2012 Abu Dhabi GP: Friday & Saturday Practice Sessions Thread

[Schumyboy83]

Quote Pat Fry in Press Conference:
"There are a few new developments on the car ... we worked through our programme this morning and this afternoon, looking promising but we need to analyse all data as normal before we decide what to run for tomorrow"

[blaney1977]

Quote Pat Fry in Press Conference:
"There are a few new developments on the car ... we worked through our programme this morning and this afternoon, looking promising but we need to analyse all data as normal before we decide what to run for tomorrow"

I think there was a lot of testing done today, a lot of combinations of new parts tried, fp3 will tell us where we stack up so I'm waiting to see then.

[Schumyboy83]

I think there was a lot of testing done today, a lot of combinations of new parts tried, fp3 will tell us where we stack up so I'm waiting to see then.

Agree, All is not lost, Our race pace is much better normally over the weekend, Time will tell..

[EL_NANDO]

Today clearly has conflicting evidence, in terms of the timesheets we aren't that high up, however clearly we have been running lots of aero tests. Ted Kravitz reported our updates didn't work and we are unhappy, Andrew Benson reported they did work and we are happy. Pat Fry sounds optimistic which is good, but really we won't know anything about our qualifying pace until qualifying... Our race pace still looked good so even if we qualify 5th we could still be in the hunt for another podium.

My prediction: Likely we may have improved very slightly, but not enough to be ahead of RB, and might now be behind McLaren. I think P3 on Saturday at this stage.

[anuragiyer8989]

Bye bye WDC 2012!!(alonso is the one who is suffering..)
one thing we have consistent every weekend is that we have inconsistent upgrades!!!!!
sorry to say these things here...but this is frustration!!!
i mean 1 sec off...that is too much..

+1

[scuderia_nano]

To be honest. It still looks like We will struggle in Quali but Our upgrades might just help us overtake Vettel and Webber on the track. I tthink its a fundamental issue with Quali that Ferrari is struggling with and wont get over this year.
Just a 2ND Row start means we can win the race.
Meanwhile VETTEL IS due "being taken out of the race for no fault of his own" by another driver. Maybe Lewis or Button even.

[scuderia_nano]

Sebastian Vettel: "I think we can be happy with today. Overall we got a good lap on the soft tyres, but in general pace the McLaren's were quick and seem competitive, so they're the ones we need to look out for and beat. We need to improve the car overnight to qualify as high as we can tomorrow."

[Tifoso84]

To be honest. It still looks like We will struggle in Quali but Our upgrades might just help us overtake Vettel and Webber on the track. I tthink its a fundamental issue with Quali that Ferrari is struggling with and wont get over this year.
Just a 2ND Row start means we can win the race.
Meanwhile VETTEL IS due "being taken out of the race for no fault of his own" by another driver. Maybe Lewis or Button even.

Overtaking will be very difficult on this track, as the race in 2010 proved. Even with the DRS it's still going to be very hard to overtake, unless the car in front is like 10km/h slower on the straight. Qualifying is going to be key tomorrow. We must squeeze everything out of our car in quali, in order to get into 2nd row at least, otherwise it'll be very difficult (if not impossible) to catch finger boy on Sunday. Hopefully our team will find some good solutions for tomorrow.

[stefa]

I don't know... I refuse to believe this is it. The end of the line for us as far as WDC is concern... Key to keep hope alive is to qualify no further than 4th starting place. We'll see tomorrow after FP3

[Rob]

Alonso: Better conditions tomorrow11.2.2012

Fernando Alonso: “The day just ended was a Friday like any other, during which we got through everything on our programme. The morning session was dedicated to a comparison of various aerodynamic solutions, while in the afternoon, we concentrated on the tyres. Between the first and second sessions, the track changed a lot, which to be honest was predictable, because there aren’t many races here over the weekend: at the start, it seemed very dirty but then it improved a lot and tomorrow, it will definitely be even better.”

Massa: Programme completed11.2.2012

Felipe Massa: “We got through everything on our job list, which is always a good thing, both in the first and second free practice sessions. We tested the tyres in the usual way – first on a low fuel load and then with a lot more - to evaluate them over a long run. From what we could see, over a long run we are reasonably competitive, but less so on a single flying lap. Sure, it would be better if we were a bit quicker, but we will see what the situation is when it really matters, which means to say tomorrow afternoon in qualifying.”

Fry: New Parts11.2.2012

Pat Fry: “We are pushing as hard as we can to bring updates to every race. Some of the ones we introduced here seem to be positive, but we must carefully evaluate their performance and then decide which to use in qualifying and the race. Felipe’s long run didn’t seem too bad, but clearly we have to improve our performance over a single lap if we want to start from the front row of the grid.”

[Rob]

Well, got FFP sessions to watch bit later. But as usual by looking at posts there isnt alot of point.

What is getting consistant is the doom and gloom on here every Friday Practice sessions. The team have aero parts to compare and test. Not going to be pushing for times, we have our programmes and other teams have theirs, let them get on with it, and get glory times. I have faith in the team and i dont care they dont top the times on a Friday.

Forza Ferrari

[wisepie]

Well, got FFP sessions to watch bit later. But as usual by looking at posts there isnt alot of point.

What is getting consistant is the doom and gloom on here every Friday Practice sessions. The team have aero parts to compare and test. Not going to be pushing for times, we have our programmes and other teams have theirs, let them get on with it, and get glory times. I have faith in the team and i dont care they dont top the times on a Friday.

Forza Ferrari

Good point and let them get on with it, they're only doing what they need to do to try to improve for quali AND the race. This doom and gloom on a Friday gets depressing and gets us all wound up, so leave it until after quali tomorrow before criticising and playing down our chances.

[Ken]

Well, got FFP sessions to watch bit later. But as usual by looking at posts there isnt alot of point.

What is getting consistant is the doom and gloom on here every Friday Practice sessions. The team have aero parts to compare and test. Not going to be pushing for times, we have our programmes and other teams have theirs, let them get on with it, and get glory times. I have faith in the team and i dont care they dont top the times on a Friday.

Forza Ferrari

Here here, lets wait and see

[SoumyaBanerjee]

Ferrari appear to be simply chucking in parts for the heck of it without any long-term planning. They seem to lack any idea whatsoever as to how to find the correct combination of upgrades which would extract the most out of the car's setup. I had known that Abu Dhabi would be the toughest race for the team,given the layout,but the gap in qualifying spec is unbelievably large. Once again,its unlikely that FA will make it to the first 2 rows,and Lotus are probably quicker than us as well,especially in quali trim. So a P5-P7 for FA and P8-10 for FM are to be expected....

[ferrari4life]

Well, got FFP sessions to watch bit later. But as usual by looking at posts there isnt alot of point.

What is getting consistant is the doom and gloom on here every Friday Practice sessions. The team have aero parts to compare and test. Not going to be pushing for times, we have our programmes and other teams have theirs, let them get on with it, and get glory times. I have faith in the team and i dont care they dont top the times on a Friday.

Forza Ferrari

So this year so far.. how many times have they surprised during quali when they have been slow on friday?

[Rob]

So this year so far.. how many times have they surprised during quali when they have been slow on friday?

If we front row, pole P18 i dont really care, as long as team and drivers give 120% over the weekend and at the factory. Yeah i want pole and wins, but understand the bigger picture.

[scuderia_nano]

Overtaking will be very difficult on this track, as the race in 2010 proved. Even with the DRS it's still going to be very hard to overtake, unless the car in front is like 10km/h slower on the straight. Qualifying is going to be key tomorrow. We must squeeze everything out of our car in quali, in order to get into 2nd row at least, otherwise it'll be very difficult (if not impossible) to catch finger boy on Sunday. Hopefully our team will find some good solutions for tomorrow.

Fernando said DRS n KERS has made it different from 2010 and overtaking is possible

[Smintlemon]

hi guy's, i've been reading all your very good and interesting messages. but i have to say that this formula1 is gone to be a cheaters competition. the more money you dump for your aero monkeys, the more you will win!

[paolo lalli]

Its going to be tough there comes a time when relying on the red bull to fail is just not good enough. I feel nandos frustration he is the best f1 driver in the paddock he has driven the off that f 2012 and to be where he is takes talent other drivers on the grid would have thrown the towel in long long ago. How would seb have handled it we know from experiance he can spit the dummy very easily and start whinging so does lewis fernando needs fairydust and lots of it i hope he gets it with his talent he can win . On the other hand ferrari needs a good shake up from design to aero this has been a pain for to long know they have to exept that they have been beaten and beaten well over the past four races . Fernando knows deep inside week in week out that its going to be tough the prancing horse needs to start prancing on the f1 track and not just the road good luck forza ferrari

[Tifoso84]

I can't believe that I'm actually hoping for Maccas to lock out front row tomorrow, in case our guys can't do it.
If Maccas would be 1st and 2nd in quali then that would mean that finger boy would have to start from 3rd or even 4th position, and if Fernando could at least get a 5th position, then he would be very close to finger boy at the start. The downside of Maccas starting from front row, is that if they would win the race then Ferrari would lose 2nd place in WCC, but I think that Nando starting closer to finger boy would be more important than Ferrari trying to hold on to 2nd place in WCC. It would be absolutely perfect if we could manage to do both of those things, but it all depends on our own pace in quali. But yea it's true that, for the first time in my life I'm hoping for Macca front row, if every other plan fails tomorrow. But first and foremost, I'm of course hoping on our own good quali pace, which hopefully will reveal itself tomorrow.

[Ferrari Man]

I can't believe that I'm actually hoping for Maccas to lock out front row tomorrow, in case our guys can't do it.
If Maccas would be 1st and 2nd in quali then that would mean that finger boy would have to start from 3rd or even 4th position, and if Fernando could at least get a 5th position, then he would be very close to finger boy at the start. The downside of Maccas starting from front row, is that if they would win the race then Ferrari would lose 2nd place in WCC, but I think that Nando starting closer to finger boy would be more important than Ferrari trying to hold on to 2nd place in WCC. It would be absolutely perfect if we could manage to do both of those things, but it all depends on our own pace in quali. But yea it's true that, for the first time in my life I'm hoping for Macca front row, if every other plan fails tomorrow. But first and foremost, I'm of course hoping on our own good quali pace, which hopefully will reveal itself tomorrow.

I m with you on this one but i just know RB will pull a half second out of nowhere come quali tomo. Alonso needs to be third and jump at least one car at the start so as to have a clean run at vettel. Cos if vettel gets away with possibly webber ridin shot gun then its a vettel race win bar any car failure...

[Rob]

Another Red Bull sparking along the ground at the front of the floor.

Just watching FFP2, and seeing Wenners car spark, that is no way something broke and stuck underneath the floor. The sparking looks to be coming from not the front edge of the floor, but a little bit further back, not much.

(can not find any pictures of it sparking from today or last weekend in the race )

[Rob]

I now may have said earlier today while FFP was on. But im now watching it, yet again 1 pitstop being predicted. At least they maybe able to push abit more.

Should of bought the super softs.

[anialonso]

Alonso almost lost 0.6sec in the last sector itself so that has been the Ferrari problem and if they have no brought anyy updates to improve the traction then we are definitely going to struggle here..
More that Kimi said he could still find further 0.4sec laptime which would easily put the Lotus ahead of Ferrari.

[anialonso]

Just looking at the speed traps::


5 5 Fernando Alonso 18:12:28 319.8
6 6 Felipe Massa 17:55:50 319.6
21 4 Lewis Hamilton 17:20:37 314.1
22 3 Jenson Button 17:08:05 314.0
23 2 Mark Webber 17:31:08 311.9
24 1 Sebastian Vettel 17:10:45 311.4

Its seems quite clear that Ferrari are running much less RW on their car than RB or Mclaren..wouldn't it be better to put more RW to give more stable car through the last sector.

[Ste]

I think we should add some wing too. Reduce the straight line speed to 315 and benefit from the extra grip.

[Hornet]

IMO, if Ferrari problem is getting the tires up to temperature (hence bad qualifying and slow opening laps in race) maybe they don't want to put too much wing which will hinder overtaking. We know we are not getting front row, we know we have to fight for position tomorrow, so perhaps we have to consider overtaking.

Its impossible to overtake anywhere else on this track, so the straight is the only chance. We saw in India, Kimi was not able to pass Massa despite using DRS because the Lotus is lacking in straight line speed. Massa didn't even have to defend, no straight line speed means no overtaking.

[anialonso]

Abu Dhabi GP: Ferrari breaks curfew for second night running

Ferrari broke the second of its curfew exceptions on Saturday morning as the team continued its flat-out effort to get Fernando Alonso back to the top of the Formula 1 World Championship.

The team is attempting to improve the performance of its F2012 car in time for Abu Dhabi Grand Prix qualifying, and has introduced a series of updates for this weekend.

For the second night in a row, team personnel were working at the track during the curfew hours.

A statement issued by F1 technical delegate Jo Bauer said that Ferrari personnel associated with the working of the car were within the confines of the circuit during the curfew hours of 5am and 11am.

Ferrari sporting director Massimo Rivola had said on Friday night that the early indications from practice suggested that the team was in good shape on race pace, but needed to push hard to extract all the performance it could for qualifying.

"I think there is still a long night for our engineers to set up the car properly," he told the official Ferrari website.

"Not everything was right because when you start doing some changes on the car and you test something new you need to spend more time aero testing, rather than proper set-up.

"So we are confident on Saturday to close the gap and I am very confident for the race.

"Can we win? This is not what it seems today but there is reliability, which is an important factor and we will see."

"We are just flat out and pushing. We are very, very determined, starting from Fernando who does not want to lose the championship. We are with him and very united on that."

[anialonso]

ESPN

But Ferrari have clearly had a lot of work to do yesterday with all its new updates (including front and rear wings, diffuser and barge boards) so we might not have seen the very best from it yet.

[Hornet]

FP3
http://www.vipboxsports.eu/motorspor...am-online.html