Official: Testing Thread

Much better

 

15:24 Hamilton in, and an army of McLaren mechanics are in immediate attendance

Oh No!!

 

Senna, 111 laps and climbing in a 2012 car... impressive. At least the Williams seems reliable if still lacking in pace a little.

 

Session over. Good day for Lotus and Williams.

 

good day of testing, seems a few teams had a few niggles today while others got many laps in.

 

Looks like Bianchi has ruined FI's day.. quite major to be fair.

 

Fin.
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<table class="tableizer-table">
<tr class="tableizer-firstrow"><th>P</th><th>Driver</th><th>Team</th><th>Time</th><th>Laps</th></tr> <tr><td>1</td><td>*Rosberg</td><td>Mercedes</td><td>*1m17.613s</td><td>118</td></tr> <tr><td>2</td><td>*Grosjean</td><td>Lotus</td><td>*1m18.419s**+0.806</td><td>117</td></tr> <tr><td>3</td><td>*Vettel</td><td>Red Bull</td><td>*1m19.297s**+1.684</td><td>96</td></tr> <tr><td>4</td><td>*Hamilton</td><td>McLaren</td><td>*1m19.464s**+1.851</td><td>80</td></tr> <tr><td>5</td><td>*Vergne</td><td>Toro Rosso</td><td>*1m19.734s**+2.121</td><td>79</td></tr> <tr><td>6</td><td>*Perez</td><td>Sauber</td><td>*1m19.770s**+2.157</td><td>48</td></tr> <tr><td>7</td><td>*Alonso</td><td>Ferrari</td><td>*1m20.412s**+2.799</td><td>67</td></tr> <tr><td>8</td><td>*Senna</td><td>Williams</td><td>*1m21.293s**+3.680</td><td>125</td></tr> <tr><td>9</td><td>*Van der Garde</td><td>Caterham</td><td>*1m23.324s**+5.711</td><td>74</td></tr></table>

 

Looking forward to the season already. I know it's only testing but I like the look of Lotus, quick and reliable so far.

 

What are peoples thoughts on Mercedes at the moment? they seem like they are dulling down any massive improvements.. but why leave the car so late?

 

I've just realised the implication of my bets at the gambling game. Because of a couple of punts on Schumi, the best result for me is probably for Rosberg to win the WDC

 

Shades of three years ago?

 

What do you mean mate? that they are doing a Brawn GP thing..

 

I feel a bit better about Williams after today, the fact they have a reliable base is nothing but a huge positive. Just got to turn the wick up now and try and push back into the midfield.

 

Im sure Senna will relay some very usefull infomation on the car today. Everything is starting to look rosier at williams now =)

 

Williams closer to the pace, very good day for them.
Also note Toro Rosso and Sauber.
Less good perhaps for Caterham and especially Ferrari - for all their talk of "data acquisition" the fact is they did half the laps of Mercedes and Lotus and are still ****e.

(Also: I totally called that the reactive ride height on the Lotus was a smokescreen for their other aero parts. Looks at the moment like they'll be very in the hunt for 4th in the CC.)

 

Just hope they aren't desperately ssearching for positives out of the gloom. You could have the most planted and best balanced car in the world, but if it doesn't have the raw speed it isn't going to be much worth to you

 

Bianchi has immediately blotted his copy-book. I am not impressed.

Crashing out during testing is bad enough, but doing it by pushing too hard on one's first lap is an almost unforgivable 'Rookie error'.
Too excitable: he needs to calm down - and fast.

 

Contrasting moods coming out of Mclaren and Ferrari.

 

I remember Eddie Irvine summarising his Jag a few years ago, saying it felt perfect and was still slow. He said that this was worse than handling like a dog and being slow, because at least in that situation you know there are quick wins to be found.

 

Pretty much.

Even if I'm wrong, Mercedes were pretty hit/miss with the tyres last year. In this test the track is familiar, the equipment is familiar, the drivers are the same, and the tyres are the main variable. If they're remotely confident in the package then this week shouldn't be a disadvantage.