2011 Valencia Testing.

[Brakefade]

I know testing times don't mean much, but it's good to see our boy on top, especially after RB's performance yesterday.

[XXX132]

As I recall F1 asked Pirelli to give them a tyre that is not so durable as was the case with Brigstone last year and I'm all for that. But not at the expanse of safety. This year as we all know with the rear wing and KERS speeds will go up. Accidents at higher speeds are more dangerous. I just don't want to see anyone hurt that is my only fear...
I don't care if there are 6 pit stops necessary to finish a race...

+1 Last year's Bridgestones were too durable and we saw drivers going well over half race distance on tyres that were only supposed to be good for a dozen laps... If the Pirellis are too soft, just make more pit-stops. Hopefully the F150 will continue the Ferrari trend of being kind to it's tyres.

[vcs316]

Can't wait for testing to begin today. Wanna know Massa's verdict on the Pirelli tyres!!

[vcs316]

Todays driver line-up

The Wednesday line-up for Valencia looks like this:


Red Bull Mark Webber

McLaren Jenson Button

Ferrari Felipe Massa

Mercedes Michael Schumacher

Lotus Renault GP Robert Kubica

Williams Pastor Maldonado

Force India Adrian Sutil (2010 car)

Sauber Sergio Pérez

Toro Rosso Sébastien Buemi

Team Lotus Jarno Trulli

Hispania Narain Karthikeyan (2010 car)

Virgin Timo Glock (2010 car)

[Grinsomx]

i really hope Massa can get through the day and run comparable times to Alonso, even if it does not mean a lot at this time...
it would at least keep this thread on track.

i am curious about his comments later today, hopefully he will be happy with the car.
it would be great to see them both fighting for podiums this year

[vcs316]

I just hope the tyre heating issues he faced last season are gone!!

[Curbs]

Massa spun

[Curbs]

08:39 Reports of a flame or two down there too. Nothing too serious though, no roaring inferno or anything

08:38 He has climbed out of the F150 and is awaiting rescue

[voiko]

awwwwwww massa :(

[Curbs]

08:51 The Ferrari, shrouded in a red tarp with prancing horse logo, is being lifted off the flatbed in the pitlane outside Ferrari's garage

[Ibrahim Patel]

sarahholtf1 - More from BBC cameraman M&M trackside. He reports that Massa stopped on the track, spun on the oil & the Ferrari caught on fire!

On the bright side he got a few laps in...

1 ----
2
3 1:18.859 -41.141
4 1:16.934 -1.925
5 1:16.331 -0.603
6 1:16.037 -0.294
7 1:16.023 -0.014
8 1:21.404 +5.381
9 1:15.786 -5.618
10 1:18.532 +2.746
11 1:15.650 -2.882
12 ----

[Curbs]

08:59 There's also a tanker on the track at Turn 2, suggesting the Ferrari was dumping something - presumably oil - on the circuit for a while before it stopped

08:58 The extended delay is because marshals are putting down cement dust where Massa's F150 relieved itself of fluids at Turn 4

[brava]

What exactly happened to Massa?

[Curbs]

Engine failure people guess....:(
Each team has 4 engines for testing I read on Autosport.

[Curbs]

09:20 It has been confirmed that Massa's stoppage was caused by an oil leak

[vcs316]

Massa suffers early problems in Valencia

Felipe Massa’s early-season running in Valencia has come to an early break, with the Brazilian having caused the first red flag of Thursday just over half an hour after the session began.

The session was stopped when the Ferrari spun off the track at Turn 5, coming to rest on the outside kerb while facing the wrong way.

With much smoke having drifted from the F150 across the circuit, GPUpdate.net has been informed by a photographer that flames were also sighted, with the car having then been returned to the pit lane with what appear to be traces of extinguisher foam on its bodywork.

[NJB13]

Pirelli QC not looking that hot for this tyre:-

[brava]

Did Massa spun off because of the engine failure, or the engine failed because Massa spun and hit some kerbs?

[Greig]

Engine failure people guess....:(
Each team has 4 engines for testing I read on Autosport.

Never heard any rule that limits engines in testing? just the 15,000km limit?

[Curbs]

Never heard any rule that limits engines in testing? just the 15,000km limit?

I haven´t seen that rule either. I read it in Autosports live-feed just now.

[Ibrahim Patel]

Felipe Massa had a dramatic start to testing in Valencia when his Ferrari caught fire in the first hour of running.
As this sequence of pictures shows, Massa went off, and smoke and flames appeared from the back of the car as he rejoined.
He carried on for a few more corners before spinning to a halt on the oil coming from the back of his Ferrari.
The session was red-flagged while the F150 was recovered and marshals worked to clean up the oil.

Ferrari explained what happened via Twitter:
His car had a small fire due to an oil leak so it will be necessary to work at length to repair it.

http://www.f1fanatic.co.uk/2011/02/0...uring-testing/

[Tifosi]

thanks for the update Ibrahim. How annoying though

[Rishu]

[Tifosi]

Tonight Matthew i'm going to be "Felipe Massa".

[vcs316]

Tweet from Auto123:


auto123_racing #F1: Dr Helmut Marko (Red Bull) says "If a race were held now, we would lap everybody. How our car goes through the corner is amazing"

[Aldai]

[vcs316]

You can see the fire in the engine

[vcs316]

10:56 h Button, Glock, Karthikeyan on track, Webber finished the round of timed laps sei and returns to his team box.

10:53 h The Australian Red Bull driver is still the only one who is, at present, running on the track in Valencia.

10:48 h Schumacher pitted, Mark Webber remains alone on the track.

10:45 h Button to the pits. Shortly after Sutil is taking the path of entry into the pitlane, while Webber goes to court.

10:43 pm Improving Button. After making a turn in 1:20.3, the champion of 2009 has turned in 1:14.710 and placed third on the timesheets, behind Sutil and Webber.

[brava]

Tweet from Auto123:


auto123_racing #F1: Dr Helmut Marko (Red Bull) says "If a race were held now, we would lap everybody. How our car goes through the corner is amazing"

Give me a break....

[Aldai]

auto123_racing #F1: Dr Helmut Marko (Red Bull) says "If a race were held now, we would lap everybody. How our car goes through the corner is amazing" 16 minutes ago by auto123_racing