Pre-Season Jerez Test 10-13Feb

[snowy]

Jerez Test Day 1

Vitantonio Liuzzi (Force India)
Fernando Alonso (Ferrari)
Kamui Kobayashi (BMW-Sauber)
Sebastien Buemi (Toro Rosso)
Mark Webber (Red Bull)
Timo Glock (Virgin)
Nico Hulkenberg (Williams)
Vitaly Petrov (Renault)
Nico Rosberg (Mercedes GP)
Jenson Button (McLaren)

1. S. Buemi		Toro Rosso STR5	1:21.031	 	8  	

2. N. Hülkenberg	Williams FW32	1:22.243	+1.212	9 	 

3. F. Alonso		Ferrari	F10	1:23.271	+2.240	4 	 

4. K. Kobayashi		Sauber	C29	1:23.789	+2.758	5 	 

5. N. Rosberg		Mercedes GP W01	1:24.058	+3.027	4 	 

6. V. Petrov		Renault	R30	1:25.440	+4.409	9 	 

7. M. Webber		RBR	RB6	1:26.502	+5.471	4

 

[snowy]

09:50

1. N. Rosberg		Mercedes GP W01	1:20.927	 	10  	  

2. S. Buemi		Toro Rosso STR5	1:21.031	+0.104	8 	

3. N. Hülkenberg	Williams FW32	1:22.243	+1.316	15 	 

4. F. Alonso		Ferrari	F10	1:22.895	+1.968	11 	

5. K. Kobayashi		Sauber	C29	1:23.787	+2.860	7 	

6. J. Button		McLaren	MP4-25	1:24.947	+4.020	5 	

7. V. Liuzzi		FI VJM-03	1:24.968	+4.041	6 	

8. V. Petrov		Renault	R30	1:25.440	+4.513	9 	

9. M. Webber		RBR	RB6	1:26.502	+5.575	4

 

[snowy]

And down came the rain...

It doesn't last long though...

09:24
Mark Webber and Nico Hulkenburg are trying out the damp track...

 

[snowy]

Jenson has been seen on track with a very outlandish sensor array on his sidepods:

http://www.autosport.com/gallery/photo.php/id/13245229

Autosport caught up with a McLaren spokesman and brings them up to speed on the team's programme for measuring aerodynamic flow structures while on-track:

"Given the limited amount of testing that teams have been permitted over the past two seasons, as a team we feel it's necessary to put as much emphasis as we possibly can on accurately measuring the flow structures we encounter at the track so that we can match them to the flow structures we are able to simulate in CFD and the windtunnel back at the factory."

The team underlines that there is no need for "alarm bells", and that this is just "normal engineering work".

 

[Muddytalker]

Although I think this time it is a 'standard procedure', as last week's times were pretty competitive, I'm pretty sure they were saying the same thing this time last year, when they had similar gadgets and the flourescent paint on the MP4/donkey.

 

[snowy]

I am a bit suspicious... Resorting to fluorescent paint and sensor arrays suggests their lap times and the behaviour of the car are not what they expected...

 

[Brogan]

It's deja-vu all over again

Time to see how the Red Bull stacks up against the competition.

 

[FB]

Has anyone spotted Patrick Stewart in the McLaren pit? I have visions of him standing there, tugging at the bottom of his tunic and shouting "deploy the sensor array Mr Data".

 

[teabagyokel]

I think its brilliant here. McLaren use a test session to test the car, and you assume that their testing of the car is an indication that they're off the pace. If flourescent paint and sensor arrays give them the information to get the fastest car by Bahrain, then there's no reason not to?

 

[Galahad]

I think its brilliant here. McLaren use a test session to test the car, and you assume that their testing of the car is an indication that they're off the pace. If flourescent paint and sensor arrays give them the information to get the fastest car by Bahrain, then there's no reason not to?

Which in general I agree with, except that nobody else is doing it, are they?

 

[FB]

I think the problem, TBY, is two fold. Firstly, last year the Mclaren was pup and they spent a lot of time with vis-paint and various sensors attached to the car so peolpe are likely to be suspicious when they do the same this time out - especially as the other teams aren't doing the same. Secondly, test session are now far more hight profile, because of the stupid in-season testing ban, so what probably used to take place on a windy March day at Donnington when one man, a dog and a guy from Autosport were there now takes place in the full glare of the world's media (and 20,000 adoring Alonso fans).

In fairness, the Mclaren lap times don't look too bad compared to the Mercedes but they are a bit off Ferrari so they need every bit of data they can snaffle during these tests. If they then go back and reprogram their CFD and wind tunnel models then they will take a step up on their competition so best of luck to them.

 

[Brogan]

Well based on the first test, McLaren weren't as far off the pace as they were at this point last year.

But the fact they they are once again using paint and all manner of contraptions suggests the car isn't behaving as the CFD data suggested it would.

If there is a problem, hopefully it will be a quick fix.


Edit: Beaten to it by FB's far more eloquent post

 

[Brogan]

Mark Webber's Red Bull suffers its first failure of the season.

After just 40 laps he was forced to stop with an oil leak.

 

[snowy]

1. N. Rosberg	1:20.927	 	25  	  

2. S. Buemi	1:21.031	+0.104	39 	pit

3. N. Hülkenb'	1:22.243	+1.316	55 	pit

4. F. Alonso	1:22.895	+1.968	34 	pit

5. K. Kobayashi	1:23.287	+2.360	24 	pit

6. J. Button	1:24.947	+4.020	39 	pit

7. V. Liuzzi	1:24.968	+4.041	29 	pit

8. V. Petrov	1:25.440	+4.513	9 	pit

9. M. Webber	1:26.502	+5.575	47 	pit

 

[snowy]

Oh for a dry track and the wind at my back...

 

[Galahad]

Flipping weather! I want to know how the ManorVirgin goes.

 

[fat jez]

Flipping weather! I want to know how the ManorVirgin goes.

I'd imagine they'll need a few rides inside her until she really starts to perform to her potential.

Maybe they could get a few tips from Vettel and "Kate's Dirty Sister"

 

[snowy]

Is all this totally necessary?

 

[Brogan]

Is the weather still causing problems?
They should have done it here in the UK, bright and sunny where I am

 

[Galahad]

They should have done it here in the UK, bright and sunny where I am

Sunny it may be, warm it definitely is not! There was snow coming down this morning!