39.106 	+2.899 	67

6 	N. Hulkenberg	Force India 	1:26.030 	1:26.090 	+3.486 	31

7 	S. Buemi	Toro Rosso 	1:26.087 	1:26.302 	+3.543 	19

8 	P. di Resta	Force India 	1:27.196 	1:28.175 	+4.652 	12

9 	J. D'Ambrosio	Virgin 		1:32.060 	1:33.094 	+9.516 	57

10 	L. Razia	Lotus 		1:34.467 	1:34.467 	+11.92 	8

 

[snowy]

Θ. 	Driver		Team 		Best Lap 	Last lap 	Diff	Laps

1 	M. Webber	Red Bull 	1:22.544 	1:32.800 		69

2 	J. Button	McLaren 	1:22.910 	1:29.751 	+0.366 	66

3 	N. Heidfeld	Renault 	1:24.735 	1:27.602 	+2.191 	20

4 	D. Valsecchi	Lotus 		1:25.406 	1:46.107 	+2.862 	50

5 	S. Perez	Sauber 		1:25.443 	1:39.106 	+2.899 	67

6 	N. Hulkenberg	Force India 	1:26.030 	1:26.090 	+3.486 	31

7 	S. Buemi	Toro Rosso 	1:26.087 	1:26.302 	+3.543 	19

8 	P. di Resta	Force India 	1:27.196 	1:28.175 	+4.652 	12

9	V. Petrov	Renault 	1:27.891 	1:28.200 	+5.347 	7

10 	J. D'Ambrosio	Virgin 		1:32.060 	1:33.094 	+9.516 	57

11 	L. Razia	Lotus 		1:34.467 	1:34.467 	+11.92 	8

 

[Pyrope]

Mark Webber completes an 18 lap run:

----
01:27.891

...

01:32.800
----

Hmm... those lap times don't bode well for the tyres. That's a heck of a drop-off for only 18 laps driven!

 

[snowy]

That is pretty much the norm for the soft tyre and the Red Bull. The Ferrari appears to be a lot better at the end of a stint, with Massa's race simulation having one less pitstop than Mark Webber's at the last test.

 

[Galahad]

I just can't see two teams being 2 seconds clear of the third in Melbourne, it just doesn't usually work that way...!

1997 Australian GP

1. J Villeneuve (Williams-Renault) 1:29.369
2. H Frentzen (Williams-Renault) 1:31.123
3. M Schumacher (Ferrari) 1:31.472
4. D Coulthard (McLaren-Mercedes) 1:31.531

 

[snowy]

Heidfeld reckons Red Bull is hiding its potential... Heidfeld thinks RBR is holding back

 

[Galahad]

That's a lot of laps for D'Ambrosio without a single one being even vaguely competitive. Not even up to the level of uncompetitiveness they managed last year.

 

[snowy]

He hasn't recorded a timed lap for a long time. I think they have been practising pitstops.