FORUMula1.com - F1 Forum

[andrew]

I've never liked ESPNF1. TotalF1 is the best for F1 news and has loads of good links. Nextgen Auto is good but sometimes limited.

What do you think of Autosport?

It's hit and miss. I only occasionally look at it but it has nothing that I can't find elsewhere.

[LewEngBridewell]

I've never liked ESPNF1. TotalF1 is the best for F1 news and has loads of good links. Nextgen Auto is good but sometimes limited.

What do you think of Autosport?

It's hit and miss. I only occasionally look at it but it has nothing that I can't find elsewhere.

I tend to use Autosport a fair bit, F1.com and the BBC F1 site. I sometimes read through the articles here too. I used to use motorsport.com absolutely ages ago, when it was easier on the eye (and the browser). It's a bit messy these days.

[racechick]

I subscribe to autosport so i get the weekly magazine and the online version. I find it very informative though some journalists are way better than others. DC's article is usually very lightweight. Mark Hughes I mostly agree with though not always but his technical know how is ace! Some of the others are a little partisan in one directuion or another; and I miss nigel roebuck SO much. He was great! But overall its a good read with loads of info.

[McLaren]

Anyone know what the dates are for all pre-season testing please.Have tried looking but not in the right places

[bud]

I like to see live updates from this site, even though its Dutch you can still get the gist of things

http://www.f1today.nl/

Circuit de Catalunya
21 februari
22 februari
23 februari
24 februari

Circuit de Catalunya
1 maart
2 maart
3 maart
4 maart

[McLaren]

Thanks,for some reason i thought there was another test after that before the season starts.

[What's Burning?]

Thanks,for some reason i thought there was another test after that before the season starts.

Yeah, it's called Friday practice.

[vlad]

New Mercedes completes private test at Barcelona

Mercedes’ new F1 W03 will only be officially launched on Tuesday morning, but that hasn’t stopped the team from racking up kilometres in the car at a private test at Barcelona on Sunday.

After carrying out a shakedown at Silverstone last week, Mercedes jetted out to Spain early, ahead of this week’s second multi-team test at the Circuit de Catalunya. Earlier this month they opted to test their 2011 car for three of the four days of the Jerez test and so had a day in hand to use as they wished.

During Sunday’s outing, Michael Schumacher was behind the wheel in the morning before team mate Nico Rosberg took over in the afternoon. The new Mercedes has already completed over 300 kilometres.

Source:
http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2012/2/13026.html


This is really interesting... They are paying for private tests, to cover the time loss with the new car...

[LewEngBridewell]

They are paying for private tests, to cover the time loss with the new car...

Well let's see if this "extra time" of theirs will pay dividends.

[bud]

think it was only more shakedown miles, on film day tyres like what they used at Silverstone.

[darwin dali]

think it was only more shakedown miles, on film day tyres like what they used at Silverstone.

Well it says they had one unused test day left from the first test, so it could have been a regular private test day for them.

[vlad]

http://www.thef1times.com/testing/


Live testing timing... As we can see, Red Bull and McLaren finally decided to push a little. Mercedes, as expected, reserved.

[scotty]

Nico Hulkenberg has been pleasantly surprised how well-balanced his new Force India has felt around the Barcelona circuit, after an encouraging first day's running this week.

The German, who was having only his second full day in the car, was second fastest behind Sebastian Vettel on the timesheets after completing 97 laps on the first day of this week's Barcelona test.

"We had a good day, it was a positive programme," he said. "We started with some aero gathering this morning, some tyre comparisons with different compounds, and then long runs this afternoon.

"Generally there were no reliability issues, so there was a very positive impression of the car and a good feeling today."

With Barcelona demanding good aerodynamic performance from the car, Hulkenberg said he was encouraged by how good his car felt around the Spanish GP venue.

"It was pretty good, surprisingly well," he explained. "Maybe it suits a little bit better here than Jerez. I am also getting better. It is my second day, as Jerez was my first day after a long time out of the car. Each day, each kilometre is better."

He added: "Reliability wise, the whole picture just looks very good right now. We are bedding in right now. Today, after lunch, I got back in and felt comfortable again. It feels a bit more like home - I am going through the sensation of that feeling. So, so far so good."

General F1 opinion is that if you're good at Barcelona, you're good everywhere... Force India are definitely dark horses this season.

[vlad]

Vettel said that McLaren's long run simulation is really good. Rivals, yet again!

[LRW]

From BBC1.....

With testing ongoing, it has emerged that there is some debate about whether all are complying with new rules governing engine mapping.

This has been heavily restricted this season in an attempt to stop teams using exhausts for aerodynamic effect.

BBC Sport understands that the parameters being used by some teams are under discussion and that governing body the FIA may issue a clarification of the rules this week.