2nd Winter test, Barcelona 2013

[medeni73]

Alonso 1:21:875 on softs and now look out for tyre wear in next lap...

[fronaldo]

1m21.875s from alonso..soft tyres..does anyone know which tyres perez used when he posted fastest time?

[tohellandback]

Alonso misses fastest time of the test so far by just 0.027secs with a 1:21.875 --> Not Bad Go Ferrari Go

[medeni73]

Perez was also on softs...

[SinanOzerS]

1m21.875s from alonso..soft tyres..does anyone know which tyres perez used when he posted fastest time?

Softs.

[bluesilhouettes]

1m21.875s , already faster than his last year Barcelona qualifying (1:22.424). But Lewis's was 1:21.707.

[medeni73]

I think Ferrari wont pursue fast laps any more. They will do some long runs after the lunch I'm sure of it...

[PURE PASSION]

1m21.875s , already faster than his last year Barcelona qualifying (1:22.424). But Lewis's was 1:21.707.

Yes but what was our best time in last year test here?

[medeni73]

cant compare tests and race in Barcelona, cos in winter is air much cooler thus boosting aerodynamics of the cars...

[SinanOzerS]

Yes but what was our best time in last year test here?

1:22:312 for Kobayashi with the first Barcelona tests.

[Giambattista]

Yes but what was our best time in last year test here?

It was 1m22.250s on the last day in Barcelona, 2nd time, (first was Kimi with 1m:22.030s)

@up: Kobayashi didn't drive FOR US

[andone89]

Last years testing day at Barcelona.
http://live.autosport.com/commentary.php/id/439 this says 1m24.100.

[tohellandback]

Yes but what was our best time in last year test here?

1:24.100 (21st Feb) FA
1:23.180 (22nd Feb) FA
1:24.771 (23rd Feb) FM
1:23.563 (24th Feb) FM
1:24.318 (1st March) FM
1:23.447 (2nd March) FA
1:22.413 (3rd March) FM
1:22.250 (4th March) FA

[shamim179]

The Ferrari is looking really fast today in terms of their short runs . We're doing very competitive times even though it is possible we have more fuel on board than others. We are pitting a lap or two after others pit when they do their short runs.

[fronaldo]

thanks guys

[shamim179]

At this stage I think we are the fastest both in terms of race pace and 1-lap pace. The real mystery is how the pecking order will stack up come Melbourne at qualifying. I think both RB and MCL will bolt on lots more upgrades and consequently might be a little faster than us but we're still looking very good.

[shamim179]

No wonder Alonso is more confident this year.

The Williams and the Sauber are looking competitive too. I think we're going to have some exciting races this year with such intense competition.

[tohellandback]

At this stage I think we are the fastest both in terms of race pace and 1-lap pace. The real mystery is how the pecking order will stack up come Melbourne at qualifying. I think both RB and MCL will bolt on lots more upgrades and consequently might be a little faster than us but we're still looking very good.

Ferrari also has substantial updates for Mel..i guess we are looking good ...tyers could be a worry on the other side this year

[shamim179]

Ferrari also has substantial updates for Mel..i guess we are looking good ...tyers could be a worry on the other side this year

Luca said that they will implement a new solution to their exhaust layout at the next test but stressed concerns of not having enough time to test it. If Ferrari can get this new exhaust layout to work immediately and gives decent gains, we might be fastest in the field come Melbourne.

I really don't think we'll have the issues that we had last year with upgrades not working. We're using a different wind tunnel this time. My only concern is reliability because with such aggressive solutions reliability can get compromised. I just hope when we revert back to our own wind tunnel we don't have issues again!

[scudieros]

I think compared to last year, we have a much better baseline. We might not have the outright pace just yet, but we are lot closer than last year. if we fix the heat issues with the exhaust and learn a bit more about the tyre behaviour I think we can be very competitive. I think we can safely hope to see both our drivers in the top 10 come Q3.

[anialonso]

At this stage I think we are the fastest both in terms of race pace and 1-lap pace. The real mystery is how the pecking order will stack up come Melbourne at qualifying. I think both RB and MCL will bolt on lots more upgrades and consequently might be a little faster than us but we're still looking very good.

I still dont think that we are fastest..but hope i am wrong..
but to me it still looks as though Redbull and Mclaren might be slight ahead of us..
Hoping that the last upgrade can change that..

[tifosi1993]

[fronaldo]

heard benson said that ferrari might do race-simulation this afternoon

[dfunk257]

Im expecting alot longer runs this afternoon for sure. Lets see how our exhausts hold up.

[shamim179]

I still dont think that we are fastest..but hope i am wrong..
but to me it still looks as though Redbull and Mclaren might be slight ahead of us..
Hoping that the last upgrade can change that..

I didn't think we are the fastest certainly not in terms of 1-lap pace until today. There is plenty in today's data to be optimistic about. I think we made a small performance gain since yesterday?

Anybody know what new parts are on today as opposed to yesterday?

[PURE PASSION]

Any new parts tested today?

[bluesilhouettes]

I think compared to last year, we have a much better baseline. We might not have the outright pace just yet, but we are lot closer than last year. if we fix the heat issues with the exhaust and learn a bit more about the tyre behaviour I think we can be very competitive. I think we can safely hope to see both our drivers in the top 10 come Q3.

If we were faster than last year pole result, it's really a good sign, bring us big hope. Because it's testing and we still dont have best part for the particular circuit.
But we havent yet. So I am waiting for that till the last minute of this year pre season testing.

[tifosi1993]

[Jas]

McLaren software causing problems for F1 teams


By Editor on Thursday, February 21, 2013

Pirelli’s heavily degrading tyres were not the only ‘control’ components causing problems for F1 teams in Barcelona this week.

The standard electronics used by every team, and supplied by McLaren subsidiary MES according to a FIA tender contract that was recently extended, was also toying with the patience of engineers up and down pitlane as the ‘middle’ pre-season test in sunny Spain got into gear.

Red Bull – not McLaren’s closest friends in the paddock – were being the most vocal at the Circuit de Catalunya, saying the new software supplied by the McLaren company was causing frustration.

“But I don’t think we were alone in that,” said race engineering chief Andy Damerum.

According to Auto Motor und Sport, the problem was so devastating that many teams were operating their cars completely blindly.

“It was like the Middle Ages of motor sports,” said the German publication.

The background to the glitches is that McLaren has updated its software for the electronic control units – the ‘brain’ of the F1 cars – in preparation for the turbo V6 rules of 2014.

With energy recovery ‘ERS’ systems to play a much bigger role next year and beyond, more will be asked of the standard electronics and “We have a year to eliminate any weak points”, an FIA source said.

Early on in Barcelona this week, however, the new electronics utterly failed.

“We could not talk to our car,” confirmed Williams’ veteran team manager Dickie Stanford.

Because the problems were so widespread, and data so crucial for F1 testing, MES had to revert to the 2012 software, and is now steadily updating the teams with the de-bugged versions.

“Every day there are new upgrades,” said Ferrari’s engine boss Luca Marmorini.

“We are sure that everything will work properly in Melbourne.”

[Massimo]

There seems to be another duct under the nose, just under the much talked about bigger one.