Official Pre-season Testing Thread

[Boudica 0]

First day of testing for the Scuderia at Valencia

Maranello, 22nd January

Circuit: "Ricardo Tormo" di Cheste circuit, (Valencia) - 4.005 km

Drivers: Kimi Raikkonen and Felipe Massa

Car: F2008

Weather: air temperature 9/24

[Boudica 0]

- Massa set a 1:12.182. He was often trying to find out how good the F2008 is over one lap (using new tyres). This was one of Ferrari's problems last year but it seems to be solved, just like the problem of driving through slow corners and over high kerbstones. Raikkonen, being six tenths slower mainly concentrated on long runs.

- McLaren was doing long runs as well and one of the development aims has been reached: the MP4-23 conserves the reartyres more than its predecessor. Meanwhile, Kovalainen had a new seat fitted in the car which made him feel much more comfortable: ''We've gone through our programe, without caring for Ferrari's times.''

- Rosberg is more or less the surprise of the day ending third. In the longruns he was as fast as the McLaren drivers. On average he lost out on Raikkonen by two tenths. Rosberg is happy: ''The new car is a clear improvement. I definately had more grip. We were able to do 84 laps without problems. That's a good starting basis.''

Michael expresses his enthusiasm also: ''It's been a long time since I've gone back to the factory with such a good feeling after testing.''

- At Renault things are relaxed and Alonso has indicated the car feels better than last years car straight away. Briatore indicates the R28 encounters little problems at his debut: ''The car is driving here in the same way as when it came out of the factory being put in the truck.''

- Heidfeld is complaining about balance problems in his F1.08. A driver's mistake ending up in the gravel confirms the problem. Despite the difficulties the German is optimistic: ''We know which things we have to address.''

- After an oil leak in the morning, Coulthard was only able to really drive the RB4 in the afternoon. First comments: ''Positive thing is that our weak point from last year - the gearbox - keeps up. But we still have to look for laptimes. I hope that we'll be faster than the Toro Rosso at the end of the week.''

[Grabthaw the Hammerslayer 4]

- Massa set a 1:12.182. He was often trying to find out how good the F2008 is over one lap (using new tyres). This was one of Ferrari's problems last year but it seems to be solved, just like the problem of driving through slow corners and over high kerbstones. Raikkonen, being six tenths slower mainly concentrated on long runs.

Six tenths, eh?

Shame Alonso doesn't drive for them as he would have posted the same time as Massa

[Rainmaster 7]

I see Marko is making his mark..he is the new kid on the block, certainly one to watch for the future from everything I've seen of him.

Thanks for the info Boudica

[Boudica 0]

[Boudica 0]

http://es.youtube.com/watch?v=IVgs5uFC4iw

[aussief1 4]

McLaren have been thinking about testing the front wheel fairings for a while now. I remember at the Monza test last year they has the mountings on the hub to run the fairings but they didn't appear if I remember correctly.

Interesting place to have the opening. I would have thought you would have wanted the air to exit towards the rear of the car not the front.

It's almost back to the twin tower wings that BMW ran at Magny Cours in 2006. They must be testing the affect of cleaning up the air flow around the c#ckpit. I wonder if the FIA will ban this innovation if it becomes a permenant part of the aero in the BMW F1.08. For the record Nick was slower with the new horn wings. But what exactly he was testing is anyones guess so you can't read too much into it.

[Boudica 0]

Honda is getting ready for the shakedown of the RA108 today. They believe the car will be a huge improvement straight out of the box, and much faster then the RA107.

[Boudica 0]

1. F. Massa Mass Ferrari F2008 1:12.178 7 pit

2. K. R

[Boudica 0]

1. F. Massa Mass Ferrari F2008 1:12.178 15

2. K. R

[Boudica 0]

Sutil cases another red flag by driving straight on at turn 1, he drove into the tyre wall.

[Boudica 0]

Honda just did there first laps in the new RA108, it was done by Rubens.

[Kati 0]

Honda just did there first laps in the new RA108, it was done by Rubens.

here goes a picture to illustrate http://www.f1today.nl/foto/1202/

[Boudica 0]

1. F. Massa Mass Ferrari F2008 1:12.178 15 pit

2. K. R

[Boudica 0]

Rubens has already spunned the car at turn 12.

[Boudica 0]

1. K. R

[Boudica 0]

1. Raikkonen Ferrari 1:11.899 24

2. Massa Ferrari 1:12.154 19

3. Alonso Renault 1:12.631 19

4. Heidfeld BMW 1:12.976 15

5. Vettel Toro Rosso 1:13.015 25

6. Hamilton Mclaren 1:13.111 25

7. Rosberg Williams 1:13.132 13

8. Kubica BMW 1:13.230 19

9. Glock Toyota 1:13.274 19

10. Kovalainen Mclaren 1:13.277 19

11. Bourdais Toro Rosso 1:13.542 18

12. Sutil Force India 1:13.900 33

13. Trulli Toyota 1:13.905 25

14. Nakajima Williams 1:14.512 11

15. Barrichello Honda 1:14.907 12

[Boudica 0]

1. Raikkonen Ferrari 1:11.899 41

2. Massa Ferrari 1:11.987 42

3. Alonso Renault 1:12.556 37

4. Rosberg Williams 1:12.869 47

5. Heidfeld BMW 1:12.976 25

6. Vettel Toro Rosso 1:13.015 35

7. Hamilton Mclaren 1:13.111 26

8. Kubica BMW 1:13.230 40

9. Glock Toyota 1:13.274 32

10. Kovalainen Mclaren 1:13.277 29

14. Nakajima Williams 1:13.277 18

11. Bourdais Toro Rosso 1:13.542 36

12. Sutil Force India 1:13.580 43

13. Webber Red Bull 1:13.884 10

14. Trulli Toyota 1:13.905 32

15. Barrichello Honda 1:14.907 12

[Boudica 0]

Drivers are now optimising the heat and extra grip on the circuit, so most drivers are now doing long runs.

[Boudica 0]

1. Kovalainen Mclaren 1:11.436 38

2. Raikkonen Ferrari 1:11.899 47

3. Massa Ferrari 1:11.987 42

4. Alonso Renault 1:12.556 33

5. Rosberg Williams 1:12.869 59

6. Heidfeld BMW 1:12.976 25

7. Vettel Toro Rosso 1:13.015 40

8. Hamilton Mclaren 1:13.031 34

9. Kubica BMW 1:13.230 40

10. Glock Toyota 1:13.274 32

11. Nakajima Williams 1:13.277 18

12. Sutil Force India 1:13.421 49

13. Bourdais Toro Rosso 1:13.542 41

14. Trulli Toyota 1:13.804 37

15. Webber Red Bull 1:13.884 17

16. Barrichello Honda 1:14.907 12

Heikki did a "qualifying" type of lap.

[Boudica 0]

Takashi Kogure did his first two installation laps and it seems like he was struggling.

[Boudica 0]

1. H. Kovalainen McLaren MP4-23 1:11.000 42 pit Pit

2. K. R

[Boudica 0]

Vettel has cause a red flag by spinning in turn 5.

[Boudica 0]

1. H. Kovalainen McLaren MP4-23 1:11.000 59

2. K. R

[Boudica 0]

Kogure has done a total of 36 laps for Honda without any incidents.