Jerez Test 7th-10th Feb 2012 - news and pics

[cokata]

well in the last 2 stints our first lap is the fastest.Does this mean that we no longer have tire heating issues

[Forza 27]

Note that this is only opinon of Technical Delegate. The final conformation comes from FiA ICA.

[Tony]

Pretty interesting that on that 10-12 lap run Massa set his fastest lap on the first run.... that should just reinforce that they're going according to their own programme and are not there simply for glory runs ;)

[Tony]

I know it was mentioned earlier.... but strange that they're still running that gurney flap on the top of the rear wing or are the support posts just lower on this year's wing?

[zeus2]

Massa's second run

1:20.549 (73)
1:36.427 (74)
1:20.706 (75)
1:20.994 (76)
1:21.566 (77)
1:24.801 (78)
1:21.886 (79)
1:22.594 (80)
1:21.999 (81)
1:22.030 (82)

Improvement but a little inconsistent.

[anialonso]

InsideFerrari immediately says "the stopwatch means nothing today."

Thats just says it all...

[f300v10]

I know it was mentioned earlier.... but strange that they're still running that gurney flap on the top of the rear wing or are the support posts just lower on this year's wing?

Agreed, can't figure why they would run a configuration that was rulled illegal last year and is pretty clearly in violation of the rules. Seems like a waste of valuable test time, but I am sure they have their reasons.

[anialonso]

Massa's second run

1:20.549 (73)
1:36.427 (74)
1:20.706 (75)
1:20.994 (76)
1:21.566 (77)
1:24.801 (78)
1:21.886 (79)
1:22.594 (80)
1:21.999 (81)
1:22.030 (82)

Improvement but a little inconsistent.

What tires was he on???

[Forza 27]

Scuderia Ferrari @InsideFerrari
This is the last run of the day. Felipe improved his lap time up to 1.20.454 but the stopwatch means relatively nothing today.

[Brakefade]

Any updates on our exhaust? Are they still having heating issues?

[Jose-Lorca Fan]

Agreed, can't figure why they would run a configuration that was rulled illegal last year and is pretty clearly in violation of the rules. Seems like a waste of valuable test time, but I am sure they have their reasons.

uhm, the height of the second plane is not restricted to the hight of the side supports on the rear wing. There is a a height limit for the whole ensemble. Meaning that the gurney flap if thats whats you want to call it respects the maximum height allowed whilst the rear wing side supports are of a height lower than the ensemble height allowance.
I hope i make sense.

[Hornet]

I know it was mentioned earlier.... but strange that they're still running that gurney flap on the top of the rear wing or are the support posts just lower on this year's wing?

The rules says that the edge should be no higher than 950mm above the reference plane (lowest point of the car). But its not relative to the side structure of the rear wing.

This is just a guess, but perhaps if the side structure is lower than that height limit, it may allow the wing element to extend above it, giving an illusion like its higher than it should be. Just a guess anyway, but I'm sure the FIA made it clear no any part of the wing can extend beyond the limit.

[zeus2]

What tires was he on???

Apparently on softs according to amus.

[Super M]

FASTEST TIMES

Pos Driver Team Time Laps
1 Schumacher Mercedes 1m18.561s 132
2 Webber Red Bull 1m19.184s +0.623 97
3 Ricciardo Toro Rosso 1m19.587s +1.026 100
4 Bianchi Force India 1m20.221s +1.660 46
5 Raikkonen Lotus 1m20.239s +1.678 117
6 Di Resta Force India 1m20.272s +1.711 69
7 Massa Ferrari 1m20.454s +1.893 95
8 Button McLaren 1m20.688s +2.127 85
9 Perez Sauber 1m20.711s +2.150 67
10 Maldonado Williams 1m21.197s +2.636 97
11 Kovalainen Caterham 1m21.518s +2.957 139
12 De la Rosa HRT 1m22.128s +3.567 64

All timing unofficial. Updated: 16:03 GMT


And day 2 is over....

[F2002]

FASTEST TIMES

Pos Driver Team Time Laps
1 Schumacher Mercedes 1m18.561s 132
2 Webber Red Bull 1m19.184s +0.623 97
3 Ricciardo Toro Rosso 1m19.587s +1.026 100
4 Bianchi Force India 1m20.221s +1.660 46
5 Raikkonen Lotus 1m20.239s +1.678 117
6 Di Resta Force India 1m20.272s +1.711 69
7 Massa Ferrari 1m20.454s +1.893 95
8 Button McLaren 1m20.688s +2.127 85
9 Perez Sauber 1m20.711s +2.150 67
10 Maldonado Williams 1m21.197s +2.636 97
11 Kovalainen Caterham 1m21.518s +2.957 139
12 De la Rosa HRT 1m22.128s +3.567 64

All timing unofficial. Updated: 16:03 GMT


And day 2 is over....

Technical question - with the rule changes, are the 2012 cars expected to be quicker, or slower, than their 2011 counterparts ?

[Jose-Lorca Fan]

Technical question - with the rule changes, are the 2012 cars expected to be quicker, or slower, than their 2011 counterparts ?

Definately slower due to the loss of downforce from the EBD and off throttle blowing.

[medeni73]

[NJB13]

Technical question - with the rule changes, are the 2012 cars expected to be quicker, or slower, than their 2011 counterparts ?

No EBD and Extreme overrun will make them slower. Teams have to make that up. Pirelli have signaled more changes but we really don't know how this will effect time. The fact that the F2004 still holds multiple track records probably show that they tend to take away more than gets made back up each year.

[Greig]

Are McLaren fans in such a panic as some on here are?

[Kyss4k]

Definately slower due to the loss of downforce from the EBD and off throttle blowing.

No so true. Teams are already claiming that they have managed to get part of it back. And with better KERS, DRS, little more powerfull engines (even when these are frozen) and other things the cars could be as fast as 2011 cars maybe even faster. (There are rumors that Ferrari already gained more downforce than they lost with the EBD ban)

[Brakefade]

Are McLaren fans in such a panic as some on here are?

Mclaren fans seem to think every part of our car is illegal.

[Butterfly]

Mclaren fans seem to think every part of our car is illegal.

Do they, now.

[Hombre B]

DRS:

[Rob]

No EBD and Extreme overrun will make them slower. Teams have to make that up. Pirelli have signaled more changes but we really don't know how this will effect time. The fact that the F2004 still holds multiple track records probably show that they tend to take away more than gets made back up each year.

with the shorter exhaust, there will be a little bit more power coming from the engine. So, id say be bit quicker in straight line.

[Hornet]

Seeing that picture reminds me of the flexing front wing.

Somehow it hasn't been mentioned yet. I'm guessing no one is using any flexing front wing.

[Axelsson]

willbuxton Will Buxton

Just been out on track. Great to see the cars at full tilt... here's what I thought.

The Red Bull and McLaren look great. Almost on rails. The Force India, too, looks bolted and assured.

Felipe is pushing the F2012 hard. Locking up almost every lap at Turn 2 on his last few runs.

The Caterham seems to be handling quite well, but it sounded like Heikki wasn't getting on the gas as early as the others out of corners.

Oh yes and the Lotus... well, Kimi just looks serene in it. Well planted, responsive. Looks like a great car, and a driver enjoying himself.

[Hombre B]

Twitter:

Massa keeping enthusiasm for Ferrari well under control, stressing amount of work to be done on "very, very different" car

[medeni73]

joseluisf1 reports:
"Massa has tested the system output in one of his turns, the results were not good, a new clutch is on its way to test"
"Hirohide Hamashima has enough data to analyze, but has requested further evidence, then report to Pat Fry"
"Heal and other engineers are awaiting the recommendations of Hirohide Hamashima to make modifications to the suspensions"
"The aim is that in Maranello modified suspensions are without fault in the following test, given its importance in performance"
"We need to improve traction. Tire warming is slower than it should, if he is forced, the tires are short"
"Alonso will continue tomorrow with tire testing requested by Hirohide Hamashima, then test some more aerodynamic parts"
"Handling also needs some minor adjustments. In principle, nothing more or less not wait, there is much work"

so again if its true our guys are having some problems but its normal for such a extreme new car and parts, they working on it now and I'm sure it will be all ironed out till Australia...and dont forget how McLaren managed to solve much extreme problems with their car last year in much shorter time and to be better than us...

[Kyss4k]

Now that's a little bit worrying but there is still a lot of time to sove these issues...

[Nova]

willbuxton Will Buxton

Just been out on track. Great to see the cars at full tilt... here's what I thought.

The Red Bull and McLaren look great. Almost on rails. The Force India, too, looks bolted and assured.

Felipe is pushing the F2012 hard. Locking up almost every lap at Turn 2 on his last few runs.

The Caterham seems to be handling quite well, but it sounded like Heikki wasn't getting on the gas as early as the others out of corners.

Oh yes and the Lotus... well, Kimi just looks serene in it. Well planted, responsive. Looks like a great car, and a driver enjoying himself.