2012 Testing - Barcelona 2: 21-24 Feb

[Crucial_Xtreme]

alonso 1:23.180 on supersoft

Alonso wasn't on the super softs when he made his fastest time. He didn't set the fastest time on super softs-pit-go out-pit again-then put the super softs back on. AutoSport didn't say either way & I don't believe hardly anything AMuS says.

ok, on what tyres was he then?

I mean honestly I don't know. But he set his fastest time, came into the pits-went out-came in again- then they said watch out he has now bolted on super softs he might go for a real fast lap. So it seems that he wasn't on them before. But honestly I don't know. Sorry if I came off abrasive, I wasn't trying to be.

[Trocola]

120 laps more for Mclaren. I don't remember a pre-season testing where they did that amount of laps.

Maybe the car is not the fastest, but it has a very good reliability out of the box, and that's good as an starting base for work and put upgrades


Trocola

[raymondu999]

Well Ferrari last year looked bulletproof - something like 2 or 3 race distances per day? I remember they did more testing miles than the 19 races put together.

Anyone have anymore videos of the cars at corners?

[Trocola]

Well Ferrari last year looked bulletproof - something like 2 or 3 race distances per day? I remember they did more testing miles than the 19 races put together.

Yes, that's true. But for Mclaren the last 3 years have been hard. 2009 with the 08 wing, 2010 with the F-duct and 2011 the octopus exhaust.
the fact that they can put miles on the car is a great step ahead. that's why i said that maybe the car is not the fastest, but the fact that they can try things without problems is a great step for them.


Trocola

[Mr.S]

Well Ferrari last year looked bulletproof - something like 2 or 3 race distances per day? I remember they did more testing miles than the 19 races put together.

Anyone have anymore videos of the cars at corners?

Carteham did 139 Laps one day. Maybe Mclaren will have great reliability. Having said that almost all cars had Good Reliability. Means --- overall because if all the cars are resonably reliable ultimate & race pace is what separates them.

Still early to say though...

[Schurcedes]

Early days yet but from the remarks from trackside observers, long run pace, etc, I would say perhaps it's set to be a Red Bull vs McLaren fight at least. I'm somewhat confident about the W03's pace so hope they are up there with the other two.

[raymondu999]

Anyone know if McLaren actually did a full race sim? Red Bull did one with regular pitstops - but McLaren were spending breaks between stints. Anyways; can anyone do a comparison of those two?

[beelsebob]

Early days yet but from the remarks from trackside observers, long run pace, etc, I would say perhaps it's set to be a Red Bull vs McLaren fight at least. I'm somewhat confident about the W03's pace so hope they are up there with the other two.

To me, looking at the pace of the cars on long runs, I don't think McLaren are anywhere near the front this year. Yes, they may be sandbagging, and as always testing means nothing... But even williams was putting in faster mid-long run pace than them.

[raymondu999]

They had a decent race sim today didn't they? Apparently neck and neck with the RB8's laptimes

[beelsebob]

They had a decent race sim today didn't they? Apparently neck and neck with the RB8's laptimes

The RB8's times varied between 1:23.8-1:26.5 on the two shorter stints of the race sim, and 1:26.7 to 1:28.8 on the long stint.

The MP4-27's times varied between 1:26.6 and 1:28 in the shorter stints, and 1:28-1:31 in the longer ones.

That said, it's a bit unclear if McLaren were really doing a race sim, or just several 10-20 lap stints to see how they were doing on the medium/hard tyres.

[raymondu999]

Ouch. That bad? Then why are people saying the McL seems very good in the race sim?

Some trackside people are also commenting that the McL is able to get the car rotated quicker into Turn 1; and so has a better run through 2 and into 3; and able to get on the throttle earlier than the RB8 from the apex of 1

[beelsebob]

Ouch. That bad? Then why are people saying the McL seems very good in the race sim?

Some trackside people are also commenting that the McL is able to get the car rotated quicker into Turn 1; and so has a better run through 2 and into 3; and able to get on the throttle earlier than the RB8 from the apex of 1

Take a stare through the numbers http://f1tests.co.cc/2012.php?rev=on

I don't see any sign that McLaren are anywhere near the pace of RBR at the moment tbh.

Sticking my neck out based on testing, but I wouldn't be surprised if this year's grid order looked something like:
RBR > Force India > Mercedes > Ferrari > Torro Rosso > Sauber > McLaren > Williams

[raymondu999]

I think N-smikle might have a bone to pick with you on Toro Rosso not being 3rd fastest there

[Lorenzo_Bandini]

Mclaren didn't do a real race sim. After the first stint, at the end of each stint, Hamilton back to the pit for 3 minutes.

After the first stint he was always with a full tank because Mclaren refueled the car into the pits. We know that because his time didn't drop off like during a proper race.

He was always in 1.28 - 1.29 range, like at the start of a race.

Mclaren car is very good, at the first stint, with the same set of tyres, Hamilton was as fast as Vettel.

[beelsebob]

I think N-smikle might have a bone to pick with you on Toro Rosso not being 3rd fastest there

Yeh I know, that order really looks like something that'll come back to bite me in a year's time... but unless McLaren are really sand bagging, I don't see them anywhere near the front running pace.