Testing at Jerez 10th-13th February 2011

**Afalej** · 14th February 2011, 09:01

Originally Posted by TheProdigalSon

If the redbull "sticks to the floor" then that means - less sliding of the tyres meaning wear rate decreases. More downforce will help the tyres as less movement is required by them from the driver.

And from what we have seen that's pretty much what's happening right?

**TheProdigalSon** · 14th February 2011, 09:04

It's been happening since last year and since this car is just an evolution of last years can't see it changing.

**Afalej** · 14th February 2011, 09:06

Originally Posted by TheProdigalSon

It's been happening since last year and since this car is just an evolution of last years can't see it changing.

So it's only fair to assume that RB is sandbagging then.

**anoopvp** · 14th February 2011, 09:07

McLaren's exhaust is more like blown diffuser may be like last year in the following video at around 1:45 you can see a backfire from McLaren confirming the location of exhaust.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KUCHVZEK7FU

**TheProdigalSon** · 14th February 2011, 09:12

Originally Posted by Afalej

So it's only fair to assume that RB is sandbagging then.

Definitely, everyone is but we all fear they are holding back the most.

**Afalej** · 14th February 2011, 09:22

Originally Posted by TheProdigalSon

Definitely, everyone is but we all fear they are holding back the most.

Well they did the same thing last year during testing, Bet they still have an ace or two up their sleeve

**anoopvp** · 14th February 2011, 09:31

Just s downloaded the pictures of day 4, our car is pretty worn out.... the colour of paint have changes a lot in the back and in front of the radiator intake..... the acer logo have changed to yellow.....

**dr.k** · 14th February 2011, 09:34

Originally Posted by anoopvp

McLaren's exhaust is more like blown diffuser may be like last year in the following video at around 1:45 you can see a backfire from McLaren confirming the location of exhaust.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KUCHVZEK7FU

You're right, but they have got two layouts of exhaust system, and they are altering between them.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/f1photos/5438415626/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/f1photos/5436490642/

**scuderiafan** · 14th February 2011, 10:00

I doubt we are behind Renault. We have to remember that this is just an opinion. Maybe the renaults, an the RB were on fumes and Ferrari full to the brim when he was watching. thing is we dont know.

A BBC insider said we were the fastest. People said we were the fastest last year.

Since these are only opinions, i'm just reasonably optimistic that our car is reliable and will probably be fighting for the title with RedBull, and maybe McLaren.

**Greig** · 14th February 2011, 10:04

Originally Posted by Afalej

So it's only fair to assume that RB is sandbagging then.

Given up on Kimi then Iceman?

**Afalej** · 14th February 2011, 11:28

Originally Posted by Greig

Given up on Kimi then Iceman?

Damn it!:P No i haven't but it seams like F1 is going down the drain anyway with the green engines and all that, figured why not enjoy it while it's still enjoyable. Will be interesting to see how it all plays out this season:)

**vcs316** · 15th February 2011, 09:02

Jerez test day 4 – Barrichello gives Williams something to smile about

by James Allen

The second official F1 pre season test ended at Jerez today with Williams’ Rubens Barrichello setting the fastest time and covering 103 laps after a week of niggling problems and frustrations for the team.

It has been a week when the importance of having experienced drivers setting up and developing the new cars has been a hot topic as Renault seek to not lose too much ground on that front due to the accident of Robert Kubica.

Barrichello, the most experienced driver in F1 history with over 300 GP starts, set the fastest lap of the week in 1m 19.832s as the Grove team beds in one of the most adventurous new cars it has produced for a while.

Barrichello did the time on the first lap of an eight lap run in which the tyre drop off was three seconds, which is pretty big. He later did a harder tyre long run of 25 laps in which the drop off was a couple of seconds, showing the range of tactics which strategists will be thinking through ahead of the first race. It really is going to be an interesting year for tactics.

At Renault, Bruno Senna had his first run since becoming the teams’ reserve driver. It wasn’t really an audition for Kubica’s seat as team principal Eric Boullier has said repeatedly that the team needs an experienced driver in this situation. This is also the reason why they have not tried to winkle Nico Hulkenberg out of the Force India test seat. “It was a very productive day,” said Senna. “The team liked my feedback and I enjoyed it very much. This was only the second test I’ve ever had in an F1 car and I’ve
raced for a whole year!” (other test was with Honda). You grow so much as a driver when you do a test like this. I set my fastest time on the soft tyre. I was waiting to go out on the super-soft at the end of the day when the rain came down (at 4pm)”

The Ferrari again did a huge mileage in Fernando Alonso’s hands, the Spaniard delighted at the car’s reliability, which has given him plenty of opportunity to evaluate all of the Pirelli tyres. However Alonso has been deliberately cagey on the performance of the Ferrari, refusing to be drawn on the ultimate pace of the F150th Italia. We should get more of an idea at Barcelona test next week.

McLaren had a frustrating day with Jenson Button struggling to find a balance in the windy conditions and with some reliability issues restricting his running.

For Mercedes, Nico Rosberg was very downbeat at the end of the day. He lost a lot of time in the middle of the day when the team made a precautionary engine change and his pace wasn’t startling on a long run mid-afternoon. He seems to have had more problems with the car on his days than team mate Schumacher. Nevertheless this team remains a question mark at this stage in terms of pace. Have they fallen behind Renault and Williams as well? Rosberg keeps talking about his hopes for the update kits due to arrive before the Bahrain test so let’s hope it does the trick.

Virgin’s Jerome D’Ambrosio was another to lose time today with an engine problem. The Belgian hasn’t managed to cover many miles in the new car. Meanwhile Pat Symonds has been pulled in as a consultant to the team, which is a smart, if slightly controversial move. He pleaded guilty to plotting to deliberately cause Nelson Piquet’s accident in Singapore in 2008 and although his sentence was cut back from the original ban, he was still not expected to be seen back so close to the sport so soon.

He is a very astute racer, however and Virgin was always the most likely place for him to return as it is the home of ex Renault engineering colleagues Nick Wirth, Christian Silk and Mark Herd.

Red Bull have been interesting to watch this week, at no stage setting the fastest lap times, staying deep undercover. They obviously have a lot of confidence in this car. Ferrari haven’t really extended their car either and McLaren have been bedding their new car in this week, so all of the top three are being cagey. The feeling persists though that when the time comes for Red Bull to see what the thing will do over a single lap on a low fuel run, it will lead to a collective intake of breath in the F1 paddock.

As for the Pirelli tyres, the degradation was quite high again, but motor sport boss Paul Hembery says the super-soft tyre is the only one being changed for the Barcelona test. The others are as in Jerez. Hembery added that there was a three-second difference between the four compounds in Jerez.

JEREZ TEST, Day 4

1. Rubens Barrichello Williams 1m19.832s 103 laps
2. Kamui Kobayashi Sauber 1m20.601s + 0.769s 86 laps
3. Fernando Alonso Ferrari 1m21.074s + 1.242s 115 laps
4. Sebastien Buemi Toro Rosso 1m21.213s + 1.381s 90 laps
5. Bruno Senna Renault 1m21.400s + 1.568s 68 laps
6. Heikki Kovalainen Lotus 1m21.632s + 1.800s 43 laps
7. Nico Rosberg Mercedes 1m22.103s + 2.271s 45 laps
8. Sebastian Vettel Red Bull 1m22.222s + 2.39 s 90 laps
9. Jenson Button McLaren 1m22.278s + 2.446s 70 laps
10. Jerome D’Ambrosio Virgin 1m22.985s + 3.153s 45 laps
11. Paul di Resta Force India 1m23.111s + 3.279s 99 laps

http://www.jamesallenonf1.com/

**burak karakutuk** · 15th February 2011, 12:23

Anyone read Glen Freeman's article on Autosport?

**Hermann** · 15th February 2011, 12:33

Originally Posted by burak karakutuk

Anyone read Glen Freeman's article on Autosport?

Yes, just go one page back and read the postings there.

**burak karakutuk** · 15th February 2011, 12:37

Originally Posted by Hermann

Yes, just go one page back and read the postings there.

oh than you=))

**burak karakutuk** · 15th February 2011, 12:37

i mean thank you=)

**crewskas** · 15th February 2011, 15:45

CSI - McLaren...?

I wonder what they can figure out from the compound left in tarmac...
Or they just are as stupid as they look?

**crewskas** · 15th February 2011, 15:45

CSI - McLaren...?

I wonder what they can figure out from the compound left in tarmac...
Or they simply are as stupid as they look?

**ferrari4life** · 15th February 2011, 16:54

Originally Posted by crewskas

CSI - McLaren...?

I wonder what they can figure out from the compound left in tarmac...
Or they simply are as stupid as they look?

they are trying to proove that the other teams have doctored the tire compound before sending them out.

**Ferrari_Fanatic** · 15th February 2011, 17:20

Originally Posted by crewskas

CSI - McLaren...?

I wonder what they can figure out from the compound left in tarmac...
Or they simply are as stupid as they look?

OMG they can't afford the tires for the car they have to make them now

**Curbs** · 15th February 2011, 18:00

Trying to see what compound is the most used???

**Nova** · 15th February 2011, 18:39

The thing I wonder about the RB is that large port at the rear..theyve had that concept for awhile, yet I never hear much about it, and dont see any teams
actually copying it.....I think theres much more to the port and the RB's downforce than anyone is led to believe....
Thats where the secret may be...

**TheProdigalSon** · 15th February 2011, 23:22

Originally Posted by crewskas

CSI - McLaren...?

I wonder what they can figure out from the compound left in tarmac...
Or they simply are as stupid as they look?

Mcmowers scavenging for food.

**Anni** · 16th February 2011, 05:16

Saint Valentine’s day was a working one for the Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro drivers, albeit a rather different one to usual. After four days of testing from Thursday to Sunday, developing the Ferrari F150th Italia, today, Felipe Massa and Fernando Alonso were back at work at the Jerez circuit, in southern Spain, shooting a series of promotional films for the Scuderia and its partners. The work behind the wheel could hardly be compared to the past few days, given that it only required fifty kilometres. However, it was a nice opportunity for the drivers to spend time with the team in a rather more relaxed atmosphere, far removed from the usual frenetic activity of a test.

It meant that Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro was therefore the last team to leave the Andalusian track to head north for the Catalunya Circuit, where the third test session prior to the start of the 2011 Championship gets underway on Friday. Fernando will be the first to drive, with Felipe replacing him in the cockpit of the new car as from Sunday.

**Rishu** · 16th February 2011, 06:24

Jerez- What PF1 thinks:

Williams look like they may be showboating again.
Last year's Williams flattered to deceive. It was quick in the tests, but when it came to the races, all of a sudden it was back in the pack. With Rubens Barrichello taking the fastest time on Saturday it looked like a touch of same old same old.

McLaren are slipping behind
If you're going to launch your car late, then you need to put a lot of laps in when it comes to the final few tests. McLaren have had limited running at Jerez and ran out of spare parts for the car. Not the greatest of omens. They'll need to be a lot more together in Barcelona. Last year they had a lacklustre launch and testing phase. So, Groundhog Day for them as well.

Ferrari are looking consistent and assured
Fast becoming the bookies' favourite, Fernando Alonso ran long and strong. Felipe Massa put his oil leak fire behind him and the pair put some great mileage on the car with consistent long runs and some cheeky little sprints not to disappoint the fans.

Sauber are going to start the season in much better shape
...than they did last year. This time round they have sponsorship, a technical director who is aerodynamically savvy, a lead driver who is as fast as Nick Heidfeld and has the experience of an assured 2010 season.

Valencia wasn't a flash in the pan for Lotus.
They may be taking the fuel out to put in some headline grabbing times, but those times still put them in reach of the mid-grid teams who are doing the same thing.

A week is a long time in F1
Last Sunday morning we thought that Robert Kubica was set for another strong season with Renault, having posted the fastest time in Valencia. Until we heard the news. The following Sunday the paddock was looking at the time differentals between Bruno and Senna and Nick Heidfeld and working out who was likely to get his seat in 2011.

Heidfeld vs Senna is a bit like Kubica vs Petrov. You don't need to have too much insight to work out which is Renault's best option. Although now the Proton group have bought into the team, well, you never know.

The new Mercedes only goes fast when Michael's in it.
Ah, now the great Schumacher masterplan is revealed. The team spent all 2010 designing and building him a Mercedes that is like a Volkswagen. The new Merc is Herbie Rides Again. The second he gets in it he can run faultlessly for 112 and 114 laps. The second Nico Rosberg steps into the cockpit it doesn't want to leave the garage and develops faults.

It's still all smoke and mirrors.
Nico Rosberg revealed that the car they were running at Jerez - or in his case, running and stopping - was still a long way from the Bahrain version. "This is an interim car, it doesn't have a lot to do with the car we will have in Bahrain." F1 is fast becoming like Poker Nights, everyone unwilling to reveal their hand.

It's easier to make a fast car reliable than a reliable car fast
But at the moment Force India don't look like they're winning either battle.

Many in the PF1 office love Pirelli already One of our constant niggles since Bridgestone took over as the sole tyre suppliers was that - like many things Japanese -they are ultra conservative. They didn't want to see cars exiting the race and making headlines courtesy of Bridgestone punctures or Bridgestone failures. You can see their point of view, but it didn't make for great racing.
As Pirelli boss Paul Hembery has pointed out; "The teams are going from a situation where they could probably do 50-60 laps on one set of tyres. If we did that we wouldn't have any strategy. To get away from that, you've got to almost force them to a point where the main choice of tyre can last around 100-110km in a race, considering that most races are between 300-320km. "
Therefore unlike a lot of the interim cars that will look a lot different in Bahrain - the Pirellis aren't for changing.

**Hermann** · 16th February 2011, 07:24

Nothing about Red Bull? P-F1 is seriously sandbagging.

**Curbs** · 16th February 2011, 09:01

http://www.totalf1.com/full_story/vi..._2011_success/

Feb.16 (GMM) Less than a month before the 2011 season begins, one major unknown is the likely performance of the new McLaren car.Specialist reports in Italy (Autosprint) and Germany (Auto Motor und Sport) say the British team's MP4-26 will be the most radical car on the Bahrain grid.But according to Autosprint, the recent Jerez test "did not show how competitive" the silver car will be.McLaren's former long-time team coordinator Jo Ramirez was in the pits in Spain and he reported that technicians were so busy with the car that there was no time to experiment with the adjustable rear wing.Instead, the team's focus was on testing different fundamental configurations, including the layout of the exhausts, the diffuser and the engine cover."The risk is that they have bitten off more than they can chew," said the report.Germany's Auto Motor und Sport agreed: "Almost nothing on this McLaren is conventional."The first test (at Jerez) produced more questions than answers. McLaren have showed courage, but perhaps too much," added the report.Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel told La Gazzetta dello Sport: "Ferrari are very fast. It's more difficult to know where McLaren and Mercedes are."

**SilverSpeed** · 17th February 2011, 09:59

Mmm saying that we are very fast...

Don't think so when I know they are sandbagging, they just waiting for the counter imho to blow us away again.

Not gonna happen in 2011!

**Tifosi** · 17th February 2011, 10:25

Originally Posted by SilverSpeed

Mmm saying that we are very fast...

Don't think so when I know they are sandbagging, they just waiting for the counter imho to blow us away again.

Not gonna happen in 2011!

How do you "know" that they are sandbagging and that we are not? I'm intrigued!