2012 Testing - Barcelona 2: 21-24 Feb

[JohnsonsEvilTwin]

did you compare the drop off between button and lewis? Might be interesting to see who will have the upper hand this season when it comes down to tyres.

The only conclusive way we can tell that is after 3 GPs
Testing variations dont just include Fuel weights or different compound tyres.

To an outside observer, Hamilton and Button could be on identical fuel weights with what appear to be the same tyre. But one tyre may have have 10 laps on it and appear none the worse for wear. This in itself can cost over a second a lap.

One thing is certain though, that in either Lewis or Jensons hands the car appears to be very consistent.

[Ganxxta]

Red flag Mike in the W03
It looks like he just ran it out of gas, or ????

It was Webber in the RB8, looks like he just ran it out of gas, or ????

[cirrusflyer]

I think it's safe to say the Merc was running a little bit more fuel than RB8.

What makes you think that? It would be nice though.

[swanracing]

Did webber run out of fuel on the end of the race sim, or had he been in the pits between.

[CHT]

I think it's safe to say the Merc was running a little bit more fuel than RB8.

from this calculation, Merc should be carrying around 18L more fuel than RB Renault.
perhaps this could explain why there is a difference in average lap time?

viewtopic.php?f=1&t=11910

[CHT]

Did webber run out of fuel on the end of the race sim, or had he been in the pits between.

thought he already pitted awhile back..Let hope the RB8 doesnt get abused by perverted spied cameras while its being craned.

[kptaylor]

Is there a link that shows sector times? Curious how some cars who may be sandbagging are doing sector-by-sector as they test.

[bosanac1]

Catheram doesn't seem to be making any ground on middle-field teams
just looked at last year Q2 qualifying Kova did 1:25.4

Petrov is not even close to it does 1:26 with supersofts and then drastic drop off unless he is carrying lot of fuel I am doubting Catheram will mix with STR and Williams

[dren]

Michael Schumacher was back in the car today for the penultimate day of this week’s test for the F1 W03 car.



- Michael completed 127 laps and 592 km, taking the team's total mileage for the F1 W03 to 1756 km



- Michael ran soft and hard compound Pirelli tyres throughout the day as he worked through the planned test programme



- A first full race simulation for the F1 W03 was completed during the afternoon session, including live pit stops



Nico Rosberg will conclude the team’s test programme for this week tomorrow.



Michael Schumacher


“I’m very happy with the race simulation that we ran this afternoon. It confirmed what we have seen from the first tests with our new car, and that we don’t seem to have any big issues with reliability. The small things from the last two days I would rate as typical testing issues. So from my side, I am happy with our first full testing session, and we have definitely improved our game which is what we wanted to achieve. To what extent, we can only see later, but I am finishing with a positive feeling.”

[Crucial_Xtreme]

Red Bull Racing and Ferrari have changed their testing plans for next month and will now run at Barcelona from March 2-5.

The test was originally scheduled from March 1 to March 4 - Thursday to Sunday - but Ferrari opted to test from Friday to Monday instead.

Red Bull consulted with Ferrari if they could join the Italian squad on track on Monday, with the Maranello squad giving its rivals the green light.

Both teams will still test just four days like their rivals, but will kick off their programmes a day later.

Red Bull team boss Christian Horner said the decision was made purely for logistical reasons.

"We have decided to join Ferrari in running from Friday to Monday as opposed to Thursday to Sunday. We're just moving it a day," Horner told AUTOSPORT.

"From a logistical perspective, it just made a bit more sense. We asked Ferrari if we could join them, they agreed. It's purely for our own logistical purposes that we decided to move the test by a day.

"It's the in test agreement and also within the test regs. We are within the time limit for that. It's something that we've elected to do. Lotus are doing their own thing but that's for different reasons elsewhere. But we have decided to run from Friday to Monday."

Lotus is set to be granted a private day of testing after having to pull out of the Barcelona test this week because of problems with its chassis.

via AutoSport

[NAPI10]

Here is Buemi's impression -
Source - http://www.f1zone.net/news/buemi-impres ... dia/12482/

Sebastien Buemi, Red Bull’s reserve driver in 2012, spent time watching Wednesday’s Barcelona test action from a trackside vantage point.
“I like the Red Bull and the Force India the best,” said the Swiss, after Nico Hulkenberg set the surprise pace.
“(McLaren’s Lewis) Hamilton and Hulkenberg can brake late and get back on the gas early.
“You can tell that the Red Bull has fuel on board, but still the (RB8) is very good. But you can see that the tyres are old,” explained Buemi.
He was most surprised, however, by Hulkenberg’s Force India, congratulating the Silverstone based team: “They have made a very good car.”

“Oh dear, that doesn’t look so good,” he commented after Fernando Alonso passed by. “He’s playing with the throttle because there’s no traction.”
Like Hulkenberg, Sauber’s Sergio Perez was also setting the pace on Wednesday, but Buemi reveals that the Mexican was running new soft tyres.
“That distorts the picture, just as the level of fuel does.

“For me, Red Bull is in front, then comes Force India and McLaren,” said Buemi. “They are not too far away.”

Napi10

[Mr.S]

On an average I found MSC was about 0.8-0.9s slower which includes the fact that RB was better in tyre degradation something which Mercedes could work on.

But MSC did about 8 Laps extra & that is huge. That is about atleast 0.8-1s slower. I was VERY VERY worried by the times initially thinking Mercedes W03 are in the same boat as W02. But relieved to see them doing so many extra laps.

Maybe saying Mercedes will challenge Red Bull seriously or has similar pace is too much,but they will PROBABLY by fighting for podiums every race & will probably end up ahead of Ferrari & on the level of Mclaren even though I dont feel Mclaren will do well this year.

[manchild]

Williams with Maldonado on top, full second faster than anyone else. News only say that he was on super-softs, but don't mention compounds used by others in the list.

[Moanlower]

Petrov saying the super soft is only lasting for 1 lap + 1 sector and from then losing easily 1.5secs a lap.

[dren]

The soft and super soft are the same as last year right?