2014 Pre-Season Testing

Jerez | 28th January - 31st January

• Red Bull – Unknown line-up
  Mercedes – Hamilton (Tues), Rosberg (Wed), Hamilton (Thu), Rosberg (Fri)
  Ferrari – Raikkonen (Tues/Wed), Alonso (Thu/Fri)
  Lotus – Missing test
  McLaren – Button (Tues/Wed), Magnussen (Thu/Fri)
  Force India – Perez (Tues), Hulkenberg (Wed), Juncadella (Thu), TBC (Fri)
  Sauber – Gutierrez (Tues/Wed), Sutil (Thu/Fri)
  Toro Rosso – Vergne (Tue), Kyvat (Wed), Vergne (Thu), Kyvat (Fri)
  Williams – Bottas (Tues/Wed), Massa (Thu/Fri)
  Marussia – Unknown line-up
  Caterham – Ericsson (Tues/Wed), Frijns (Thu), Kobayashi (Fri)

Notes:

• Sauber will begin Jerez test with a roll-out version of the C33 without a number of performance parts, which will be introduced in Bahrain.[/*:m:3m7xdn2a]

Bahrain | 19th February - 22nd February
Schedule unknown

Bahrain | 27th February - 2nd March
Schedule unknown

Cheers for the Info.

Sad to see so little time in the first test being given to 3rd drivers or test pilots.

Lets hope some of them get some time in Bahrain.

No problem. Marussia and Red Bull have now confirmed their Jerez schedule (but can't edit my original post to add them).

Vettel on the Tue/Wed, with Ricciardo finishing the week on Thu/Fri.

Marussia have gone for alternating days, with Chilton on the Tue/Thu and Bianchi on Wed/Fri.

Autosport reporting that Marussia's debut at Jerez has been delayed.

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/112307

Shame. Hope they can get some testing in.

After a few red flags this morning, Hamilton is the first one to go into the barriers, which was down to a car failure... possibly the front wing.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BfEHchMIcAAMqTC.jpg

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Originally Posted by minardi

After a few red flags this morning, Hamilton is the first one to go into the barriers, which was down to a car failure... possibly the front wing.

Confirmed!
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BfEPBRPCIAA-VzF.jpg

Quote:

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11:59 AUTOSPORT's spotters on the ground confirm that it was a front wing failure Mercedes are referring to.

It shattered well before Turn 1 and left Hamilton a helpless passenger, in much the same way as Fernando Alonso's wing broke in Malaysia last year.

Hamilton was able to climb out the car and appeared unhurt.

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Surprised by the amount of teething problems and lack of running. I know there is a big change of rules but with rig and dyno testing plus some teams shaking down previously I thought there would be more running today. Williams and Caterham yet to even show their cars!

Kimi starting to put in some decent times :cool: :angel:

Red Bull off to an ominous start :eek: ;)

Tobias Grüner F1 @tgruener
Follow
Red Bull not on track because a spring in rear suspension was not mounted correctly. Change takes time. AMuS story: http://ams.to/g9
4:49 AM - 28 Jan 2014

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8gZ5yRtxLJw

Video of The Boss' shunt :stareup:

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Originally Posted by Mr Alca-Tazizzle

Red Bull not on track because a spring in rear suspension was not mounted correctly. Change takes time. AMuS story: 4

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Really? All day to change one spring?

A remarkable day. For as long as I have followed winter testing sessions in my life, I can't remember a day, where very few could barely put in proper laps throughout the whole day. But that's how the first day went. Based on that alone could be an interesting start into the season!

McLaren could not even get their car running?
http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/formula1/25924834

I agree with jens – I can't remember a day like this either. Everyone was either not ready to run, or barely ready to go once round the block (if that!). 93 laps between all the teams is a laughable figure.

Mercedes looked most confident early on, and were knocking in the laps (in comparison to the rest) until the wing failed. Ferrari then caught up to where they were having the extra time in the afternoon.

Lap times
1 Kimi Raikkonen (Ferrari) 1:27.104

2 Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) 1:27.820

3 Valtteri Bottas (Williams) 1:30.082

4 Sergio Perez (Force India) 1:33.161

5 Jean-Eric Vergne (Toro Rosso) 1:36.530

I couldn't keep up with the action today as I was at work.

Are these the only 5 to set times of the 9.

Maybe Lotus wa sright after all not to attend the first test?

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Originally Posted by COD

Maybe Lotus wa sright after all not to attend the first test?

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That depends whether by waiting they will be more ready or whether they will be at this stage at the start of the second test. If it's the latter they could be in trouble.

I guess the teams will use this test to get the machines reliable enough so that they can actually start to test performance and set ups in the following tests.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by COD

Maybe Lotus wa sright after all not to attend the first test?

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Possibly, but IMO they are just delaying their teething period. As Paddy Lowe pointed out, they were ready to go partly because of the running they did at Silverstone

Quote:

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“It was going very well. We had the advantage of having been to Silverstone on Friday, so we were well placed to get out this morning right on time. We had a few issues which we hadn’t expected, but in general it was going well, we were building up to longer runs, and it was just at that point that we unfortunately had the failure. It was shaping up to be a very good day. And as it was we achieved a lot in the half day we ran.”.

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http://adamcooperf1.com/2014/01/28/merc ... g-failure/

Quote:

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Originally Posted by minardi

I agree with jens – I can't remember a day like this either. Everyone was either not ready to run, or barely ready to go once round the block (if that!). 93 laps between all the teams is a laughable figure.

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Frankly I'm surprised that more teams didn't try basic shakedowns at Silverstone or 'media' days before the tests because however complex these new cars are the limited testing period makes each day, each lap that much more valuable. I'd have thought they'd have done their best to ensure that the cars could at least turn a wheel before turning up.

Still, it will be interesting to see the reliability rates especially in the first few races. It could be like 2002 where no hopers like Minardi and Toyota threatened to or did score points purely because they were reliable and the cars in front of them all dropped off. Focussing on reliability at the cost of performance could actually make the difference for a team like Marussia or Caterham....

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Malbec

It could be like 2002 where no hopers like Minardi and Toyota threatened to or did score points purely because they were reliable and the cars in front of them all dropped off. Focussing on reliability at the cost of performance could actually make the difference for a team like Marussia or Caterham....

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The case of 2002 was helped by a mass-accident in Turn1 in Australia as well. In 2008 and 2009 at Melbourne there was also some attrition, but those races also had first lap accidents.

I don't know if we could get less than 10 cars getting the chequered flag on reliability issues alone, but combined with a first-corner pile-up it could happen.

I personally remember the beginning of 1999 as a period of unreliability. In the first four races the amount of finishers was: 8, 9, 9, 8. And only in Spain we finally had something more - 13. I remember thinking back then that how come all those high-tech teams can't design cars that even at least half of them would finish races.

However, it has been a long time since we had 10 or less cars finishing a race. Certainly it hasn't happened in the last four years, since the backmarkers are yet to score! Perhaps the same Australia '08 was indeed the last race with <10 finishers. Best ever chance for Marussia and Caterham to score points is about to come! But if they are still genuine backmarkers without threatening teams ahead on pace, their luxury of having a shot at points isn't going to last long - at best a few opening races.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Mr Alca-Tazizzle

Quote:

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Originally Posted by COD

Maybe Lotus wa sright after all not to attend the first test?

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Possibly, but IMO they are just delaying their teething period. As Paddy Lowe pointed out, they were ready to go partly because of the running they did at Silverstone

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There is nothing preventing Lotus to do a similar "shakedown" before the next big thest, is there?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by COD

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Mr Alca-Tazizzle

Quote:

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Originally Posted by COD

Maybe Lotus wa sright after all not to attend the first test?

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Possibly, but IMO they are just delaying their teething period. As Paddy Lowe pointed out, they were ready to go partly because of the running they did at Silverstone

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There is nothing preventing Lotus to do a similar "shakedown" before the next big thest, is there?

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No not at all. I was making two separate points 1: Mercedes was ahead of the game right out of the box today in Paddy Lowe's words because of having already had a partial test day on Friday. 2: Lotus has to start some time, and when they do they will need to get the bugs out of the system just as the other teams are doing. They can have a media day before the next tests but they cannot get these tests days back in their entirety AFAIK.
Please do correct me if I'm wrong.

Also, I'm sure Lotus has sound reasons for not participating this week, but the fact that most other teams struggled the first day isn't one of them in my way of thinking. I do hope they represent themselves well in 2014 :)

I hope Kimi tops today with most laps and fastest time again.

Forca Ferrari!

Found this on YouTube this morning, with the sounds and sights of the new cars plodding their way round the track.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s99QFe6htJ4#t=47

Also, due to the damp track this morning thanks to rain overnight, they've decided to switch the wet testing day from Friday to today and so have wetted the track more. Sadly, I'm expecting a lot of nothing again today. It can't be ideal to get the first lot of mileage of a new car they don't understand on a wet track.

A lot of cars straight out on the damp track apparently. Wonder if there will be many reliability issues today?

A lot more laps completed already today, although some way short of a "normal" test day. Lap times are also a long way off past years, although I guess they haven't even thought about performance yet.

Eight laps completed by Red Bull today, and their day is cut short again. Seems the Renault powered cars are having a lot of problems which is restricting their running.

Positively for them, especially after yesterday, McLaren have completed the most laps so far today and are top of the timesheets.

Sergio Perez Turbo appears to have overheated. His Car stopped with smoke coming from the back.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by minardi

Eight laps completed by Red Bull today, and their day is cut short again. Seems the Renault powered cars are having a lot of problems which is restricting their running.

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The team elected to abandon its running for the day so Renault could be given more time to look into the problem and sort a solution for Thursday.

Vettel has cancelled his media commitments for Wednesday evening and flown home.
http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/112342

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:sailor:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Mia 01

Forca Ferrari!

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Welcome aboard mate :kiss: ;)
Iceman doing great work for the Scuderia, and I expect Fred Redman to compliment Kimi's work on Thurs, and Fri.
This is going to be a dynamic pairing
May the Forza be with both of them. :vader: :dork:

Renault F1 engine starting to resemble more and more their road cars :)

Well I for one think this has all been very interesting so far. :)

@Doc That link about Vettel was funny. When Seb starts failing to be as sunny, it's a good sign that all may not be well. This is making the anticipation for the season more exciting I think.

I have to say after two days, I feel I actually have much less idea of how things are going to go than before the test.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by rjbetty

Well I for one think this has all been very interesting so far. :)

@Doc That link about Vettel was funny. When Seb starts failing to be as sunny, it's a good sign that all may not be well. This is making the anticipation for the season more exciting I think.

I have to say after two days, I feel I actually have much less idea of how things are going to go than before the test.

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Ha Ha! I'm thinking Seb's perambulator may have somehow lost a little ballast :stareup:

Wow I know much of the laps were slow speed but I'm amazed how disappointing the engines sound. Odd, I didn't expect there to be that much difference.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by minardi

Found this on YouTube this morning, with the sounds and sights of the new cars plodding their way round the track.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s99QFe6htJ4#t=47

Also, due to the damp track this morning thanks to rain overnight, they've decided to switch the wet testing day from Friday to today and so have wetted the track more. Sadly, I'm expecting a lot of nothing again today. It can't be ideal to get the first lot of mileage of a new car they don't understand on a wet track.

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Nice Freakin’ vid bro :)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Mr Alca-Tazizzle

Quote:

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Originally Posted by rjbetty

Well I for one think this has all been very interesting so far. :)

@Doc That link about Vettel was funny. When Seb starts failing to be as sunny, it's a good sign that all may not be well. This is making the anticipation for the season more exciting I think.

I have to say after two days, I feel I actually have much less idea of how things are going to go than before the test.

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Ha Ha! I'm thinking Seb's perambulator may have somehow lost a little ballast :stareup:

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Interesting how people hope for Renault to mess up. All of Vettel's four championships were rubbished as "it's all the car" and now people hope that the RB will be crap so Fernando, Kimi or Lewis can win because of having a car advantage. Double standard much?
Car differences will always be there, but I think it is a bit lacking in class to wish problems on someone, because the best racing will be had if people can fight it out, not if one brings a knife to a gun fight.

[quote=dj_bytedisaster]

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Originally Posted by "Mr Alca-Tazizzle":389xgphy

Quote:

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Originally Posted by rjbetty

Well I for one think this has all been very interesting so far. :)

@Doc That link about Vettel was funny. When Seb starts failing to be as sunny, it's a good sign that all may not be well. This is making the anticipation for the season more exciting I think.

I have to say after two days, I feel I actually have much less idea of how things are going to go than before the test.

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Ha Ha! I'm thinking Seb's perambulator may have somehow lost a little ballast :stareup:

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Interesting how people hope for Renault to mess up. All of Vettel's four championships were rubbished as "it's all the car" and now people hope that the RB will be crap so Fernando, Kimi or Lewis can win because of having a car advantage. Double standard much?
Car differences will always be there, but I think it is a bit lacking in class to wish problems on someone, because the best racing will be had if people can fight it out, not if one brings a knife to a gun fight.[/quote:389xgphy]
I have to say I do hope Red Bull are not as competitive this year and that is not lacking class IMO. Whether Vettel is at the front or not, we'll still have decent drivers racing at the front. I hope McLaren, Mercedes and Ferrari are in the fight this year as they all have drivers capable of winning the championship with them being World Champions. If Vettel doesn't feature this year, the quality will not suffer completely because there are guys just as talented who may also have a chance of winning. That's the way the sport goes and lets face it, we've had 5 or more years of very talented guys not getting a look in because their teams have not produced the goods. Vettel has had it very good and from a spectators perspective, myself and many others would like to see a bit of change this year. If the changes mean all the top guys are competitive and we see some honest racing, then I am for that as well. No sour grapes but masses of class here. :)