238 replies to this topic

[Solar]

07:55 Good morning and welcome to the first AUTOSPORT Live commentary of the 2012 season, as Formula 1 testing kicks off at Jerez.



Circuito de Jerez, Spain
Length: 4.428 km / 2.751miles



http://live.autospor...tary.php/id/435

And so it begins,
Solar.

[Viva Alonso]

08:24 Raikkonen sets a 1m20.992s, our first flying lap of the year.

[Viva Alonso]

Last's year best time was a 1.19.6.

[Viva Alonso]

[Viva Alonso]

09:04 So an hour into 2012 F1 winter testing, and Raikkonen is fastest on a 1m20.514s, 1.5s ahead of Kobayashi, 3.9s ahead of Massa and 4.1s ahead of Ricciardo. Di Resta and Rosberg have only done slower evaluation runs, and no one else has set a time so far.

[Viva Alonso]

InsideFerrari

First run completed without any issue. Data collection is the main goal of today's work, as normal in the first day of running for a new car

[Viva Alonso]

Quote

I’ve just been speaking to Ted Kravitz and he’s given me the following on McLaren: “Jenson Button’s done a sequence of installation laps. Thankfully, his McLaren has not sprouted a stepped nose between the launch and the first test. It seems that McLaren are confident the lower nose concept is the right way for them to go. In simple terms, what they might be losing in aero efficiency, which is the benefit the high nose gives you, they believe they gain in mechanical grip - which will give the drivers a more predictable, well-balanced car, in which they can show what they do.”

Ted’s also been opining on Red Bull – the World Champions being the only team yet to take to the track: “One hour gone and still no action in the Red Bull garage. When I arrived at the track at 7.45am, the Red Bull nightshift mechanics were just leaving. So there’s clearly been a lot of work to get the new RB8 to run. The launch pictures didn’t give much away, so we’re waiting to see what the letterbox-shaped slot on the stepped nose actually does. Early thoughts from the paddock are that it gives an aero benefit, in that it gives air that would normally be disturbed by the step in the nose somewhere to go - therefore smoothing out the airflow around the top of the car.”

[Solar]

09:55 Raikkonen sets a new fastest time - a blistering 1m19.670s.
09:56 That's quicker than any time set in Jerez testing last winter, and puts him 1.7s clear of second-placed Rosberg.

Seems the Lotus and Kimi combo have found us some excitement for 2012,
Solar.

[Solar]

I know Ferrari has stated that we shouldn't be expecting quick times from them just yet, and it's still very early days and everybody's focussed on gathering as much data as possible, but already the RB8 is showing signs of ominous pace...

Webber's set a lap time of 1m19.184s already, pipping Kimi's time of yesterday and also setting the quickest time of testing in Jerez, though Schumi is currently on top with a 1m18.622s in the 2011 car.

Ah it's just nice to have action again!
Solar.

[Viva Alonso]

Lets put the times a bit into perspective..

Schumacher - a new fastest lap in 1m18.561s..... and this in a 2011 car
Webber second Followed by Ricciardo only 1 sec behind the Schumi..

Just about all of them is already faster than the best times set last year....

I know its not what we wnat to see from Ferrari but they have a lot more to test than some other teams as our car is basically a complete new design whereas the others are a based on last years car to a large extend.

[Solar]

No problem with that, like I said, it's all about gathering data at this stage in order to further develop and refine, I'm just pointing out that the RB8 is already looking mighty, so the teams have to focus extra hard on ensuring their cars are in the most balanced, refined shape they can get it.

Already they (all of them) have to chase RBR,
Solar.

[Mata Hari]

RBR is the team to chase, has been for the last 24 months why would things change now Viva, Solar????

Ok ok, give Ferrari time and space.....

Wink

[vlagman]

RBR is the team to chase, has been for the last 24 months why would things change now Viva, Solar????

Ok ok, give Ferrari time and space.....

Wink

Why not?

[Mata Hari]

It seems i am the only one on this forum who actually dn expect the other teams to catch RBR this year??

In my heart RBR going to dictate again. Maybe not the huge extent 2011 gut feel tells me thers still aways for the othe teams. But hey, my moneys on the table, gut feel and all. Its early days i wont lead you down the garden path.....

[Viva Alonso]

Reading some of the other forums there seems to be panic, anxiety and doom with regards to the Ferrari's times?
It would appear as if some of the Tifosi are starting to believe all the other rubbish out there that Ferrari don't know how to build a race car.
For all of you that have forgotten --->

The Ferrari team has achieved unparalleled success in Formula One and holds many significant records including:

• Most constructor championships: 16
• Most driver championships: 15
• Most Grands Prix participated (all-time): 832
• Most Grands Prix started (all-time): 830
• Most wins (all-time): 216
• Most wins (season): 15 (shared with Mclaren)
• Most podiums (all-time): 653
• Most podiums (season): 29
• Most one-two finishes (all-time): 81
• Most pole positions (all-time): 205
• Most WCC points (all-time): 4,864.5
• Most WDC points (all-time): 5,766.27
• Most fastest laps (all-time): 227
• Highest winning percentage (for teams with at least 10 wins): ~26%

Ferrari is also the most successful F1 engine manufacturer, with 217 wins.

Also dont forget guys that that the F2012 has:
1. new suspention at the front and at the rear
2. new cooling system
3. new exhaust ... hell its a new car!
all this things have to be tested on how they work and how to set up and develop them.
Ferrari have a lot more to do than other teams, who developed last years cars, and only have to find out their performance with out the blown diffuser and understand the new tyres.
Our car has alot of potencial and a lot bigger developement areas because its all new car,so we need to understand our car first.

Ferrari is stressing that the headline laptime (right now, 2.499s off Michael Schumacher's fastest time) isn't important. It's a fair position, as this is only the second day of running of the car and there is a huge amount of work for everyone to do with their car set-ups, tyre use and development parts before the real pace is there to be seen.

"It's fair to say that the Ferrari hasn't looked brilliant on track so far, but it has a very tight programme to work through. Right now, the last thing teams are worried about is qualifying pace so no one will be going for flying times on a thimble of fuel even at the top of the timesheets."

(Above quotes from another forum)

Hell I feel better now!!! haha

[Mata Hari]

Sure Vlag feels better too

Between you and me, i believe Ferrari will be RBRs challenger this year, not McClaren or Lotus or Merc

Its early days Viva, dont strss chum. Are McClaren worried re their nose yet or have they released something i havent yet read re their shape...

[Viva Alonso]

http://img220.images...dms1208fe51.jpg

http://img802.images...dms1208fe79.jpg

some nice Ferrari Pics

[Mata Hari]

I'll go look tonight, battle sometimes to see pics on tablet...

[Viva Alonso]

Sure Vlag feels better too

Between you and me, i believe Ferrari will be RBRs challenger this year, not McClaren or Lotus or Merc

Its early days Viva, dont strss chum. Are McClaren worried re their nose yet or have they released something i havent yet read re their shape...

Have not heard to much about the Macca... which on its own is a worry...

Read some McLaren threads on other forums and they are just as worried as some of the Tifossi !! also a lot of talk about Charlie W.

Here a nice pic of the Macca

http://www.formula1....dms1208fe77.jpg

[Viva Alonso]

http://www.dailymoti...-1-feb-7th_auto

Above worth watching! (46 minutes long, all footage from Sky Sports News yesterday)