Bahrain testing 19-22 Feb

[PadGeT]

Ferrari continue to go about their business in a quiet and understated fashion. There was aerodynamic work on Wednesday, as well as tuning of the braking system but, in the middle of it all, there was Fernando Alonso popping up second fastest, and that was no one-off low-fuel run either. The Spaniard said nothing of consequence on the team press release, but Ferrari themselves were moved to describe it as a 'good day'. The double champion continues his work on Thursday."08:53:

Andrew Benson

[Majki2111]

But I think AMuS says that he set the time on mediums, Hamilton on hards. Hulkemberg says that difference betweeen each tyre is about 1 second. So...

[f1tomi8]

Andrew Benson, Chief F1 writer
Yesterday's laptime comparison:

"I've been taking a closer look at the lap times from the first day's running. Nico Hulkenberg was fastest in the Force India, but that was on soft tyres and a short three-lap run, which suggests low-ish fuel. Fernando Alonso's Ferrari, meanwhile, set its fastest time on an eight-lap run on slower medium tyres, which means that while he did a 1:37.879, the car was capable of doing at least a 37.683, once the weight of fuel was taken into account. And of course there was quite probably more fuel in it than that. Lewis Hamilton set his best time in the Mercedes on an 18-lap run on hard tyres, which takes his fastest time of 1:37.908 down to at least a 1:37.432."

[anialonso]

"I've been taking a closer look at the lap times from the first day's running. Nico Hulkenberg was fastest in the Force India, but that was on soft tyres and a short three-lap run, which suggests low-ish fuel. Fernando Alonso's Ferrari, meanwhile, set its fastest time on an eight-lap run on slower medium tyres, which means that while he did a 1:37.879, the car was capable of doing at least a 37.683, once the weight of fuel was taken into account. And of course there was quite probably more fuel in it than that. Lewis Hamilton set his best time in the Mercedes on an 18-lap run on hard tyres, which takes his fastest time of 1:37.908 down to at least a 1:37.432."

Yesterday's laptime comparison

[Majki2111]

So nothing to cheer for.

[f1tomi8]

Yesterday's laptime comparison

Yes!

[anakin]

Yesterday's laptime comparison

we are in good shape.

[Rob]

you improve on your 1st two sectors then suddenly abort it. funny.

Nothing funny, maybe got some info for the first couple sectors then pit. Or, Fernando ran wide, or wind effected him somehow. Isnt about blazing lap times atmo.

[Majki2111]

we are in good shape.

We are not the fastest so nothin to cheer for.

[SinanOzerS]

Nando is out on track.

[anialonso]

and out comes Fernando.!!!

[medeni73]

red flag...

[anialonso]

A race sim wud make my day.>!!

[Hornet]

We are not the fastest so nothin to cheer for.

We don't have to be the fastest at this point. We just need to be able to set fast time without burning something in the car. At this stage, it's all still about reliability, and how far you can push without breaking the car's reliability.

So far our reliability has been good, and we do have some performance which we can show, I would say everything is going well at the moment.

[anialonso]

Vettel has made it back to the pits. So it appears that Mercedes has caused the stoppage again, just as was the case when its first outlap of the day lasted eight corners this morning.

thats nice to hear..

Edit:09:20 The Mercedes is back in the pits.

[f1tomi8]

Williams confirms that its 2014 livery will be unveiled on March 6

[Majki2111]

We don't have to be the fastest at this point. We just need to be able to set fast time without burning something in the car. At this stage, it's all still about reliability, and how far you can push without breaking the car's reliability.

So far our reliability has been good, and we do have some performance which we can show, I would say everything is going well at the moment.

You wanna say that it is still possible to come as the fastest in Malbourne? It is hard to belive.

[f1tomi8]

Rosberg was in the early stage of a race simulation when he was hit by tech trouble.

[anakin]

You wanna say that it is still possible to come as the fastest in Malbourne? It is hard to belive.

no one really knows who is the fastest as of the moment. so the one that will be the fastest in melbourne would still be UNKNOWN.
what ferrari was doing is solidify its reliability. while still setting competitive lap times.

[Katu]

You wanna say that it is still possible to come as the fastest in Malbourne? It is hard to belive.

if you mean by being fastest who finishes the race with shortest time, then that could be us, if others fail..

[F2002]

I'm personally not enjoying seeing our main competitors stop on track with technical problems.

Let's win with everybody on board, otherwise it will be obvious that the sole cause of us winning a world championship (if we ever do) will be this rule change, and other teams' misfortunes.

[gazoz]

I'm personally not enjoying seeing our main competitors stop on track with technical problems.

Let's win with everybody on board, otherwise it will be obvious that the sole cause of us winning a world championship (if we ever do) will be this rule change, and other teams' misfortunes.

well it was the rule changes that helped RB and MC start winning again

[SinanOzerS]

Here we go again.And the red flag once again, this time Vergne for TR.

[f1tomi8]

09:45 Another red flag brings a halt to proceedings. Alonso, Vettel and Vergne on-track...09:45 Alonso back in, so it's either the Red Bull or the Toro Rosso to blame.

[fronaldo]

Red flag again..Alonso back to pit.. Red Bull or the Toro Rosso to blame

[evo_spook]

I'm personally not enjoying seeing our main competitors stop on track with technical problems.

Let's win with everybody on board, otherwise it will be obvious that the sole cause of us winning a world championship (if we ever do) will be this rule change, and other teams' misfortunes.

You've got to consider though, that while teams like Redbull are having issue, they have to spend time fixing them rather then working on performance.

Come the 1st race they might then be reliable but they will be a few weeks behind on performance upgrades.

[anialonso]

Damn it..
Every time Nando goes out..Red flag pops up..

[fronaldo]

Heard that Alonso will run race sim..not so sure

[OSS EL BOSS]

I'm personally not enjoying seeing our main competitors stop on track with technical problems.

Let's win with everybody on board, otherwise it will be obvious that the sole cause of us winning a world championship (if we ever do) will be this rule change, and other teams' misfortunes.

I wouldn't mind at all!
Technical problems are not misfortune though! If you have technical problems it would mean you have not done a good enough job.

[Hornet]

You wanna say that it is still possible to come as the fastest in Malbourne? It is hard to belive.

Well, no one knows at the moment who will be fastest in terms of pure pace. We do not know because right now, we are not testing our performance yet. As Alonso said yesterday, he is still learning new things with each lap.

Also do note that Ferrari have yet to put their monkey seat on. Just goes to show that at the moment, we are not concern about the car's maximum performance yet.