Jerez testing Feb 10,11,12,13

Oops yes.

I can still forecast Vettel on pole in Melbourne

 

Exactly! I spoke with Ross & Norbert and they, along with Paul Hembery (sp?) assured me my beer was safe this season. - They're doing special Michael tires, have two separate engine supplies ("fast" & "Nico") and a car that only he will be able to drive.



Cheers,
Ian

 

"Something" cooling obviously! That's a pretty gnarly "weekend warrior" solution though - Something is obviously cooking...... How hot is it there? [I thought it was "warm", but not killer hot?]

Cheers,
Ian

 

Ferrari again with most laps run. Other than the broken clamp/oil fire they haven't had a hiccup. Let's hope this reliability continues throughout the season.

 

I have to agree with Tifosi12, Vettel will have the pole at the season opener. I'm still not sure about Mclaren yet as they are reportedly having some balance issues which Button cannot get comfortable with. Ferrari will be strong, but I believe they will be just behind Red Bull. Renault, MB, and Williams are a hell of a craps shoot. They will be in the mix somewhere.

Regarding Bruno, he didn't run on the supersofts all day. His time was set on softs where Nick had a shot with the supersofts. It will still be Nick in the seat, but Bruno did fine today.

 

Here's a table showing the quickest laps from all the drivers over the four days of testing at Jerez..


Pos. Driver Team Time Day
01. R. Barrichello Williams 1:19.832 4
02. M. Schumacher Mercedes 1:20.352 2
03. N. Heidfeld Renault 1:20.361 3
04. F. Massa Ferrari 1:20.413 2
05. F. Alonso Ferrari 1:20.493 3
06. K. Kobayashi Sauber 1:20.601 4
07. J. Button McLaren 1:21.009 2
08. L. Hamilton McLaren 1:21.099 3
09. J. Alguersuari Toro Rosso 1:21.213 2
10. S. Buemi Toro Rosso 1:21.213 4
11. B. Senna Renault 1:21.400 4
12. S. Perez Force India 1:21.483 1
13. M. Webber Red Bull 1:21.522 1
14. S. Vettel Red Bull 1:21.574 3
15. H. Kovalainen Team Lotus 1:21.632 4
16. D. Ricciardo Toro Rosso 1:21.755 1
17. A. Sutil Force India 1:21.780 2
18. N. Rosberg Mercedes 1:22.103 4
19. T. Glock Virgin 1:22.208 2
20. V. Petrov Renault 1:22.493 2
21. P. Maldonado Williams 1:22.591 2
22. P. di Resta Force India 1:22.945 3
23. J. d'Ambrosio Virgin 1:22.985 4
24. J. Trulli Team Lotus 1:23.216 2

 

OMG!!! THIS .... IS.....TOO....MUCH....
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So conclusions after Jerez
Ferrari has reliability & pace
Mb true pace?
Red bull - I'm sure they are fast
Mclaren - alot of gremlins with the new car?
Tires - too many unknowns still?

Thougts?

 

Just my $ 0.02:
- Red Bull and Ferrari at the top
- McLaren and Red Bull probably have not yet shown their real strengh
=> I expect these 3 teams to battle for the title, which means Alonso vs Hami vs Vettel

- MB definitely much better than last year. They have pace and reliability but there are also still problems. Plus I don't think they're as fast as the top three.

=> I don't see MS going for the title, but I expect him and Nico on the podium at some races. I see them as the spear head of the mid field duking it out with Renault's Heidfeld.

Tires are a pain, but equally for everybody. They might throw somebody for a loop, but the teams will figure it out and eventually everybody will be on the same strategy again, thereby damping out the initial game changing effect.

Personally I'm hopeful that Sauber isn't just bluffing. They probably are, but it would be nice if they had actually found some speed.


What I've been missing to see from these tests (not that I expected it anyhow) were the effects of KERS and the rear wing in racing. That'll be certainly stirring the pot at the beginning of the season as well.

Regardless I think we're in for another great season with tight battles lasting to the end of the season.

 

lalalalallalalalalalalala

This is how much the jerez test day means

On Saturday/Sunday in Bahrain we will know for sure. Now, you can´t make any assumptions about any team because we don´t know the real pace.

 

Yeah I can agree with this. Schu coming back is like Michael Jordan coming back and playing with the Washington Wizards. He's capable, but the team is just not there. hoping they pick up though

 

Then again he is surrounded by his buddies and fulfilling his dream of ending his career with the team that gave him the first real meal ticket.

What is your take on his staying power? If this car is "only" good for 2nds or 3rds, will he stay through 2012 hoping they finally make a killer car?

 

If they are competitive this year, and improving he will stay, no doubt...

 

I agree with the above poster. He will stick with it if this car is within .4 of the top runners and he sees some podiums. He wants to fight at the front, and the balance of this car is supposedly fantastic, so maybe it's just a matter of proper aero. What's really going to be interesting is if this year is another 2009 where Brawn (REd Bull in this case) starts the season way at the front and then 2/3 through the season they are no longer there due to everyone catching on to what they are doing and improving on it. I can see that happening this year with Red Bull. It's lonely at the top and everyone is nipping to get your seat........

 

W02 toying with a different type of 3 plane front wing element. Guessing this is temporary.
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Any one want to take a guess how many races it will be that McLaren tosses away that fancy front wing in place of a more traditional one?

 

Just for grins here's last years times;

Pos Driver Team Best Laps 10th 11th 12th 13th

1. Hamilton McLaren 1:19.583 181 - - 1:23.985 1:19.583
2. Alguersuari Toro Rosso 1:19.919 174 - - 1:19.919 1:24.072
3. Kobayashi Sauber 1:19.950 158 1:23.287 1:19.950 - -
4. Buemi Toro Rosso 1:20.026 205 1:21.031 1:20.026 - -
5. Sutil Force India 1:20.180 131 - - 1:21.428 1:20.180
6. Barrichello Williams 1:20.341 210 - - 1:23.217 1:20.341
7. Kubica Renault 1:20.358 188 - 1:22.003 - 1:20.358
8. M.Schumacher Mercedes 1:20.613 207 - 1:21.083 - 1:20.613
9. Button McLaren 1:20.618 151 1:24.947 1:20.618 - -
10. Hulkenberg Williams 1:20.629 185 1:22.243 1:20.629 - -
11. de la Rosa Sauber 1:20.736 163 - - 1:20.736 1:22.134
12. Liuzzi Force India 1:20.754 151 1:24.968 1:20.754 - -
13. Rosberg Mercedes 1:20.927 110 1:20.927 - 1:22.820 -
14. Vettel Red Bull 1:21.203 148 - - 1:21.783 1:21.203
15. Alonso Ferrari 1:21.424 217 1:22.895 1:21.424 - -
16. Massa Ferrari 1:21.485 232 - - 1:21.603 1:21.485
17. Petrov Renault 1:22.000 95 1:25.440 - 1:22.000 -
18. Webber Red Bull 1:22.043 149 1:26.502 1:22.043 - -
19. di Grassi Virgin 1:22.912 71 - - 1:37.107 1:22.912
20. Glock Virgin 1:29.964 16 1:38.734 1:29.964 - -

 

Why do you have Perez down as being with Force India?

 

MS will stay around for year 3 of his comeback ... unless he wins the title this year!!!!!!!!!!