If MS retires and Kimi goes to Toyota Rossi might turn out to be Ferrari's best/only option. Short of hiring JPM that is...
actually, yeah. remember, the only time a rider is sitting on his bike is on the straights. other than that, he's off the bike, balancing speed, controlling the bike etc.
Yeah MotoGP drivers are fit - no question about it. However, I think Rossi needs to work on his neck muscles and arm muscles more if he gets into F1. But I dont think it is a big deal - if lil Nick Heidfeld or Kimi Raikkonen can get it done so can he. Its just a matter of training differently and training more. To me the more important questions are: (1) Does have the same speed in a car that he undoubtedly has in the bike (2) Will he be able to adapt to a totally different racing environment - one with pitstops, longer periods of concentration, passing strategically, getting used to aero, four wheel weight transfer into corners rather than 2. Anoth (3) Is he capable of working with a full-fledged team - F1 is less driver centric than GP bikes. Even Michael coudnt do much to improve Ferrari's plight last year. Instead of going to Ferrari, I think Rossi should get into a Jordan, Minardi or Red Bull for the first year - it will be a less pressurised and easier way to get into F1. If he is good he can get a race drive with any tema he wants to. If he isn't that good - one can always say the car sucked
OOP'S Valentino Rossi embarrassed himself during testing today with Ferrari by spinning out on his first and only lap. This was the MotoGP World Champion's first ever test alongside other drivers and this combined with the rain, made things very difficult for him. Carol
Driving in the rain - they dont do much of that in MotoGP right? That would be another thing he needs to get used to.
The point is it's a different set of muscles being used in MotoGP. No one said it was easy. He will have to get his neck fit to drive full time.
Here are the testing times from Valencia, Rossi did a pretty good job, only a second off Micheal. Give him sometime and I think he could be up there. 1. F. Alonso - Renault R26 - 1'11"229 (+0"000) - 47 laps 2. M. Schumacher - Ferrari F2004/248 F1 - 1'11"821 (+0"592) - 73 laps 3. J.P. Montoya - McLaren Mercedes MP4/21 - 1'11"978 (+0"749) - 68 laps 4. J. Button - Honda RA106 - 1'11"998 (+0"769) - 85 laps 5. R. Barrichello - Honda RA106 -1'12"063 (+0"834) - 115 laps 6. J. Villeneuve - BMW Sauber F1.06 - 1'12"628 (+1"399) - 72 laps 7. R. Zonta - Toyota TF106 - 1'12"668 (+1"439) - 78 laps 8. V. Rossi - Ferrari F2004 V10 - 1'12"863 (+1"634) - 49 laps 9. D. Coulthard - Red Bull Ferrari RB2 - 1'12"891 (+1"662) - 37 laps 10. A. Wurz - Williams Cosworth FW27C - 1'12"930 (+1"701) - 83 laps 11. G. Paffett - McLaren Mercedes MP4/20 V10 - 1'12"937 (+1"708) - 115 laps 12. M. Webber - Williams Cosworth FW28 - 1'13"021 (+1"792) - 72 laps 13. J. Trulli - Toyota TF106 - 1'13"075 (+1"846) - 108 laps 14. R. Kubica - BMW Sauber C24B - 1'13"472 (+2"243) - 64 laps 15. H. Kovalainen - Renault R26 - 1'13"679 (+2"450) - 26 laps
Agreed in principle, yet based on the timing sheet it looks as if we're still not comparing apples to apples: He didn't drive the new car as Michael did. On a different note: 2.5 seconds off the pace for Kovalainen isn't so good either. Hmm.
Rossi was driving a F2004 fitted with a detuned V10 engine. Kovalainen made his debut at the wheel of the R26. I give him a chance..
Given the conditions its hard to compare any of the top times to Rossi. Only time will tell if Rossi is up to speed. Also on a side note I believe the F2004 had a v-8 in the test today?
There are 3 chassis at Valencia. (248 F1, F2004 V8 and F2004 detuned V10) Yesterday Schumi drove the 248 and F2004 V8. (best time in the F2004) Rossi drove the F2004 detuned V10 for half a lap. Today....248 for Schumi and F2004 detuned V10 for Rossi. Tomorrow Massa will join Schumacher and Rossi.
Does anyone have a break down of what times were done in what cars (2. M. Schumacher - Ferrari F2004/248 F1 - 1'11"821 (+0"592) - 73 laps). I am curious how the new car is doing specifically. I am concerned that the 2004 has a lower wing than current regulations allow and that is why it is going so fast in tests.
Really, we are 3rd fastest.And Kovalainen is 6th fastest. These are the official times of today. Pos Driver Team Tyres Time Laps 1. Alonso Renault (M) 1:11.291 52 2. Button Honda (M) 1:11.327 87 3. M.Schumacher Ferrari (B) 1:11.831 72 4. Montoya McLaren-Mercedes (M) 1:11.998 68 5. Barrichello Honda (M) 1:12.062 112 6. Kovalainen Renault (M) 1:12.113 27 7. Villeneuve BMW-Sauber (M) 1:12.619 77 8. Zonta Toyota (B) 1:12.660 87 9. Rossi Ferrari (B) 1:12.856 51 10. Coulthard Red Bull-Ferrari (M) 1:12.883 36 11. Wurz Williams-Cosworth (B) 1:12.925 82 12. Paffett McLaren-Mercedes (M) 1:12.937 116 13. Webber Williams-Cosworth (B) 1:13.050 68 14. Trulli Toyota (B) 1:13.078 105 15. Kubica BMW-Sauber (M) 1:13.332 65
I guess the times I had were from earlier in the day. That being said, I am still curious what the fastest times for Michael were by car to see how the 248 is doing. Anyone subscribe to any service that gives full data and lap times?
Oh, wow: Kovalainen now only one second off the pace. Alonso said in an interview that he is optimistic to defend the title with the new car and that he also thinks that it all depends on Michael and the new Ferrari.
Yesterday.... 50 laps in the F2004 V8 (best time 1.20.361) and 38 laps in the 248 F1 (best time 1.20.519.) Today.. In Ferrari's press release it says: "The day's programme focussed mainly on the development of the 248 F1, which was in the hands of Michael Schumacher. The German driver covered a total of 71 laps, the quickest in a time of 1.11.814." I guess today he only drove the 248. Full laptimes I don't have.
great thanks. I looked at all the pics from the test today and did not even see him in the 2004 so you are prob right. Might have been a miss quote from the news article I read. Thanks. Still good news he is up on the time sheets because Ferrari notoriously tests with more fuel that most. That is why their cars have historically (since 2000) been are so strong in the races as opposed to qualifying.
Rossi's efforts today: http://crash.net/news_view~t~Rossi-matches-F1-regulars-~cid~6~id~124803.htm ....MotoGP World Champion Valentino Rossi put his opening day Valencia embarrassment well and truly behind him with a solid second day for Ferrari - during which he set the 9th best lap time out of the 15 drivers present! The test marks Rossi's fourth outing in a Ferrari Formula One car, but is his first 'real' test - with other teams and drivers on track at the same time - after previous private test sessions held at Fiorano and Mugello. However, Rossi was left red faced on Tuesday when his rain delayed Valencia debut, on wet weather tyres and in front of most of the F1 paddock, ended within half a lap after the Italian superstar spun and stalled his F2004 M. But it was arguably the regular F1 drivers who were left red faced on Wednesday when the #46 set a best lap time of 1min 12.851secs from 53 laps - placing the seven times motorcycling world champion just 1.622secs from fastest man, and reigning F1 world champion, Fernando Alonso of Renault. (Follow the link for the rest of the article.) Leading times (1 February) - Valencia: 1. Fernando Alonso Renault-Renault 1m 11.229s 47 laps M * 2. Jenson Button Honda-Honda 1m 11.332s 86 laps M * 3. Michael Schumacher Ferrari-Ferrari 1m 11.814s 71 laps B * 4. Juan Montoya McLaren-Mercedes 1m 11.978s 68 laps M * 5. Rubens Barrichello Honda-Honda 1m 12.063s 115 laps M * 6. Heikki Kovalainen Renault-Renault 1m 12.122s 32 laps M * 7. Jacques Villeneuve BMW-Sauber 1m 12.622s 75 laps M * 8. Ricardo Zonta Toyota-Toyota 1m 12.668s 78 laps B * 9. Valentino Rossi Ferrari-Ferrari 1m 12.851s 53 laps B 10. David Coulthard Red Bull-Ferrari 1m 12.891s 36 laps M * 11. Alex Wurz Williams-Cosworth 1m 12.925s 82 laps B 12. Gary Paffett McLaren-Mercedes 1m 12.937s 115 laps M 13. Mark Webber Williams-Cosworth 1m 13.050s 68 laps B * 14. Jarno Trulli Toyota-Toyota 1m 13.075s 108 laps B * 15. Robert Kubica BMW-Sauber 1m 13.353s 69 laps M Also: http://crash.net/news_view~t~Valencia-test---day-two--1-February-~cid~1~id~124802.htm Michael Schumacher was third for Ferrari, focusing mainly on the development of the 248 F1, his best lap a 1m 11.814s. The German covered 71 laps, while MotoGP star, Valentino Rossi ran in the F2004 M, notching up 53 laps after his embarrassing spin on his installation lap in the wet yesterday. The Italian was around a second slower, but he was still ninth overall on the timesheets, with a more than respectable time - a 1m 12.851s. Schumacher and Rossi will be joined by Felipe Massa on Thursday.
I have given up on analysing these times - they are too many variables at play - this year's car, last years car, long runs, speed runs, air/track temps, weather, V8/V10. Mar 12 is when all this bull**** stops
