Official Pre-season Testing Thread

[Boudica 0]

[bathurst1000 0]

Interesting? Apparently it improves airflow over the rear wing and helps with stability into corners and under brakes

downsides........ crosswinds they might push the whole car off the track???

[Boudica 0]

1 HAM 1

[Boudica 0]

They are still a little bit off from last year's best times, although that will obviously improve as the testing continues.

The best times from last year November was 1:21.044 148, 1:21.136, 1:21.363, 1:21.486. Usually Ferrari are on top at Barcelona, but off course they are present.

[Boudica 0]

Interesting? Apparently it improves airflow over the rear wing and helps with stability into corners and under brakes

downsides........ crosswinds they might push the whole car off the track???

Yes, it is an interesting concept. I think it might help to create more of an oversteering effect.

While testing in Jerez, Mark Webber had create some oversteer to be more consistent, so this might just add that extra balance to the car.

[Boudica 0]

1. Hamilton 1:22.433 31 laps

2. Alonso 1:22:889 47 vueltas Alonso 1:22:889 47 laps

3. Fisichella 1:23.015 51 vueltas Fisichella 1:23.015 51 laps

4. Kubica 1:23.266 32 vueltas Kubica 1:23.266 32 laps

5. Rosberg 1:23.453 21 vueltas Rosberg 1:23.453 21 laps

6. Webber 1:23.657 22 vueltas Webber 1:23.657 22 laps

7. Coulthard 1:23.668 25 vueltas Coulthard 1:23.668 25 laps

8. Heidfeld 1:23.718 13 vueltas Heidfeld 1:23.718 13 laps

9. Paffet 1:23.772 20 vueltas Paffet 1:23.772 20 laps

10. Bourdais 1:23.920 25 vueltas Bourdais 1:23.920 25 laps

11. Nakajima 1:23.955 35 vueltas Nakajima 1:23.955 35 laps

12. Piquet 1:24.046 24 vueltas Piquet 1:24.046 24 laps

13. Vettel 1:24.227 36 vueltas Vettel 1:24.227 36 laps

14. Barrichello 1:24.794 12 vueltas Barrichello 1:24.794 12 laps

15. Wurz 1:27.807 6 vueltas Wurz 1:27.807 6 laps

[ykickamoocow 0]

That is one interesting looking car. If it works i wonder how long it would take for the other teams to copy it.

[The Rumble Strip 0]

[Boudica 0]

-So far there has been two red flags caused by Gary Paffett, one was a sensor that malfunctioned, and the other time he just spinned out.

- Nakajma was involved in a heavy crash, also because of a front-wing mounting failure but he is ok after the crash.

- Vettel also spinned out.

- Mark Webber had caused a red flag because of some technical difficulties.

- Most drivers who had spun off, did so at the end of the straight in turn one. This indicates that here might still be some problems with engine braking.

[Boudica 0]

1. Hamilton 1:22.433 44 laps

2. Alonso 1:22:889 47 laps

3. Kubica 1:22.983 42 laps

4. Fisichella 1:23.016 52 laps

5. Heidfeld 1:23.270 19 laps

6. Vettel 1:23.387 52 laps

7. Rosberg 1:23.435 12 laps

8. Webber 1:23.567 23 laps

9. Coulthard 1:23.568 33 laps

10. Paffet 1:23.772 20 laps

11. Bourdais 1:23.920 32 laps

12. Nakajima 1:23.955 36 laps

13. Piquet 1:24.046 24 laps

14. Barrichello 1:24.126 29 laps

15. Wurz 1:27.807 13 laps

[Kati 0]

16:25 (motor21.com)

1. Hamilton 1:22.263 66 vueltas

2. Alonso 1:22:883 60 vueltas

3. Kubica 1:22.983 53 vueltas

4. Fisichella 1:23.016 80 vueltas

5. Heidfeld 1:23.270 34 vueltas

6. Vettel 1:23.387 68 vueltas

7. Rosberg 1:23.435 12 vueltas

8. Coulthard 1:23.491 46 vueltas

9. Webber 1:23.547 43 vueltas

10. Paffet 1:23.772 26 vueltas

11. Piquet 1:23.917 37 vueltas

12. Bourdais 1:23.920 48 vueltas

13. Nakajima1:23.955 36 vueltas

14. Barrichello 1:24.126 41 vueltas

15. Wurz 1:26.975 24 vueltas

[Boudica 0]

1. L. Hamilton McLaren MP4-23 1:22.263 69

2. F. Alonso Renault R28 1:22.889 +0.626 +0,626 61

3. R. Kubica BMW Sauber BMW Sauber F1.08 1:22.983 +0.720 +0,720 53

4. G. Fisichella Force India India Force F8-VII 1:23.015 +0.752 +0,752 52

5. N. Heidfeld BMW Sauber BMW Sauber F1.08 1:23.270 +1.007 +1,007 39

6. S. Vettel Toro Rosso Toro Rosso STR2 1:23.387 +1.124 +1,124 72

7. N. Rosberg Williams FW30 1:23.453 +1.190 +1,190 12

8. D. Coulthard Red Bull Racing Red Bull Racing RB4 1:23.491 +1.228 +1,228 45

9. M. Webber Red Bull Racing Red Bull Racing RB4 1:23.547 +1.284 +1,284 43

10. G. Paffett McLaren MP4-23 1:23.769 +1.506 +1,506 30

11. N. Piquet Jr. Piquet Jr. Renault R28 1:23.917 +1.654 +1,654 37

12. S. Bourdais Toro Rosso Toro Rosso STR2 1:23.920 +1.657 +1,657 49

13. K. Nakajima Williams FW30 1:23.955 +1.692 +1,692 36

14. R. Barrichello Honda RA108 1:24.125 +1.862 +1,862 41

15. A. Wurz Honda RA108 1:26.975 +4.712 +4,712 26

[Boudica 0]

Incidents for the rest of the day:

- Red Bull had some more technical problems.

- Both Renaults also suffered technical problems at the same time, which caused Alonso's testing day to end a bit earlier.

-Gary Paffett caused 3 red flags at the end of the day.

[HandyNZL 1]

Lewis clear at the top at Barcelona test

Friday, 01, February, 2008, 17:46

Lewis Hamilton continued to demonstrate the impressive speed of the new McLaren MP4-23 by comfortably setting the pace on the first day of the Barcelona test.

The British star outpaced former team-mate Fernando Alonso in the new Renault by a mighty six tenths of a second as the Woking squad concentrated on Bridgestone tyre evaluation work.

Looks like Alonso left that half second over at McLaren....does that constitute some form of spying/espionage having someone elses half second in your team?

[goferrarigo 0]

That is one interesting looking car. If it works i wonder how long it would take for the other teams to copy it.

Or when Red Bull realise it was stupid and remove it....

[David Adams 0]

Seems a reasonable idea to me, if it helps with rear instability. Should make the rear tyres last longer. Going on the laptimes yesterday it made little difference in actual pace of the car, if both cars were running the same fuel levels.

If only we could get a picture of the rear tyres of both cars after x laps :-)

[Boudica 0]

General news and bits:

- Ferrari will test all three days with Massa and Raikkonen in Bahrain.

- Tost is happy with STR's performance still driving the old car, in February (so either here or at the next test) they will get a new front suspension.

- Glock said they won't be running among the top five but at least mechanically the car is 'healthy'. Two windtunnels are running non-stop in Cologne and 300 men in Tokyo are constantly working on simulations to make the TF108 go faster.

- Vettel said in Valencia that Ferrari has the best mechanical grip. Massa said that in Jerez Ferrari was indeed going better over the kerbstones but that that was still little representative.

- RBR's problems regarding to the gearbox definately seem to be over. In the factory they've surpassed well over 3300 km with the new one and on track no problems with the mechanism have yet ocurred.

- Honda will only introduce their final aerodynamic package shortly before Melbourne, so expect this to be at the Barcelona test from the 25th till the 27 of February. The reason why they were so late with this year's car is that the 'error'-analysis of the old car took such a long time.

-----------

About the Barcelona test:

- Hamilton wasn't actually scheduled to test tomorrow but he asked the team if he could test instead of De La Rosa, who'll thus be working on the simulator in Woking instead.

- Yesterday Hamilton did 84 laps in total, 20 of them under the barrier of 1:24, and 17 of those under the barrier of 1:23. Alonso struggled a lot more going faster than 1:23, but he did setting his best time: 1:22.889.

- Alonso had to stop testing yesterday at 16:11 because his gearbox went bust. Both Renault drivers were concentrating on the balance of the R28 but Piquet also has a problem at one stage.

- The balance of the BMW Sauber already seems a bit better compared to last week's test.

- Nakajima went off with a speed of 305,9 km/h yesterday. Both drivers are on track again today but the part that caused Nakajima's crash has been strenghtened.

- They didn't say it but you could read from the faces of the Honda engineers they expected more of the new car. Both Barrichello and Wurz did little laps with the latter seeming to have infinite problems with the car.

- Fisichella: ''It's a time that also surprises me eventhough I have to admit it was set with little fuel on board.''

[Boudica 0]

Kovalainen is now in front 1:22.594 with 11 laps.

Maclaren has asked security to remove some posters above their pit boxes

[Boudica 0]

Times updated 12:25

1. Vettel 1:22.158 19

2. Bourdais 1:22.298 34

3. Hamilton 1:22.387 28

4. Kubica 1:22.833 26

5. Kovalainen 1:22.894 15

6. Alonso 1:23.001 41

7. Piquet 1:23.002 33

8. Webber 1:23.066 36

9. Heidfeld 1:23.107 26

10. Coulthard 1:23.322 33

11. Button 1:23.970 11

12. Liuzzi 1:24.650 27

13. Rosberg 1:28.076 6

[Sato 0]

I know it' only testing, but the RB4 is really starting to worry me, already.....

[Boudica 0]

Time last minute, Bourdais 1:22.0.

[la force supreme des mclaren 0]

Time last minute, Bourdais 1:22.0.

What?!

He must be doing short stints.............Go Sebastian!

[Boudica 0]

1. Vettel 1:21.679 31

2. Bourdais 1:21.782 42

3. Hamilton 1:22.387 46

4. Kovalainen 1:22.616 31

5. Kubica 1:22.833 46

6. Alonso 1:23.001 50

7. Piquet 1:23.002 49

8. Webber 1:23.020 64

9. Heidfeld 1:23.070 40

10. Coulthard 1:23.322 52

11. Rosberg 1:23.951 12

12. Button 1:23.970 21

13. Liuzzi 1:24.650 27

[la force supreme des mclaren 0]

STR's leading the Mclaren's at lunchtime....STR blindingly quick at Barcelona..............What's going on Boudica?

[Kati 0]

it's lunchtime, they'll b out again at around 14pm. (local time)