First Barcelona Test 21st-24th Feb 2012 - news and pics

[Naeem]

I think ferrari could look into this for some amazing PR.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature...&v=MejbOFk7H6c

[f300v10]

yeah, i was thinking that, but apparently Ferrari only ran prototype floors in Barcelona, so we may see the exhausts back to the brake ducts, but a little more refined. i assume that that is where they want to blow, but only when they have it right.
so maybe the beam wing solution is just a stopgap until they get their brake duct solution working. or they will change the body. but i think there may just be a considerable change in the car from now until Barca 2, because if felipe said nothing has changed on the car, and they have been testing soooo many bits, imagine what would change when they come out and say they got an upgrade!

I expect we may have seen the last of the brake duct blowing as I believe that was a major cause of the handling issues. Next week I hope to see more inboard exhausts and revised if not removed side pod chimneys. Not that looks count for anything on an F1 car, but to me the current chimneys have always looked 'wrong'. Ferrari tried something radical there and it doesn't appear to have payed off.

[Ferrari2183]

If they get blowing the brake ducts right in conjunction with the exhaust chamber then they will be well on their way. Scarbs did say that blowing the ducts will produce more downforce because the rear wheel is not sprung to the car but it could cause instability under braking etc.

If Ferrari can maximise the effect of exhaust chamber then the handling issues associated with blowing the ducts will be a thing of the past.

They may be going for a stop gap solution at present by blowing the beam wing.

[scuderiafan]

If they get blowing the brake ducts right in conjunction with the exhaust chamber then they will be well on their way. Scarbs did say that blowing the ducts will produce more downforce because the rear wheel is not sprung to the car but it could cause instability under braking etc.

If Ferrari can maximise the effect of exhaust chamber then the handling issues associated with blowing the ducts will be a thing of the past.

They may be going for a stop gap solution at present by blowing the beam wing.

that is what i am thinking also. they said they were exploring different options, but if they get their own solution to work, i bet it will be better for them than to have a RB8 style solution.

[Kyss4k]

I expect we may have seen the last of the brake duct blowing as I believe that was a major cause of the handling issues. Next week I hope to see more inboard exhausts and revised if not removed side pod chimneys. Not that looks count for anything on an F1 car, but to me the current chimneys have always looked 'wrong'. Ferrari tried something radical there and it doesn't appear to have payed off.

These "chimneys" are for me the best looking thing on the F2012. I would be kinda disapointed if they would scrap them.

[Nisko]

Great video

[Nisko]

and aanother video

[Honzus]

WOW, beautiful power slide at 0:44. Result - two rubber tracks on road, love it!

[SilverSpeed]

Man fonzo needs to do something about his straight caps lol.

[type056]

Felipe Massa is not thinking about what might happen to his future in Formula One if he fails to perform this year.

Massa has struggled to match team-mate Fernando Alonso's pace since the Spaniard joined Ferrari two years ago and he has not won a race since 2008. Earlier this month Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo warned his driver that he "has to do something great, and something special, after a non-positive season".

But when it was put to Massa that this could be a make or break year, he responded: "To be honest I don't care. I start the season in the best way I can to be competitive and do the best I can inside the car and go outside of the car happy with myself.

"To be honest I never drive thinking about my future. I always drive thinking about the best result and thinking about the most important thing which is what I can do on the track. I think when you drive thinking about something else you cannot do your job. So I don't care to be honest."

But when Massa was asked if he could rediscover the form that saw him challenge for the title in 2008, he said it was too early to tell.

"I hope. I think on the test it is very difficult to say. You only know how good the car is when you get to Australia and take part in qualifying and then you're pretty sure how good your car is. We are working to have the best car to fight for the wins and the championship, like we did in 2008.

"I hope we can be like that, but until the first race it is very difficult to know. Last year we were leading many days of testing and then we arrived at the first race and the first qualifying and we were more than a second off. It's really very difficult to say, we wait to Australia and then we will know."

http://en.espnf1.com/ferrari/motorsp...ml?CMP=OTC-RSS

[OSS EL BOSS]

[Scuderia85]

Great video

[M.K]

.

Thanks for sharing

That hand shaking after interviews and few other things seemed little bit weird though.

[dfunk257]

Did any1 count how many times they mentioned Ferrari?
What a joke!

[Jose Lorca]

joseluisf1:

• In Maranello they are aware of the importance that the pieces they will take to the next test work as expected
• Apparently Jonathan Heal, would be in production helping Corrado Lanzone
• Found the way, have to make adequate basic parts. If they work, there is time to manufacture more and put them on in Melbourne
• Jonathan Heal is not only an expert in suspensions, also is specialised in composite materials, including the 'advanced'
• (in response to someone:) "Melbourne victory is unlikely at this moment. They need more time for a big update"
• The main objective of Ferrari now is to generate more downforce at the exit of the corners to improve traction and tyre management
• It was improved last Friday in the test, but you have to earn more, at least 4 or 5 aerodynamic points to be competitive
• The braking stability seems more easy to achieve, the problem is to accelerate the exit of the corners, there is not enough aero load

Also we're doing filming days on Feb 28th and 29th

[FerrariF60]

Did any1 count how many times they mentioned Ferrari?
What a joke!

don't worry mate, it's only testing, hence no need for Ferrari to show their true speed....let them all flap their gums about Mclosers and Red Fools all they want now, however i have a feeling that they will be mentioning Ferrari about a gillion times once we show in OZ and we'll take POLE!!!!

[dfunk257]

don't worry mate, it's only testing, hence no need for Ferrari to show their true speed....let them all flap their gums about Mclosers and Red Fools all they want now, however i have a feeling that they will be mentioning Ferrari about a gillion times once we show in OZ and we'll take POLE!!!!

Not if you believe joseluisf1 in the previous post: "(in response to someone:) "Melbourne victory is unlikely at this moment. They need more time for a big update"

I really dont like this comment but should we believe anything this guy says?

Ill only believe what Ferrari actually say, we wont really know anything untill Q3 Melbourne. BRING IT!!

[FerrariF60]

Not if you believe joseluisf1 in the previous post: "(in response to someone:) "Melbourne victory is unlikely at this moment. They need more time for a big update"

I really dont like this comment but should we believe anything this guy says?

Ill only believe what Ferrari actually say, we wont really know anything untill Q3 Melbourne. BRING IT!!

i have a hard time to believe anything he says; for all we know, he could be someone like us making up stories really...
like MOST of us were saying on here in regards to HIS (joseasslous) comments or roumours, they need to be taken with a pinch of salt...if he really knew stuff, valuable info about waht or how Ferrari are doing, it should be a discrase to him for posting it or twitting it because EVERYONE can see these things..

so al in all....I DONT' BELIEVE A WORD HE SAYS...

we'll all know where we are come Q3 in OZ....and i have faith in our 300+ engineers doing their very best to put us at teh VERY FRONT....which is P1

[dfunk257]

I think ferrari could look into this for some amazing PR.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature...&v=MejbOFk7H6c

Thats is unbelievable! Awesome idea and video, thank u for sharing

[Jose Lorca]

He's been correct on far too many occasions for me to believe that he's making things up, but the comment about a Ferrari victory in Melbourne being unlikely is just his opinion. I agree with Jose Luis, but I'm confident we'll be on the podium in Melbourne - and go on to win the championship.


Anyway, here are some "expert" opinions of where everyone is at the moment:

You won't like reading this...

[chandran2313]

Thats nice of you to post that link. I hope you can do that every time you have one. I think this time skynews will do a better job than bbc.

Cheers

[Fer12]

He's been correct on far too many occasions for me to believe that he's making things up, but the comment about a Ferrari victory in Melbourne being unlikely is just his opinion. I agree with Jose Luis, but I'm confident we'll be on the podium in Melbourne - and go on to win the championship.


Anyway, here are some "expert" opinions of where everyone is at the moment:

You won't like reading this...

Aren they the same bunch of ppl who said that ferrari would take the fight to Red bull n Mclaren wold be battlin with HRT previous season...
When the ppl who designed the cars dont no wats happenin how on earth can the media monkeys make such bold claims...

[FerrariF60]

Aren they the same bunch of ppl who said that ferrari would take the fight to Red bull n Mclaren wold be battlin with HRT previous season...
When the ppl who designed the cars dont no wats happenin how on earth can the media monkeys make such bold claims...

exactly my point; i hope Ferrari "quietly" know what they're doing and show up with a car in OZ that much faster then what these critics are saying at present time and we'll see how they're gonna swallow their bad assumptions about OUR team.

forza Ferrari

[Liscia]

As is said "the proof is in the pudding" and it will be served in Melbourne. Let's live in
hope and the knowledge that our team is doing all it can to be ready.

[Ferrari2183]

I think it is unreasonable to expect Ferrari to be on the pace come Melbourne. They need time which they don't have.

[Gerhard Berger]

That might be true, it may take up until the 3rd or 5th race before we are up to speed, but unfortunately by then you are already chasing the championship and things become very difficult. Recent history has shown us that whoever is fastest in the first race, almost always wins the championship.

[FrankAlfa]

@ Ferrari2183,

Just the opposite, I think it is "Totally Reasonable" for Ferrari to be on pace at Melbourne! This is the Ferrari Team we are talking about! Ferrari know what work they must do for their car to perform the way THEY want it to perform but that does not mean that they are not as good or better than the Red Bull and McLaren at this stage! No one knows the actual pace of any of the cars. Like last year, testing results are always a very unknown question. Only at Melbourne qualifying and the race will the truer picture be in focus. Right now Ferrari are developing their race car very rapidly and new parts are on the way. They could very well be the fastest car at Melbourne!

Ciao.

Forza Ferrari!!!!

[Sempre_Ferrari]

@ Ferrari2183,

Just the opposite, I think it is "Totally Reasonable" for Ferrari to be on pace at Melbourne! This is the Ferrari Team we are talking about! Ferrari know what work they must do for their car to perform the way THEY want it to perform but that does not mean that they are not as good or better than the Red Bull and McLaren at this stage! No one knows the actual pace of any of the cars. Like last year, testing results are always a very unknown question. Only at Melbourne qualifying and the race will the truer picture be in focus. Right now Ferrari are developing their race car very rapidly and new parts are on the way. They could very well be the fastest car at Melbourne!

Ciao.

Forza Ferrari!!!!

I agree...fact is we just don't know and speculation could go eoither way really cause that's all everything is atm...speculation.

[scuderiafan]

Aren they the same bunch of ppl who said that ferrari would take the fight to Red bull n Mclaren wold be battlin with HRT previous season...
When the ppl who designed the cars dont no wats happenin how on earth can the media monkeys make such bold claims...

Blick.

so Ferrari are in worse shape than a team that just missed 4 days running??? oh, this is too much

[Ferrari2183]

That might be true, it may take up until the 3rd or 5th race before we are up to speed, but unfortunately by then you are already chasing the championship and things become very difficult. Recent history has shown us that whoever is fastest in the first race, almost always wins the championship.

Well, it is what it is at this stage.

@Frank

I honestly hope Ferrari show up with the fastest car. But that's just it, it's hope not confidence.