FORUMula1.com - F1 Forum

[simcaster]

We need a Winter testing thread on this Forum. Its a bit late for the last test but it would be good throughout March. Keep everyone up-to-date with times and info.

Here's a helpful link. That show the times set by drivers.

This one is good for Jerez and some others but I am not sure:

http://directo.thef1.es/tests/

This one I have been using for Bahrain:

http://www.f1today.nl/uitslagen/testses ... al-circuit

You can change the dates by changing the corresponding parts in the URL.
The /02/ part is for the month.
The /16/ part is for the date.
The last part is for the circuit but I am not sure how that works.

Also, post some pictures if you have any.

[f1ea]

Algarve JAN 09 - Mclaren, Williams, Renault, Toro Rosso, BMW
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MsQGCuy10xg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4p4NnuWpC24

Mugello JAN 09 - Ferrari F60
Kimi:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XcIr3yhW ... re=related
Massa:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QaHflULu ... re=related

Jerez FEB 09 - Mclaren, Red Bull, Renault, Williams
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WTE_5FIPPvA

[Rivelution]

I cant wait to see Bourdais behind the wheel of the new STR in Jerez. Will all the teams be testing next week?

[simcaster]

I cant wait to see Bourdais behind the wheel of the new STR in Jerez. Will all the teams be testing next week?

I think so. I can't wait to see the Force India and fingers crossed the Honda/Virgin Car.

There should definitely be plenty to talk about.
I hope Fisichella has a good ride this year. Whereas he was erratic at Renault in 05/06 I think a year in a slow car will have matured him a little bit more. He was definitely consistent and he gave Raikkonen and Hamilton short but well fought battles in Brazil last year.

[7UpJordan]

I cant wait to see Bourdais behind the wheel of the new STR in Jerez. Will all the teams be testing next week?

I think so. I can't wait to see the Force India and fingers crossed the Honda/Virgin Car.

There should definitely be plenty to talk about.
I hope Fisichella has a good ride this year. Whereas he was erratic at Renault in 05/06 I think a year in a slow car will have matured him a little bit more. He was definitely consistent and he gave Raikkonen and Hamilton short but well fought battles in Brazil last year.

And he made it a hat trick in Turkey, a hat trick of causing a first corner crash. Will he go for the quadruple this season?

[EwanM]

Nick: Confident but not confident
Saturday 21st February 2009

Although Nick Heidfeld is confident that BMW are working in the right direction, the German concedes it's "difficult" to be confident about success this season.


Heidfeld has spent the past two weeks testing at the Sakhir circuit in Bahrain where BMW demonstrated the pace of the new F1.09, topping the timesheets on Monday.


But even when they were not at the top, the manufacturer outfit found themselves well within range of the day's leading team.


The car, despite a few minor hiccups, also proved to be largely reliable, leaving Heidfeld confident about BMW's prospects for this year's Championship.


However, having said that, the German admits that there is still a great deal about the how the new regulations could play out, that leaves a lot up in the air.


"It's difficult to be confident considering the situation everybody is in now - there are so many unknown factors this season," he told the Gulf Daily News.


"But I'm confident in the team, and I'm confident we are working very hard and doing the right things with the development of the car."

http://www.planetf1.com/story/0,18954,3 ... 23,00.html

[EwanM]

Bahrain officials admit to dog danger
Friday 20th February 2009

Officials working at the Bahrain circuit having admitted that stray dogs running too close to the track almost brought testing to a halt on more than one occasion this past week.


On two of the four days of testing, track officials were forced to yellow flag the drivers when stray dogs made it onto the run-off areas of the Sakhir track.


Track marshals were able to chase the dogs back towards the desert, but the incidents have raised concerns about safety at the track.


"They came very near the track and it was a dangerous position," Bahrain Motor Federation operations officer and course clerk Jassim Ebrahim told the GDN.


"We don't know what they will do or where they will go while in the circuit, so we have to take the right precautions for them to leave the track as soon as possible. So whether they are in the run-off area or on the track, it is the same dangerous position.


"We chased them back quickly so we didn't have to red flag the tests, which is a good thing."


This is not the first time a track has had problems with dogs. Last year the Turkish GP found itself in hot water after a dog ran onto the track during the GP2 race and was hit by Bruno Senna. The Istanbul track, however, escaped sanctions.

http://www.planetf1.com/story/0,18954,3 ... 53,00.html

lol It seems as though the Dogs are looking for Bruno Senna. Revenge me thinks.

[Rivelution]

Force India have announced that their 2009 challenger, the VJM02, will make its track debut at Jerez on Sunday. The car’s unveiling will take place ahead of a multi-team test at the Spanish circuit.

Drivers Giancarlo Fisichella and Adrian Sutil will both be present at the launch of the Mercedes-engined car, which team owner Vijay Mallya hopes will bring them their first Formula One points in 2009.

Force India, formed following Mallya’s takeover of Spyker in late 2007, failed to score last season despite Ferrari power. However, after a management shakeup and the signing of a new technical partnership with McLaren, the team are hoping for bigger things this year.

The majority of Force India’s rivals revealed their new cars last month and only Toro Rosso and the beleaguered Honda team have still to confirm launch dates.

http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2009/2/8953.html

[Rivelution]

Red Bull’s Sebastian Vettel was the fastest man at Jerez on Sunday as the penultimate pre-season test of 2009 got underway. Vettel put in a best time of 1m 19.005s around the Spanish circuit to finish over a second clear of second-placed Felipe Massa for Ferrari.

Testing continues until Thursday.


1. Sebastian Vettel, Red Bull, 1:19.055
2. Felipe Massa, Ferrari, 1:20.330
3. Kamui Kobayashi, Toyota, 1:20.699
4. Nico Rosberg, Williams, 1:21.171
5. Robert Kubica, BMW Sauber, 1:21.292
6. Giancarlo Fisichella, Force India, 1:21.584
7. Pedro de la Rosa, McLaren, 1:21.831
8. Nelson Piquet, Renault, 1:22.011

http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2009/3/8970.html

[Denthúl]

That's a pretty big difference between Vettel and Massa.

It would never be that much during a grand prix weekend, but it's encouraging to see that the Red Bull is constantly being a fast car.

[cap-dude]

Try reading into those times

You really can't tell a thing from the times. Red Bull were clear by 1.3 secs, clearly because everyones running different programs etc. The only thing we can take from todays test is the odd amount of car faliures. McLaren, Williams, Red Bull, Renault. A McLaren failing surprises me the most though, considering Lewis's car had 100% reliability last year. Although, it doesn't say why the car stopped, so again its hard to judge or take anything from it. Teething problems are expected really.

Still, I remember when the Red Bull debuted, it was impressive that their car was 2nd fastest on its first outing, and again today we see them clear by 1.3 seconds. A massive margin. Either Red Bull are running a lot less conservatively than its rivals, or they've got one hell of a car on their hands. But we'll see what happens over the week.


*Also, check out McLarens funky new rear wing.

[Jensonb]

That's the thing with this year, the known unknowns outnumber the rest of the things we know by a wide margin. Which means we can't predict anything.

Which is a damn good thing

Edit: Once again, that is easily the prettiest McLaren since 2005

[Denthúl]

Interesting wing indeed. I really do hope that the RBR is that good and will be running at the front all year long. It will be nice to see Vettel and Webber fighting for the championship.

[Rivelution]

That's a pretty big difference between Vettel and Massa.

It would never be that much during a grand prix weekend, but it's encouraging to see that the Red Bull is constantly being a fast car.

Cant wait til qualifying to see who has the best car.

[EwanM]

Day One belongs to Vettel
Sunday 1st March 2009

The opening day of testing at Jerez belonged to Sebastian Vettel, who beat his rivals by over a second.


For the first time in pre-season testing, eight F1 teams were out in force in their new 2009 challengers. It was Red Bull, though, who proved to have the early upper hand.


On a day that was interrupted with a mid-day rain shower, Vettel posted an impressive 1:19.055 in his Red Bull racer, easily outpacing the Ferrari of Felipe Massa by almost 1.3s.


Massa's day, though, wasn't without problems as an off-track excursion for the Brazilian saw him sidelined for part of the afternoon.


Toyota test driver Kamui Kobayashi was another who impressed with his turn of pace, putting his TF109 up into third place. "This morning was my first real chance to try out the TF109 in dry conditions," said the Japanese driver.


"From the first run the car felt easy to drive so we were able to get straight into our programme of aero work. It certainly feels like a step forward from last year.


"The shower interrupted our afternoon but we still made it through our programme. Overall it went well so this was a good day of testing for us."


Fourth place went to Williams driver Nico Rosberg, who found himself just over two seconds off the pace while Robert Kubica was a further 0.1s back. The BMW driver, though, managed just 47 laps due to a precautionary engine change after sensors indicated there was a problem with his BMW power unit.


"Unfortunately I couldn't drive as many laps as planned. In the afternoon the session was interrupted by five red flags and the changing weather," said Kubica. "Because of this I expect a very busy day tomorrow."


Giancarlo Fisichella, putting the new Force India VJM02 through its paces, finished an admirable sixth, ahead of McLaren's Pedro de la Rosa and Renault's Nelson Piquet.


Piquet's day, however, was once again hampered by the reliability problems that have been plaguing Renault."We had a few issues with the car today which limited our mileage, but we still managed to evaluate some of the new parts we brought to this test," he said.


"The track was improving throughout the day as we had a lot of cars running and so it should get better and better throughout the week.


"Looking ahead to tomorrow, the priority is to get more miles under our belt - the weather should be similar so hopefully we will get another dry day."


Times
1 S. Vettel Red Bull 01:19.055 87 laps
2 F. Massa Ferrari 01:20.330 63 laps
3 K. Kobayashi Toyota 01:20.699 79 laps
4 N. Rosberg Williams 01:21.171 71 laps
5 R. Kubica BMW 01:21.292 47 laps
6 G. Fisichella Force India F1 01:21.584 31 laps
7 P. de la Rosa McLaren 01:21.831 94 laps
8 N. Piquet jr. Renault 01:22.011 52 laps

http://www.planetf1.com/story/0,18954,3213_4990857,00.html