Testing Barcelona 2011

**RockyRaccoon** · 20th February 2011, 00:55

I have to admit guys I was feeling pretty beaten with Red Bulls pace but this test I'm starting to feel confident! I hope I won't be disappointed but this is Barcelone, we were rubbish here last year and we look good. Tyre management will be more crucial than outright pace imo, even if the Bulls are faster over a single lap I think we can be faster over a stint. Can't wait for the season to start now!

**Sempre_Ferrari** · 20th February 2011, 08:22

and day 3 gets under way......

**Sempre_Ferrari** · 20th February 2011, 08:39

Massa not out yet, only 2 installation laps so far

....I would think we need all the wet running we can get at this point

**NJB13** · 20th February 2011, 08:39

Originally Posted by Sempre_Ferrari

and day 3 gets under way......

... and it's in the wet

**Sempre_Ferrari** · 20th February 2011, 08:52

Originally Posted by NJB13

... and it's in the wet

a perfect opportunity to test the wets and intermediates which we don't seem to be doing at the moment. Strange, as Ferrari have been among the first to go out in these tests so far..

**Sempre_Ferrari** · 20th February 2011, 08:53

Maldonaldo pushing hard.....0.393 behind Webber but maybe pushing a little to hard as he spun off into the gravel

**NJB13** · 20th February 2011, 09:10

I posted this in the Bahrain thread but I guess everyone will be staying here for a while ...

Breaking news on Bahrain - Bernie Ecclestone has just announced he will leave the decision on whether to run the Bahrain GP to the countries crown Prince

**Sempre_Ferrari** · 20th February 2011, 09:16

vey diplomatic of Bernie....lol.

09:08 Massa's improvements continue and he's now on top of the order after clocking a 1m42.425s.
09:15 Massa shaves a bit more off the leading time, now a 1m42.080s.

looking good so far

**Sempre_Ferrari** · 20th February 2011, 09:19

Massa now on a 1:41.862

**Sempre_Ferrari** · 20th February 2011, 09:20

and down to a 1:41.375...going quicker and quicker....wonder what setup he's runniing

**Rob** · 20th February 2011, 09:22

thats good so far. At least they getting good data on the Pirelli wet tyres

is Felipe on long runs atmo?

**NJB13** · 20th February 2011, 09:24

BBC F1 Blog

**Rob** · 20th February 2011, 09:24

Renault has a plan, via @officalLRGP: "Today's plan is for a race distance, broken down into several stints. We will also do set-up work and tyre data collection in the afternoon."

09:22 Massa is back in the pits again and now gets pushed back into the Ferrari garage.

09:20 Rosberg is closing on Sutil for track position as the pair of Germans circulate.

09:20 The Ferrari driver is in the pits now but blasts past his mechanics, heading down to make a practice start on the way out of the pitlane.

09:18 Glock pits the Virgin, while the improving track keeps yielding faster time for Massa, who is now on a 1m41.862s.

09:17 Some work in progress on Webber's Red Bull - it's up on stands in the garage with the engine cover off.

09:15 Rosberg is also up the order to fifth quickest after clocking 1m44.319s.

09:15 Massa shaves a bit more off the leading time, now a 1m42.080s.

**Forzi** · 20th February 2011, 09:25

Felipe just finished a 10 lap stint
4 1:43.525
5 1:42.797 -0.728
6 1:43.222 +0.425
7 1:42.425 -0.797
8 1:42.407 -0.018
9 1:42.245 -0.162
10 1:42.327 +0.082
11 1:42.080 -0.247
12 1:41.862 -0.218
13 1:41.375 -0.487
14 ----

Guess the tracks conditions are getting better and better.

**Hornet** · 20th February 2011, 09:26

Althought I wanted to believe that it shows our car has lots of technical downforce

Yep, the rain stopped, and its drying up now.

**Forzi** · 20th February 2011, 09:29

Ricciardo times shows the same improvements in time:
11 1:47.988 +3.127
12 1:47.541 -0.447
13 1:46.985 -0.556
14 1:45.633 -1.352
15 1:46.279 +0.646
16 1:45.739 -0.54

**Sempre_Ferrari** · 20th February 2011, 10:38

10:37 Looks like he spun on the approach to Turn 5. Computer says no oil down.

10:36 It's the Ferrari of current pacesetter Felipe Massa.

10:36 Hamilton, Sutil and Webber all safely back, still looking to see who caused the problem.

10:35 Maybe not, as a red flag interrupts McLaren's run.

10:35 The session has been stopped.

**Sempre_Ferrari** · 20th February 2011, 10:42

10:38 Looks like he might have lost it on the exit of Turn 4, spun back across the road and the thin strip of grass, then come to a halt just into the gravel trap, nowhere near the wall.

phew...no or limited damage

**Curbs** · 20th February 2011, 11:12

Massa spins again....

**scuderiafan** · 20th February 2011, 11:12

11:11 The Ferrari is stopped sideways on the grass and edge of the track on the outside of Turn 7.

11:10 Another red flag, and it's the same cause as last time: Massa has spun.

11:10 The session has been stopped.

Looks like he may be pushing the car too much.

'Calm down, Felipe Baby!'

**Curbs** · 20th February 2011, 11:17

He´s pulling every trick he knows, limiting the McCheeters tracktime to a minimum

**Ste** · 20th February 2011, 11:22

Originally Posted by Curbs

He´s pulling every trick he knows, limiting the McCheeters tracktime to a minimum

McLaren have had yet another failure anyway. Lewis is in the garage and it'll take at least a couple of hours to fix.

**Curbs** · 20th February 2011, 11:25

I hope they really have been to agressive in their approach. So they will have to play catch up the whole second half of the season.

**bobi_ve** · 20th February 2011, 11:27

12:09 New red flag
12:10 Massa is still in the gravel at Turn 8.
12:20 Green Flag

History of incidents:

1 Maldonado Williams 09h49 - 09h56
2 Perez Sauber 11h00 - 11h13
3 Massa Ferrari 11h37 - 11h45
4 Massa Ferrari 12h09 - 12h20

**NJB13** · 20th February 2011, 11:35

11:33 Despite suggestions that McLaren would be off-track until after lunch, Hamilton is leaving the pits now.

**scuderiafan** · 20th February 2011, 11:52

11:50 Ricciardo goes 5.4s clear of the rest with a 1m29.775s.

11:49 Ricciardo is flying, now on a 1m31.133s. We're certain he's on intermediates.

11:48 From what we can make out from our vantage point, everyone on track is still using intermediates. It still seems too wet to risk slicks.

11:47 Now Massa takes second with 1m35.212s, 2.7s behind Ricciardo.

11:47 Quicker again from Ricciardo on the next lap, he does a 1m32.465s.

11:45 Now Ricciardo goes fastest with a 1m33.640s, 1.8s ahead of Hamilton.

11:44 Ricciardo goes to second, 0.219s behind Hamilton with a 1m35.723s.

McLaren joy is shortlived

**scuderiafan** · 20th February 2011, 13:20

13:17 Massa heads out in his Ferrari and is joined by Hamilton in the McLaren, who set the current benchmark just before lunch began.

Do you think we will se a race simulation today from Felipe?

**Sempre_Ferrari** · 20th February 2011, 13:23

Originally Posted by scuderiafan

Do you think we will se a race simulation today from Felipe?

anyones guess reallly....could depend on a lot of things like track condition, weather and what their test schedule is for today but I would think it likely that they do.