2012 Testing - Barcelona 2: 1 - 4 March

[SchumiSutil]

Very interresting for the battle in midfield, FI, Torro Rosso and Williams are doing race sims on almost the same time.

[Th0R]

To be honest i don't understand the rbr testing strategy. After testing 10 days with a fine working car, where everyone said they are again a top runer, they add such a huge change to the car. Which they obviously don't understand yet.

Maybe the new exhaust layout has to do with the fixed off-throttle blowing loophole?

[FrukostScones]

Very interresting for the battle in midfield, FI, Torro Rosso and Williams are doing race sims on almost the same time.

And Sauber is as quick as the top teams.

[SchumiSutil]

Yes, I wasn't sure if Perez was on race sim as well because he did a 1'28, but it looks like he is.
So the Sauber is doing really well. Remember Perez was maybe the one that could keep his tyres in shape the longer last year.
I think he could be a good surprise as I see him definitely edging Kobayashi.

[Moanlower]

To be honest i don't understand the rbr testing strategy. After testing 10 days with a fine working car, where everyone said they are again a top runer, they add such a huge change to the car. Which they obviously don't understand yet.

Maybe the new exhaust layout has to do with the fixed off-throttle blowing loophole?

Why is it so hard to imagine that a team that looked fine the past 10 days tests out other solutions while they still can ? I think not one single team is sure about their exhaust solution and their position compared to other teams.

[NathanOlder]

Remember Lewis said yesterday that Mclaren would NOT be doing quali runs until Australia. cant wait, this time in 2 weeks, we will know all

[FrukostScones]

14:25 We've had a visit from Ferrari's press guru Luca Colajanni, who informs us that the team's drivers will not speaking to the press for the rest of the test. 'It's better that they focus on their job', he says.

[SchumiSutil]

Race sim for Webber ?

[hollowBallistix]

That's no Front Wing D-Duct, just a bloody reflection in the paint work !!

The Snowplow has been removed though, turning vanes now underneath with the camera mounts low & between the central wing supports.

[Th0R]

To be honest i don't understand the rbr testing strategy. After testing 10 days with a fine working car, where everyone said they are again a top runer, they add such a huge change to the car. Which they obviously don't understand yet.

Maybe the new exhaust layout has to do with the fixed off-throttle blowing loophole?

Why is it so hard to imagine that a team that looked fine the past 10 days tests out other solutions while they still can ? I think not one single team is sure about their exhaust solution and their position compared to other teams.

Because the last two days of testing should be use to find the right setup for the coming races. It is a big risk to run such a major update for only two days. Most of the data gathered the previous testing days will be invalid, because the chassis is very different. We cant even be sure that the mounting points of the rear suspension are the same now. (Rear suspension might need to be changed because of different exhaust flow path). Also there may arise new heat problems, especialy for the tyres.
Not every team can be as lucky as McLaren last year. On a prototype things just won't work as expected everytime. And simulators aren't always valid when there are this many variables. (For example exhaust flow (HEAT) near the rear tyres)

[Schurcedes]

Either Ferrari have something remarkable up their sleeve and are doing their best to shield their drivers from giving the game away (which I severely doubt) or there is a political shitstorm of epic proportions brewing behind the scenes.

Will Rosberg be doing a race sim at some point today? The times seem to suggest he's on heavy fuel but not on full tanks.

[Lorenzo_Bandini]

Massa

Stint 1 :

1:30.177 (56)
1:30.258 (57)
1:30.645 (58)
1:30.320 (59)
1:30.470 (60)
1:30.751 (61)
1:31.855 (62)
1:31.461 (63)
1:31.850 (64)

He start his second stint :

1:29.729 (67)
1:30.150 (68)
1:30.080 (69)
1:30.174 (70)
1:30.617 (71)
1:31.059 (72)
1:31.580 (73)
1:32.132 (74)

Third stint :

1:28.837 (77)
1:28.933 (78)
1:33.047 (79)
1:30.073 (80)
1:30.210 (81)
1:30.002 (82)
1:30.547 (83)
1:30.727 (84)


It's the slowest race sim of the grid ( bar Caterham, HRT, Marussia ).

WTF, the fuel drop off but the time didn't, he is always in 1.30

[Th0R]

so now it's raining one hour testing gone ...

[Schurcedes]

Wasted running for those on a race sim. However it's a good opportunity to test out the new inters.

[SchumiSutil]

Hang on. It's raining !
Not a good news for Raikkonen. He did only 46 laps, and 3 or 4 runs and he just have one day left.