2nd Winter test, Barcelona 2013

[anialonso]

Alonso leads the way on Day Three

Fernando Alonso dominated proceedings at Barcelona on Thursday, posting fastest times to continually edge his rivals.

In action for the third successive day at the Spanish track, the Ferrari driver first hit the front with a 1:22.510 using the soft Pirelli tyres.

After just two flying laps he pitted before heading back out and lowering the benchmark to a 1:22.301. However, his next lap was a 1:24.129, highlighting the severe degradation of the Pirelli rubber.

Another qualifying-style run saw the Spaniard drop to a 1:22.192 before taking another 0.04s off his time. He finished his blitz on the timesheets with a 1:21.875 that he set just before the lunch break.

Nico Hulkenberg claimed second place with a 1:22.160 while Romain Grosjean was third, 0.028s further back. All three set their fastest times in the hour before lunch.

The field swapped over to longer runs in the afternoon with Grosjean leading the way in laps as the Lotus driver put in a marathon 119 laps in total. The Frenchman's tally included a race simulation of 66 laps during which he pitted four times.

Mercedes driver Nico Rosberg came home with the fourth best time, finishing ahead of the Williams duo of Pastor Maldonado and Valtteri Bottas. Having used their old car at the Jerez test, Williams are trying to make up time in the FW35 and therefore split the day between their drivers.

McLaren's Jenson Button was seventh fastest and the final driver to get within a second of Alonso's pace-setting time. Adrian Sutil missed out by 0.002s.

The German was back in action for the first time since losing his Force India drive at the end of the 2011 season. Sutil was testing for his old team in the hope of beating Jules Bianchi to Force India's second race seat. Sutil covered 78 laps with a best time of 1:22.877.

Meanwhile, the first - and only - red flag of the day came out late in the afternoon and belonged to Giedo van der Garde. Having just posted his fastest time of the day, a 1:26.177, the Caterham driver came to a halt at the exit of Turn Two.

Source: http://www.planetf1.com/news/3213/85...e-On-Day-Three

Love to hear the words "Domniated by Alonso and Ferrari.."

[anialonso]

Jenson Button says McLaren are still getting to know their 2013 car

McLaren chose to make more overall changes to their car's design philosophy than other teams in an attempt to ensure better performance.But Button says this means the team are still trying to establish how it works.

Button said McLaren were paying for their decision to make significant changes to last year's car concept rather than taking a more evolutionary approach as other teams have, particularly Red Bull and Lotus.

Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/formula1/21539768

Finally they are suffering the same thing that Ferrari suffered last year..

[stefa]

Nice and encouraging to read all this good comments from FM and FA regarding F138.

[medeni73]

red flag...Massa...

[fronaldo]

oh no massa

[SinanOzerS]

Congratulations Massa...

[Hornet]

Is it raining? Autosport.com show the condition as Drizzle

[anialonso]

Red Flag..!!!!!!!!!
Massa stuck in gravel at turn 4..

[fronaldo]

Cold, dark and with the threat of rain

[SinanOzerS]

Rain is started.

[stefa]

red flag...Massa...

Is it mechanical failure or he went off the track because it is wet?

[stefa]

He went because it is wet...

[radosav]

it was because of rain, probably no damage on car, he is already in pits

[Massimo181]

Just a little bit of pedagogy if I may. Tests are being held at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmeló, which is a town around 40 km off Barcelona, the capital of Catalonia, so, they are in Catalonia. Spanish government currently opposes a referendum on the independence, because they know that YES to independence would win if they allow it. In fact the majority of the Catalan Parliament ( the oldest in Europe, even older than the British one ) voted a declaration of sovereignty in January.

Last September, a peaceful demonstration of 1,5 milion people happened in Barcelona for the independence ( we are 7 milion inhabitants in Catalonia, so that means 21 % of the total population were on the streets that day, not bad, uh ? ). I kindly encourage you to learn more on our nation if you are interested: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catalonia

And please, keep this in mind: we are Spain because we are forced to, but the majority of people in Catalonia are in favor of independence. We don't hate Spain, we want to be good neighbours with them.

This said, let's focus again on Ferrari and the season ahead. Thanks and sorry for the interruption.

Umm take a chill pill was having a JOKE with another memeber!!

[wisepie]

Sorry for going off-topic but I just had to share this with you guys -> http://instagram.com/p/WALHYoHLZB/

Very funny picture! I got a feeling Felipe and Rob will never grow up

They make a lovely couple and deserve each other, but I wonder whether that's why Felipe is now in the gravel?! Not a good start!

[Schumyboy83]

Red Flag.

[fratelliferrari]

He is back in the pits already! Iam confident for the rest of the day! Go Felipe!

[Schumyboy83]

Caterham's Giedo van der Garde spins coming onto the pit straight

[fratelliferrari]

Thank you Giedo...NOT!

[Forzi]

Sad that Felipe can't get dry running... Really hope it stops raining and dries up eventually.

[fratelliferrari]

Felipe just did a 1:40.144. He is in fourth at the moment.

[SinanOzerS]

Hopefully not a big losing for the error.He's starting the make some wet laps.

[fronaldo]

just hope f138 become monster in wet this year

[SinanOzerS]

just hope f138 become monster in wet this year

Don't worry,Ferrari always monster in the wet !

[SinanOzerS]

Another red flag,Gutierrez from Sauber spinning around turn 5.

[SinanOzerS]

And Mark Webber ! He's stopped with turn 9 !

[Schumyboy83]

Red flag, Webber...

[SinanOzerS]

Wow ! Another reg flag ! This time Eric Vergne at Toro Rosso.

[dfunk257]

Its a red flagathon!

[SinanOzerS]

Green flag and Massa already out on the track.