Valencia Test

[snowy]

1. F. Alonso		Ferrari	F10	1:11.709	 	26  	 

2. P. de la Rosa	Sauber	C29	1:12.094	+0.385	15 	

3. M. Schumacher	Mercedes GP W01	1:12.438	+0.729	26 	

4. J. Alguersuari	Toro Rosso STR5	1:12.576	+0.867	37 	

5. J. Button		McLaren	MP4-25	1:13.783	+2.074	12 	

6. N. Hülkenberg	Williams FW32	1:14.410	+2.701	33 	

7. V. Petrov		Renault	R30	1:14.707	+2.998	21

 

[fat jez]

Ferrari - quick
Sauber - where the hell did that pace come from?

I believe the second comment could be answered by the first. Specifically what they put in the back compared to last year.

 

[snowy]

I don't want to pre-judge but is it fair to summarise testing so far as:

Ferrari - quick
Sauber - where the hell did that pace come from?
Merecedes - there, or there abouts
Torro Rosso - good job on your first car, might snaffle a few points.
Williams - mid grid medicority
Renault - why are you bothering?
Mclaren - Please, not again.

I suspect McLaren are where Mercedes are but that doesn't happen to be there, or there abouts. It's actually just off the pace. But it's not 2s off like last season or the 1.5s Renault is this...

 

[snowy]

1. F. Alonso		Ferrari	F10	1:11.599	 	41  	

2. P. de la Rosa	Sauber	C29	1:12.094	+0.495	28 	

3. M. Schumacher	Mercedes GP W01	1:12.438	+0.839	30 	

4. J. Alguersuari	Toro Rosso STR5	1:12.576	+0.977	37 	

5. J. Button		McLaren	MP4-25	1:13.498	+1.899	23 	

6. N. Hülkenberg	Williams FW32	1:13.669	+2.070	72 	

7. V. Petrov		Renault	R30	1:14.009	+2.410	29

 

[snowy]

Fernando is busy doing long runs posting metronomic low 1m12's followed by mid 11's. The car is quick, consistent and obviously a pleasure to drive. Meanwhile Jenson is still stuck in the mid 13's...

Fernando's last stint:

* 1:12.600

* 1:12.302

* 1:12.133

* 1:11.985

* 1:12.122

* 1:12.133

* 1:12.240

* 1:12.00

* 1:11.669

* 1:13.205

* 1:11.625

 

[Brogan]

Ferrari definitely seem to have produced a winner this season.

Have to wait and see how things pan out in the team now...

 

[snowy]

1. F. Alonso		Ferrari	F10	1:11.470	 	61  	

2. P. de la Rosa	Sauber	C29	1:12.094	+0.624	28 	

3. M. Schumacher	Mercedes GP W01	1:12.438	+0.968	40 	

4. J. Alguersuari	Toro Rosso STR5	1:12.576	+1.106	37 	

5. J. Button		McLaren	MP4-25	1:12.951	+1.481	33 	

6. N. Hülkenberg	Williams FW32	1:13.669	+2.199	72 	

7. V. Petrov		Renault	R30	1:14.009	+2.539	29

 

[snowy]

Schumacher's last stint
* 1:15.610
* 1:15.894
* 1:15.203
* 1:15.337
* 1:15.295

 

[snowy]

Another Alonso stint:

1.11.901,
1.11.692,
1.11.470,
1.12.698,
1.12.720,
1.12.375,
1.12.130,
1.11.520,
1.12.376,
1.15.463

 

[snowy]

Fernando is now running in the 15s and 16s...

 

[snowy]

Ross Brawn speaking to BBC's @sarahholt:

"It's always very difficult to judge. On full tanks yesterday (Tuesday) we didn't look too bad but we're a little bit off on pace and (there are problems with) the handling and balance of the car which we can fix for (the next test in) Jerez. We know what the problem is.

"Of course the other teams will be progressing as well so we are reasonable, not as quick as Ferrari and Lewis looked quick yesterday. So it looks like we've got a bit of work to do."

 

[snowy]

1. F. Alonso		Ferrari	F10	1:11.470	 	90  	 

2. P. de la Rosa	Sauber	C29	1:12.094	+0.624	56 	

3. M. Schumacher	Mercedes GP W01	1:12.438	+0.968	82 	

4. J. Alguersuari	Toro Rosso STR5	1:12.576	+1.106	63 	

5. J. Button		McLaren	MP4-25	1:12.951	+1.481	58 	

6. V. Petrov		Renault	R30	1:13.582	+2.112	58 	

7. N. Hülkenberg	Williams FW32	1:13.669	+2.199	118

 

[snowy]

Michael Schumacher looks like he is finishing the day early...

Is this the neck I wonder...

 

[Brogan]

It would be interesting to see a comparison of all the fastest laps between teammates to see how they compare.

I know it's testing but I expect all drivers will have done some laps flat out with low fuel so it will give us some indication.

 

[snowy]

I am rather hoping that Jenson hasn't done any low fuel runs. If he has he is some way off Lewis' pace, perhaps even off Gary Paffett's.

Indications of his times for the last three runs has been non existent! Though one of the Spanish sites has just written this:

Jenson Button pasa como un obús a nuestro lado, con tiempos de 1'13" altos.

Which I think suggests he has been doing 1m13s... but whilst he was doing those he was overtaken by Fernando on track, to the applause of the crowd.

 

[snowy]

Michael Schumacher looks like he is finishing the day early...

Is this the neck I wonder...

Mystery solved

Schumacher has confirmed that a "little hydraulic leak" has ended his day early

 

[snowy]

1. F. Alonso		Ferrari	F10	1:11.470	 	125  	 

2. P. de la Rosa	Sauber	C29	1:12.094	+0.624	79 	

3. M. Schumacher	Mercedes GP W01	1:12.438	+0.968	82 	

4. J. Alguersuari	Toro Rosso STR5	1:12.576	+1.106	96 	

5. J. Button		McLaren	MP4-25	1:12.951	+1.481	82 	

6. V. Petrov		Renault	R30	1:13.097	+1.627	74 	

7. N. Hülkenberg	Williams FW32	1:13.669	+2.199	126

 

[Brogan]

Unless the other teams can catch up very quickly, Ferrari will have a significant advantage.

Although qualifying will now be done on race fuel so we really need to see how the cars compare on heavily fuelled runs and of course none of the teams will give out that information.

Looks like we'll have to wait until 13 March to find out "for sure".

 

[snowy]

And thus the first test of 2010 is concluded.


Off the fence and let the betting begin!

 

[Muddytalker]

Unless the other teams can catch up very quickly, Ferrari will have a significant advantage.

Although qualifying will now be done on race fuel so we really need to see how the cars compare on heavily fuelled runs and of course none of the teams will give out that information.

Looks like we'll have to wait until 13 March to find out "for sure".

Will it? I assumed qualifying would be run on low fuel?