2010 Testing Thread

Reports from twitter/live timing that Di Grassi has gone into the barriers and totalled the rear end. Not looking good for Virgin

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Circuit Thermalito

Liverpool Waterfront Circuit (WIP)

Yes, more lost time for Virgin unfortunately.

Also, I'm surprised Lotus keeps giving Fauzy days, I know its good for the sponsors, but its hardly good for the car development.


btw, Webber just broke down again - some worrying reliability signs for RBR

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X (@ed24f1)

Ok guys, what's the form guide so far?

Who's fast, who's not.

Has Schumi still got it and putting one over Nico.

Is Jenson on the same pace as Lewis.

Is Fernando blowing Massa away?

What are the Redbulls like?

Does Kubica have a chance to shine this year?

Will Kobayashi be the rookie of the season?


Answers please

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/25/2010 06:03PM by DaiMOn.

Quote
ralv585
Who's fast, who's not.

Fast: McLaren, Ferrari, Mercedes, Red Bull
Not: Renault, probably Toro Rosso and Sauber and Williams are probably running a touch lighter than most. Obviously the new teams.

Quote
ralv585
Has Schumi still got it and putting one over Nico.

MS has had all the luck with the weather so far, but there's little to suggest he's epic or slow. Wait and see. He has been consistent though.

Quote
ralv585
Is Jenson on the same pace as Lewis.

No. He's only just started looking comfortable, but his past couple of days (today and the final day at Jerez) he's looked more consistent.

Quote
ralv585
Is Fernando blowing Massa away?

Nope.

Quote
ralv585
What are the Redbulls like?

Scarily quick when they want to be but they're been the most unreliable car if you exclude the Virgin.

Quote
ralv585
Does Kubica have a chance to shine this year?

Nope. Car looks slow, he doesn't look comfortable and you can't gauge him against his rookie teammate.

Quote
ralv585
Will Kobayashi be the rookie of the season?

He's not a rookie, but he surely can't look bad when he's got the least spectacular driver outside of Heidfeld as his teammate, and DLR isn't as quick as Nick either.

The wheel covers are banned this year, so Ferrari united them with the rims. LOL :D





Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/25/2010 06:54PM by DaiMOn.

ralv585 Wrote:
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> Who's fast, who's not.

Fast: Agree, the top four, Ferrari (impressive in long runs), McLaren (a few great short stints, more uncertain in long runs), Red Bull (also a few quick short stints, more irregular in long runs and poor reliability...again), Mercedes because of the team experience, budget, Schumacher... should be there. A little bit of unknown yet if they are really there, though.

Quick but...: Williams, Toro Rosso and Sauber, probably running light, I guess.
Slow: Force India and Renault...is tumbling down the hill, honestly. Ugly car (in looks to simple, honestly...and those mixture of colours!...). Also the newcomers.

>
> Has Schumi still got it and putting one over
> Nico.
Not yet, we´ll see. So far very little can be said.
>
> Is Jenson on the same pace as Lewis.
Yes so far. Lewis has not been spectacular anyway and recent Jenson´s resulta have been quite good.
>
> Is Fernando blowing Massa away?
Alonso has had some impressive long runs that we have not seen in Massa, but he has been favoured by the weather, specially the second test in Jerez, that was miserable for Massa.
>
> What are the Redbulls like?
Intrinsecally quick (they have had a few quick but short stints) but highly unreliable...and I really think the Renault engine is one step behind Ferrari and Mercedes...
>
> Does Kubica have a chance to shine this year?
No.
>
> Will Kobayashi be the rookie of the season?
He´s not a rookie and that will depend a lot on what that car can deliver. So far both drivers have been fast but the limited budget and lack of evolution (and the real ultimate pace once in competition) can make a big difference on the final impression.
>

So my bet would be...
1. Alonso
2. Hamilton
3. Vettel / Schumacher / Massa
6. Button / Rosberg / Webber

Last team : Campos, no doubt
Surprise: Lotus can do a serious job



Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 02/25/2010 07:46PM by Ali.

Ferrari need to be spoken to, they are the 1st to complain that teams are not following rules. I do not think the wheels are illegal but they are not in the spirit of the rules if you know what I mean.

Like the double decker diffusers?

The FIA need to do a better job studying the rules before they implement them. Things like these wheels and the diffusers are a predicatable development.


Also who on earth decided it was a good idea to let these airbox fins back in? They were banned in the late 90's on grounds of being ugly after the horrible McLaren of 95

Yes Gav just like them.

But ferrari were the 1st to complain and about this years as well.

loren Wrote:
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> The FIA need to do a better job studying the rules
> before they implement them. Things like these
> wheels and the diffusers are a predicatable
> development.

The ability to read between the lines is what separates the greats from the also-rans - this applies throughout much of F1's history - you might wanna Google Colin Chapman

> Also who on earth decided it was a good idea to
> let these airbox fins back in? They were banned in
> the late 90's on grounds of being ugly after the
> horrible McLaren of 95

No they weren't. The wing that the McLaren ran was banned, and strict rules were brought in to govern the shape of the engine cover - these rules obviously do not cover the area into which the covers have expanded

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senninho Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> loren Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > The FIA need to do a better job studying the
> rules
> > before they implement them. Things like these
> > wheels and the diffusers are a predicatable
> > development.
>
> The ability to read between the lines is what
> separates the greats from the also-rans - this
> applies throughout much of F1's history - you
> might wanna Google Colin Chapman

Or Gordon Murray ( Brabham´s cars wre always in the limit between legal and not legal)

Yep, smart thinking by Ferrari regarding the wheel rims, and their front wheel interiors in those pics are looking like the chromed wheels a lot of the cars had in the early/mid 1980s. Sexy.

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senninho Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------

>
> No they weren't. The wing that the McLaren ran was
> banned, and strict rules were brought in to govern
> the shape of the engine cover - these rules
> obviously do not cover the area into which the
> covers have expanded

From '97 to the early 2000's they were.... trust me, I can quote some regs if you want. I'm guessing it makes a bigger billboard for sponsors, but to me it ruins the stance of the cars (of course the narrow track and little rear wing contribute as well)

Hey guys i just found this pic

at autosport. I personally liked the baby blue more than this black an i hope he is just testing somehing.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"And thats the bottom line cause Alonso0506 said so"

Have tbh I think Ferrari are going to walk away with its this year.

Their race pace is just quite a bit faster than the rest.

Yes we do not know fuel loads but Ferrari dont tent to show boat.

Its probably Ferrari, RBR, Mclaren at the mo.

alonso0506 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Hey guys i just found this pic
> [cdn.gallery.autosport.com]
> dir/2010febtest4/image/su_jm1025fe220-2
> at autosport. I personally liked the baby blue
> more than this black an i hope he is just testing
> somehing.


he's just testing a new helmet... like massa did in Valencia... he's using the same old blue one at the track...

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Red Bull is having problems while Toro Rosso is looking strong and reliable...

--------------------------------------------
Rocker

ralv585 Wrote:
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> Ok guys, what's the form guide so far?
>
> Who's fast, who's not.

Fast,

Ferrari, Redbull, Mclaren, Merc.

i'd say in terms of pace the top 4 are in 2 groups.

1 - Ferrari/Redbull
2 - Merc/Mclaren

but theres not much in it between them.

Not fast,

Lotus, Virgin, Renault, Sauber(i think they're running light)

but i think Virgin will get a bit better once they sort out their reliability issues.

neither fast nor slow,

Williams, Torro Rosso, Force India

but i think williams will end up leading that group.

> Has Schumi still got it and putting one over
> Nico.

a little early to say, but i think once the racing starts it'll be a yes.

> Is Jenson on the same pace as Lewis.

not quite, but not as far away as some were predicting

>Is Fernando blowing Massa away?

yes.

>What are the Redbulls like?
fast, faster than i thought tbh. but i don't think they are about to do a brawn

> Does Kubica have a chance to shine this year?
no, i think he'll be around where he was last year.

> Will Kobayashi be the rookie of the season?
no. not unless he calms down.
if he carry's on with the general disregard for those around him that he showed in GP2 and his first 2 F1 races i'll be impressed if he comes through the season without having killed someone.



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 02/26/2010 04:46PM by marwood82.