The Official Testing Thread

[pumpdoc 2]

Nice to see Rubens near the top of the chart.................

[red is an ugly colour 0]

hmm..the java-version is working fine again. To bad I didn

[Senna 0]

This should be in the testing thread

[monza gorilla 1]

Yes. Could a mod please merge this? The press release is interesting enough to include.

[Senna 0]

MASSA FLIES AGAIN IN TESTING

ITV

Ferrari new boy Felipe Massa set the pace at Barcelona as some of Formula 1's big guns came out to play for the first time in open testing.

While Massa put more miles on Ferrari's V8 engine, Kimi Raikkonen tried McLaren's new MP4-21 for the first time and Micheal Schumacher blooded in Ferrari's new 248 F1 in serious company.

Massa's time of 1m15.970s was largely irrelevant for while the Brazilian was using a V8, it was bolted to an old F2004 chassis.

More significant was Rubens Barrichello's best lap of 1m16.361s, which made him the fastest runner driving a 2006 machine.

Testing is testing and while it is unwise to read too much into times Barrichello will no doubt be pleased that not only was the Honda so fast so early on, but also that his car was 0.4s faster than team-mate Jenson Button's.

Splitting the Hondas were Giancarlo Fisichella's super-consistent Renault R26, just 0.04s behind Barrichello, and Nick Heidfeld's impressive new BMW.

The BMW-Sauber team has now concluded its running for the week and while test driver Robert Kubica ended the day 13th fastest, technical director Willy Rampf praised the Pole's progress.

"I am very satisfied with the debut of Robert in our team," he said.

"Over two days, he didn't make the smallest error, and he was able to improve constantly."

Fernando Alonso was sixth fastest having completed a race distance and a spin while David Coulthard was seventh in the new Red Bull RB2.

Schumacher was only eighth fastest in the new Ferrari although its early days for the 248.

Jarno Trulli and Ralf Schumacher pounded through Bridgestone's tyre collection to the ninth and tenth fastest times while Vitantonio Liuzzi had a run-out for Scuderia Toro Rosso.

Raikkonen spent most of the morning in the garage but the Finn did manage 65 laps in the car he hopes will bring him his first title.

In fact although he was only 12th fastest on the day, two spots ahead of team-mate Pedro de la Rosa, the Finn declared himself pretty happy with MP4-21.

"It is really good to be back testing and to see what the team has done with the new car," he said.

"My first impression of the car is positive, but I will need more track time to find out how great the potential really is."

Thursday's testing times from Barcelona

1. MASSA Ferrari 1m15.970s

2. BARRICHELLO Honda 1m16.361s

3. FISICHELLA Renault 1m16.365s

4. HEIDFELD BMW 1m16.549s

5. BUTTON Honda 1m16.739s

6. ALONSO Renault 1m16.754s

7. COULTHARD Red Bull 1m16.885s

8. M.SCHUMACHER Ferrari 1m16.907s

9. TRULLI Toyota 1m17.250s

10. R.SCHUMACHER Toyota 1m17.506s

11. LIUZZI Red Bull 1m17.590s

12. RAIKKONEN McLaren 1m17.741s

13. KUBICA BMW 1m17.992s

14. DE LA ROSA McLaren 1m18.258s

[toyfreak 0]

I dont think Kimi's lap times are surprising considering its his first time in the MP4-21, and hasnt driven an F1 car since November. Now we'll see if he adapts quickly and shows us what the MP4-21 is capable of.

Disclaimer: I know its just testing and it doesnt mean anything, but, when certain teams are consistently running the same times, it might show what kind of pace they have.

Asgar

[Jenson_Rules 0]

kimi's a twat, he should play more of role in the development of the car, if he was that serious he would have been at all if not most of the tests!

[michelfx 0]

kimi's a twat, he should play more of role in the development of the car, if he was that serious he would have been at all if not most of the tests!

listen chief, it's not his call

do you think that he doesn't want to be in the car?

aillaillleaillleee

[Jenson_Rules 0]

most probably it is his call. Jenson CHOSE to take part at every test (minus the one where rubens made his honda debut (for obvious reasons)) Kimi never seems very committed other than at the races, i dont think he puts enough input in!

[pumpdoc 2]

Encouraging progress for Red Bull

Brrrrr! It was a chilly one in Barcelona on Wednesday, which meant there was some early morning thumb twiddling while the teams waited for the track to get up to a reasonable working temperature. With 13 drivers on duty for the day, that meant there was a lot of chatter going on, mainly about the presentation of the new Honda.

However, for Red Bull

[monza gorilla 1]

Thanks, Bruce.

Red Bull have some problems they're not telling us about, I think. DC spent an awful long time in the garage today.

[YHR 0]

I dont think Kimi's lap times are surprising considering its his first time in the MP4-21, and hasnt driven an F1 car since November. Now we'll see if he adapts quickly and shows us what the MP4-21 is capable of.

Disclaimer: I know its just testing and it doesnt mean anything, but, when certain teams are consistently running the same times, it might show what kind of pace they have.

Asgar

I agree completely. Team mate times won't mean much because they are set up tests, Aero tests, etc. However, overall pace is significant. i.e The BMW times are indicating that they are fact in the hunt. For a team with a lot of resources, this is very good news. They have the ability to match the development pace of anyone else and should be able to keep the gap small.

Not sure what the Massa thing means. I personally think Massa is ready to step up into the spotlight with Alonso, KR and Button. I said this last year, and am saying it now. Watching him very closely as JV's teammate last year, I realized this guy is quite good, and never makes a mistake. That will get you a long way in a good car. He also has the maturity to match Alonso's. I think he will be a sought after driver, next year, and could very well eclipse the likes of Montoya, JT and GF.

Comparisons between teammates has a best before date. Time marches on. People will be quick to point out who outperformed Massa as a team mate. I say that means very little when you are talking about a young developing driver. Massa has matured and has arrived, Just you watch.

How's that for another bold prediction.

[michelfx 0]

I agree completely. Team mate times won't mean much because they are set up tests, Aero tests, etc. However, overall pace is significant. i.e The BMW times are indicating that they are fact in the hunt. For a team with a lot of resources, this is very good news. They have the ability to match the development pace of anyone else and should be able to keep the gap small.

Not sure what the Massa thing means. I personally think Massa is ready to step up into the spotlight with Alonso, KR and Button. I said this last year, and am saying it now. Watching him very closely as JV's teammate last year, I realized this guy is quite good, and never makes a mistake. That will get you a long way in a good car. He also has the maturity to match Alonso's. I think he will be a sought after driver, next year, and could very well eclipse the likes of Montoya, JT and GF.

Comparisons between teammates has a best before date. Time marches on. People will be quick to point out who outperformed Massa as a team mate. I say that means very little when you are talking about a young developing driver. Massa has matured and has arrived, Just you watch.

How's that for another bold prediction.

true he's fast but he is #2 WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO? you are not going to change the world but i agree with you

[YHR 0]

true he's fast but he is #2 WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO? you are not going to change the world but i agree with you

Nothing I need to do. Massa will do it all

Massa has a one year deal.

This is his chance, MS is getting older, and if Massa is fast he could look very good against the master. He can either set himself up to be wanted by another team, or make an impression on the Ferrari folks to hang on to him.

By mid season he will get an offer for a contract extension is my bet.

[nojvnof1 0]

Well well, Honda, Renault and BMW have really, and I mean really shot up into focus during this test with their new machines. I'm going to make the prediction right now, I think this will be Button's best chance to win a race, as I think this car may finally be the 'one'. Don't ask me to explain, I just have this feeling.

As for the rest, Ferrari look very very strong, however they are running the F2004, which isn't subject to the aero regs of the post 2004 era, hence we'll have to see how the 248 goes before we can really judge them, however the engine looks very good. Renault look like they could be major contenders to defend both titles. BMW look very quick on light tanks, as shown by JV's time on Monday and Nick's time on Thursday. Nick and Jacques look pretty evenly matched after their four days running, and I was very pleased to see JV's time on Tuesday was set on a long run, dispelling the rumour that he was light, which he probably was the day before.

Both Red Bull teams seem to be where they left off from their last test sessions although RBR are running more reliably, whilst McLaren look way off the pace and Toyota seem to have slipped back a little, however they are yet to introduce their aero package for the new car, and are still running the old configuration if my eyes don't deceive me.

[narain fan 0]

Well well, Honda, Renault and BMW have really, and I mean really shot up into focus during this test with their new machines. I'm going to make the prediction right now, I think this will be Button's best chance to win a race, as I think this car may finally be the 'one'. Don't ask me to explain, I just have this feeling.

well,he seems to have got the car ,finally,and has got no excuse really.he has 30 million reasons to perform

[narain fan 0]

F1 Teams to Test in Warmer Climates in February

Bahrain's grand prix organisers have invited all formula one teams to the island nation to test at the track next month.

Ahead of the March 12 season opener at the same Sakhir circuit, at least three teams - Honda, Scuderia Toro Rosso and Ferrari - are believed to have accepted the invitation, while others, like Renault and Toyota, reportedly feel that an overseas test is both too expensive and disruptive.

According to speculation, the idea was apparently jointly devised by F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone, who argued to the teams that winter testing in the Gulf makes sense because of the warmer weather.

Ferrari tested alone in Bahrain for three days in November last year, while every other team adhered to a voluntary test ban for most of the month.

paddocktalk.com

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it would be wise to test at the track,as today's session has been "snowed" and the forcast for the next few weeks is not exactly positive...

[Jenson_Rules 0]

plus it will give the teams an idea of their reliability as in cooling systems and how the v8s will cope in the severe heat. Big mistake by the rest of them not to take bahrain up on this offer. At least honda are

[nojvnof1 0]

Teams would be unwise to not accept the invitation. It is only a mere 2 or so weeks prior to the race and hence would basically get a stack of data meaning they can afford to run very little track time, hence saving the cars.

[cavallino 2]

ah but they have a gentlemen's agreement.

Of course STR don't matter, they broke the testing ban right after the 200 season and will do it again.

[Senna 0]

JENSON ENCOURAGED AFTER TEST

ITV

Jenson Button reckons the early signs are good for Honda's new RA106, which was unveiled on Wednesday, after the team wrapped up its testing programme at Barcelona.

The Briton, who completed his run in the car before handing over to test driver Anthony Davidson, said the new machine showed potential in all the right places.

"Obviously after the launch of the new car, we were all very excited about getting the two cars out on the circuit," said Button.

"Everything went very smoothly and we did around a lot of laps on both days so we got some good running in, mostly reliability work and just finding a reasonable set-up.

"We're not there yet but the early pace of the car is good and obviously the most important thing is to have good long-run pace and we do have that."

The final day of the test was cancelled due to the cold conditions.

In fact Davidson's impressions of the new car were confined to just three corners as he skated off in the sleety conditions.

"Unfortunately I wasn't able to get any running in the new car today due to the weather conditions, which is a shame as I was looking forward to finding out what the car felt like," he said.

"But I don't have to wait too long as we are back testing in Valencia next week."

Honda's chief test engineer Mark Ellis summed up the car's run-out test as a success.

"The performance and reliability 'out of the box' have been extremely encouraging and we have used the track time to identify areas where we can quickly further improve the overall performance," he said.

[Jenson_Rules 0]

JENSON ENCOURAGED AFTER TEST

ITV

Jenson Button reckons the early signs are good for Honda's new RA106, which was unveiled on Wednesday, after the team wrapped up its testing programme at Barcelona.

The Briton, who completed his run in the car before handing over to test driver Anthony Davidson, said the new machine showed potential in all the right places.

"Obviously after the launch of the new car, we were all very excited about getting the two cars out on the circuit," said Button.

"Everything went very smoothly and we did around a lot of laps on both days so we got some good running in, mostly reliability work and just finding a reasonable set-up.

"We're not there yet but the early pace of the car is good and obviously the most important thing is to have good long-run pace and we do have that."

The final day of the test was cancelled due to the cold conditions.

In fact Davidson's impressions of the new car were confined to just three corners as he skated off in the sleety conditions.

"Unfortunately I wasn't able to get any running in the new car today due to the weather conditions, which is a shame as I was looking forward to finding out what the car felt like," he said.

"But I don't have to wait too long as we are back testing in Valencia next week."

Honda's chief test engineer Mark Ellis summed up the car's run-out test as a success.

"The performance and reliability 'out of the box' have been extremely encouraging and we have used the track time to identify areas where we can quickly further improve the overall performance," he said.

What is wrong with people at the moment, they keep giving me heart attacks, Jenson actually not saying ''its amazing blah blah blah im gonna win blah blah blah.'' Dear god, what next, MW admitting hes average and will never win a championship, and even winning a race seems unlikely! lol, now that will be the day!

[Null 0]

You got in?! Yeeeeeeeeeey go ben!!!!

*sorry - that's about Ben's sig

[cavallino 2]

Great now we'll probably have 2 members drunk and posting together

[Jenson_Rules 0]

great, thats what i say!