2009 Testing - March (Jerez & Barcelona)

[alelanza]

but because I REALLY REALLY want to see what Lewis can do in a car that's not one of the best.

Same here, i think Lewis has some stuff that really separates him from the rest. I don't think i've ever seen anyone do the wall of champions the way he did in 08, despite being short lived. But i seriously think he needs to prove himself on a slow car and grow from there.

[jddh1]

“Whenever the track conditions were the fastest and the best times were set, our car was always in the box (pits),” he insisted.

hahaa, I love how he's trying to play it down. I'm sure they know they're in trouble. saying that confirms it for me. don't they wanna know how fast their car is? I mean, you can sandbag, but 2.6s back is just too much even for a sandbagger.

[jddh1]

but because I REALLY REALLY want to see what Lewis can do in a car that's not one of the best.

Same here, i think Lewis has some stuff that really separates him from the rest. I don't think i've ever seen anyone do the wall of champions the way he did in 08, despite being short lived. But i seriously think he needs to prove himself on a slow car and grow from there.

I guess that's Macca's thought as well. They decided that Hammi came to a winning car without paying his dues in a dog car, so they decided to be at the back of the field this year to allow him that, like most drivers.

[Roland Ehnström]

Trouble is, everyone will say it's his fault if the new McLaren has a design flaw.

I for one hope that Lewis is given a competitive car, his talent deserves it. Also, a slow 2009 McLaren could bring an early end to Kovalainen's F1 career, which would be sad. Most of all, I wish for a close-fought championship, the more competitive cars the better. So I am keeping my fingers crossed that there is nothing seriousely wrong with the MP4/24.

[Belatti]

Has someone got better pictures of Williams "undernose" ?

[modbaraban]

Also, a slow 2009 McLaren could bring an early end to Kovalainen's F1 career, which would be sad.

I couldn't disagree more.

If the car proves to be competetive enough to defend LH's crown, then Hk's not likely to shine too often not having equal tratment in the team. Then he will be replaced by a german driver.
In case the car's very average then we might see some LH vs. HK battle so Heiki will have better portfolio looking for a race seat when he will be replaced by a german driver anyways.

[Afterburner]

It seems to me that Mclaren are having difficulties to develop the car, especially setups, it's well known that Lewis and Heiki don't have the same capacity has Pedro for example has to develop a car, with so many changes on the rules they are already playing catch up.

[ESPImperium]

It seems to me that Mclaren are having difficulties to develop the car, especially setups, it's well known that Lewis and Heiki don't have the same capacity has Pedro for example has to develop a car, with so many changes on the rules they are already playing catch up.

Thats a good call, id like to see an analysis of how many days LH, HK and PdlR have had in the car so far this year.

Hasnd the McLaren always had problems in the rear??? Last years car and the one before that was generating too much downforce thats why LH was having tyre problems, especially at Istanbul Park, where he had to 3 stop as he is so hard on tyres. Could it be that this year they have gone in the other direction and cant generate enough grip aerodynamically that the mechanical grip just isnt there and could be having the problem they just cant get enough heat into the tyres???

Thats my hunch. The package as a whole just isnt working, as both FIF1 and Brawn GP have diffrent aero packages and thats making the package as a whole work much better.

[Afterburner]

In 2007 Lewis used Fernando's setups most the races and it wasn't that obvious their difficulties on the rear but know it's becoming critical to have a more experienced lineup, the less experienced drivers are having more difficulties than the older drivers to "get the juice out" of the car, that's the ideia i have of this winter tests and possibly the reason rubens stayed.

One think that intrigues me is kers, we haven't heard almost nothing about it, we only know the teams that won't use it in Melbourne, i haven't seen any failure that was related to kers, i only know that some teams were having problems with it's cooling.

[mx_tifoso]

Raikkonen had a massive KERS failure in Bahrain or Mugello, can't remember which one. But they said that they where glad to have had that experience since it helped them prepare in case of such event in the future.

edit: grammar

[axle]

Has someone got better pictures of Williams "undernose" ?

Have you tried the FW31 Final Livery thread?

[Chaparral]

I was reading somewhere comments from Mark Webber where he states that from all the data they've collected on the long runs at least 6 teams will be very much on the pace come Melbourne - he didnt name the teams but did say one of the main challenges for all teams will come from the Bridgestone tyres which are graining a lot for all teams creating strategy challenges. Webby always calls it as it is so I suspect he's correct.

[WhiteBlue]

- he didnt name the teams but did say one of the main challenges for all teams will come from the Bridgestone tyres which are graining a lot for all teams creating strategy challenges.

It doesn't take a rocket scientist to make that prediction. Bridgestone have announced that they will not take consecutive tyre grades to races but skip one grade between this year. So the soft tyre will always be one step softer than last year, which explains the challenge Webbo talks about.

[xpensive]

Simple Chap, Webbers six leaves four B-teams outside the pace, Williams, FI, Toro Rosso and...dare I say it...Brawn?

[axle]

Simple Chap, Webbers six leaves four B-teams outside the pace, Williams, FI, Toro Rosso and...dare I say it...Brawn?

Actually he included Williams in the 6 he spoke of in the interview script I saw...