At the moment they are 5 seconds off Barrichello who is currently the quickest, so...could be worse.Quote:
Originally Posted by RJL25
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At the moment they are 5 seconds off Barrichello who is currently the quickest, so...could be worse.Quote:
Originally Posted by RJL25
I think that's in line with expectation straight out of the box. Hopefully they'll be able to shave a few tenths off that prior to the first race and be a very respectable new outfit. It will be fascinating to see how they compare to Lotus, who have gone done the more traditional design route. If they merely equal Virgins pace the CFD will have prooved itself and visa versa if Lotus blow their doors off.Quote:
Originally Posted by DexDexter
Well, now they are only 2,7 seconds off the pace which doesn't sound bad at all no matter what the others are doing. Quite impressive IMO.Quote:
Originally Posted by Sonic
http://live.autosport.com/commentary.php/id/177
You have to assume it was probably on low fuel, but impressive nevertheless. I certainly wasn't expecting to see them looking that competitive so soon. Less than 3 seconds off the best time from yesterday.Quote:
Originally Posted by DexDexter
I'm very happy for Virgin.
Trouble free day and lots of laps completed.
yep and times were respectableQuote:
Originally Posted by gloomyDAY
Renault also seems to be getting things sorted out
Well, Virgin was actually IMO very impressive after their earlier troubles, even if their fastest lap was done on fumes.
But I don't remember winter testing, which has left the situation as unclear as it looks now especially with all teams testing together - maybe a comparison can be brought from last year. :) Anyway, it looks quite tight, so quite like 2009. :p : And if we recall Australian GP qualifying, then indeed - after Brawn the rest of the teams were rather similarly paced.
One thing I have learnt from Jerez is that Ferrari's long stint was arguably impressive. They also looked in good shape at Valencia, but I'm not convinced they are the "team to beat".
McLaren? Well, it looks like their situation is certainly better than last year at the same time. Should be taken into serious consideration.
Mercedes I personally suspect is a bit behind. There are also rumours that not all of their '10 parts have been unveiled yet (like diffuser), but a couple of days ago there were suggestions that MB was a second per lap slower than Ferrari on a long-run.
Red Bull and Force India have joined others in testing, but all that rain has left their potential kinda unlocked. RBR has been generally left a bit in the shadow, but I still get the feeling they are in the mix. Same with Force India - Sutil seems rather upbeat about the car. But hardly surprising - I quite expected them to be the dark horse of the season to mix it with the top guns.
Sauber and STR are a bit unclear. Both have shown glimpses of speed, but how exactly do they fit among others in the pecking order, is a bit unclear.
Williams has looked better than at Valencia, but they constantly leave an impression that something is still missing. The same can be said about Renault.
Well, let's see, what will the next tests bring to us. :)
Yep, to be just 3.3 seconds off the fastest time on your first proper run is a fantastic achievement, definitely something to build from.Quote:
Originally Posted by gloomyDAY
Really really happy for them indeed
I found it very interesting that both schu and massa ran out of fuel (on purpose), clearly the teams are trying to find out just how fine they can cut it for a GP distance.
OVERALL TEST TIMES FOR 2nd OFFICIAL TEST
1. Lewis Hamilton - McLaren ................ 1m 19.583
2. Jaime Alguersuari - Toro Rosso ................ + 0.336
3. Kamui Kobayashi - Sauber ................ + 0.367
4. Sebastien Buemi - Toro Rosso ................ + 0.443
5. Adrian Sutil - Force India ................ + 0.597
6. Rubens Barrichello - Williams ................ + 0.758
7. Robert Kubica - Renault ................ + 0.775
8. Michael Schumacher - Mercedes ................ + 1.030
9. Jenson Button - McLaren ................ + 1.035
10. Niko Hulkenberg - Williams ................ + 1.046
11. Pedro de la Rosa - Sauber ................ + 1.153
12. Nico Rosberg - Mercedes ................ + 1.344
13. Sebastian Vettel - Red Bull ................ + 1.620
14. Fernando Alonso - Ferrari ................ + 1.841
15. Felipe Massa - Ferrari ................ + 1.902
16. Vitaly Petrov - Renault ................ + 2.417
17. Mark Webber - Red Bull ................ + 2.460
18. Lucas di Grassi - Virgin ................ + 3.329
19. Vitantonio Liuzzi - Force India ................ + 5.385
20. Timo Glock - Virgin ................ + 10.381
It's extremely tight at the moment.
If anything it's just getting me more and more excited for the season by the day, as it looks like we could potentially have many different winners depending on circuit, temperature and strategy.
I agree.Quote:
Originally Posted by DazzlaF1
Now that they have the car working a bit more reliably it will be interesting to see what they can do next week if we have some dry running, especially when Glock gets another go.
I am also really interested to see how the Lotus does next week.
TBH, im expecting them to be in the same ballpark (around 3-4 seconds behind) but like you say, as long as they have the car running reliably then they can work on itQuote:
Originally Posted by RS
When I consider that Toyota had one entire year to test and develop their car before entering F1, it does make the accomplishment of the new teams with their cars quite remarkable.
Quite so. Let's keep our finger crossed that all 4 newbies show up.Quote:
Originally Posted by Valve Bounce
It gives some idea but under racing conditions including temperatures much higher its unreliable - maybe they were more seeing how well their fuel tanks work.Quote:
Originally Posted by Sonic
Mclaren is only going to have close to their race setup on the car at the last test at Catalunya.
I am pleased for Virgin but really not surprised because they had barely run - around three seconds these days is a lot but other teams also have run that time and we have no idea what they were running fuel wise. I think we can expect even better performances from Virgin.
Large auto manufacturers have always been on a hiding to nowhere at great expense in modern day F1.Quote:
Originally Posted by Valve Bounce
Mercedes purchasing the British team Brawn GP, led by Ross Brawn may pretend that it is the auto manufacturer and install German drivers and paint the cars as "silver arrows", but we all know that it not at all.
Even the FO108W is built and run in England.
I think all the teams - not Ferrari now that it is Italian once again - should ALWAYS play "God Save The Queen" as well as the "teams anthem"!
The pretense that rules the marketing in F1 is ridiculous - but I guess as long as the ignorant general consumer is fooled its okay.
During the season there is a limit on wind tunnel activity. On the other hand there is no CFD limit.Quote:
Originally Posted by ArrowsFA1
This is an approach that could work out well as the season progresses I reckon.
Great to have Sir Richard in F1 and Nick Wirth back in F1 - these are the sort of people that F1 was INVENTED for! :D
Q: cosworth and williams gearbox not compatible all the problems they had in 2006 will they have them again this year ?
http://www.thecheckeredflag.co.uk/20...williams-test/
Quote:
A gearbox problem cut short the team’s day, and Barrichello was unable to finish the day with an attempt on a faster lap time
I love Freddy Mercury too, but isn't this going a bit too far?Quote:
Originally Posted by Saint Devote
:DQuote:
Originally Posted by Valve Bounce
Don't know - we could always add "We are the champions" for Jenson and Mercedes, but then Webber would want "Waltzing Matilda" and maybe Lewis "There'll Aways Be an England" and Bernie would get all bolshy and demand "Britannia Rules The Waves".
Wonder who would want any Gilbert And Sullivan? Probably that quirky fellow who drove Kate's Dirty Sister!!!!
Switzerland is a county in England now?Quote:
Originally Posted by Saint Devote
Definitely - Sid Vicious and Johnny Rotten all the way :s kull:Quote:
Originally Posted by Saint Devote
"God Save the Queen - The Fascist Regime! :bones:
No future for you!!! :s mokin:Quote:
Originally Posted by 52Paddy
You have it alright :DQuote:
Originally Posted by Saint Devote
Now, really - use your noggin!Quote:
Originally Posted by tamburello
Sauber are UNLIKELY to score podiums are they now! :vader:
I'll take that bet! :DQuote:
Originally Posted by Saint Devote
You can have it :s mokin:Quote:
Originally Posted by Sonic
The odds that Sauber will beat Mclaren, Mercedes, Ferrari and Red Bull - EIGHT top drivers in the top four teams versus de la Rosa and Kobayashi into a THIRD place in 2010?
I am sure BetClic will be happy to accomodate you!
I'm sure no one expected Force India to score a pole and a podium in '09 or STR to win a race outright - but it happened! Sauber have a good car and an aggressive driver in Kobay so there's nothing to say they can't reach thepodium this year.Quote:
Originally Posted by Saint Devote
True, it is is possible - this motor racing, but it is probability on which odds are reckoned.Quote:
Originally Posted by Sonic
And is not at all on the side of teams like Sauber given that none of teams likely to occupy the top eight positions of all grands prix are in trouble with their designs.
And neither Kobayashi or de la Rosa are a Vettel.
its top 10 positions this yearQuote:
Originally Posted by Saint Devote
and there is an old saying in sports
"that's why they play the games" and in F1, "that's why they race on sundays"
who knows what will happen on any given race and i think that there are plenty of teams capable of winning races this year
The top eight I referred to are those for the top four teams. I think the word "top" begins to degrade significantly beyond the first five positons anyway.Quote:
Originally Posted by truefan72
I'd say given the unreliability of gauging peformance the only cars in with a real probability of winning races are the top four teams.
IMO Kamui is a very fast driver and can surprise in an odd race. Same about Pedro. But I admit that it will be a very odd race.
Its too early to properly assess Kobayashi. He did not fair too well in GP2, but I do respect the "eye" of Peter Sauber to select good drivers.Quote:
Originally Posted by F1boat
He performed well at Yas Marina and could be the best prospect yet from Japan. Away from the Tokyo influence he can do well.
Agree i need to see some more races of Kobayashi. There's a lot of drivers with lots of victories in F3000, GP2 and no success in F1. The performance in feeders series is not a good parameter to analize a pilot. Koba show us that he is really fast, but this is not the only attribute that has to have a good F1 driver.
But Kamui did well in GP2. He won the asian championship!
Right on! :DQuote:
Originally Posted by F1boat
His junior formula history is not as impressive as, say, Nico Hulkenberg but he has won a major international championship - he's the real deal people and this year he's gonna prove it! :)
you hope :DQuote:
Originally Posted by Sonic
actually, I do to! It would be nice to see a Japanese driver who is properly fast, rather than Nakajima who IMO was not good enough. how did I come to this conclusion? 2009; 35-0 to Rosberg vs Nakajima.
Sato was alright, Hopefully Kamui will be better though
time will tell.
They could surprise, but what if they are fighting with Ferraris for the lead? Maybe the engines will suddenly lose power for the next race... :pQuote:
Originally Posted by F1boat
Nakajima was good enough IMO but bad luck stopped him from scoring in 2009 whenever he was having a good run.Quote:
Originally Posted by UltimateDanGTR
Anyway, another question: Why are Lotus planning on running Fairuz Fauzy instead of Trulli or Kovy on the first day of testing this week? Surely, especially for a new team, it is much more beneficial - no, essential, for the race drivers to get as much mileage as they can before Bahrain.