F-1 tests...2/11/09 (little news) - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

bobby · 02-11-2009, 01:09 PM

Formula One testing continues on two continents this week as Ferrari, BMW Sauber and Toyota run in Bahrain, while everybody else--except Force India, which is not yet ready--is at the Jerez circuit in Spain.

Ferrari, BMW Sauber and Toyota opted to go to the Middle East in an attempt to perform some hot weather running, as conditions have been poor in southern Europe. Bahrain gives a much truer picture of the environment in which the cars will run in the opening races of the season, allowing teams to learn more about the new slick tires as well as their 2009 packages.

However, after fog at the Sakhir circuit cost practice time on Tuesday, Wednesday practice was spoiled by a sandstorm. Not only did that compromise the track surface, it also meant that the medical helicopter could not fly, so the day's running was abandoned after an hour.

That cost Felipe Massa (Ferrari), Robert Kubica (BMW Sauber) and Timo Glock (Toyota) valuable track time. Two days remain of this part of the Bahrain test, while after a break it resumes with another four days next week. Little was learned Wednesday, although on Tuesday the three teams were matched quite evenly.

Meanwhile in Spain, Sebastien Buemi continued to top the times for Scuderia Toro Rosso, but only because the Swiss rookie is still running a high downforce 2008-spec car.

The big news on Wednesday was the return of Red Bull Racing's Mark Webber, who broke his leg when his mountain bike collided with a vehicle in November. The Aussie completed more than a race distance in the Red Bull RB5, which was into only its third day on the track yet is already looking competitive.

Heikki Kovalainen was quickest of the 2009 cars in the new McLaren-Mercedes, but the team once again ran last year's wider rear wing so it was not a truly representative time. This week McLaren is running with its Kinetic Energy Recovery system, having not used it in the shakedown test in Portugal. Nelson Piquet was slowest as Renault continues to lag behind some of the other cars.

fiatguy85 · 02-12-2009, 09:48 PM

I'm getting excited for the new season

I wish testing was a little more meaningful in terms of performance, but there's just no telling until the races.

02-11-2009, 01:09 PM	#1 (permalink)
bobby Super Moderator Location: 18,000+ posts on TFP #1,2,3,4 and 5,but I'm not counting!	F-1 tests...2/11/09 (little news) Formula One testing continues on two continents this week as Ferrari, BMW Sauber and Toyota run in Bahrain, while everybody else--except Force India, which is not yet ready--is at the Jerez circuit in Spain. Ferrari, BMW Sauber and Toyota opted to go to the Middle East in an attempt to perform some hot weather running, as conditions have been poor in southern Europe. Bahrain gives a much truer picture of the environment in which the cars will run in the opening races of the season, allowing teams to learn more about the new slick tires as well as their 2009 packages. However, after fog at the Sakhir circuit cost practice time on Tuesday, Wednesday practice was spoiled by a sandstorm. Not only did that compromise the track surface, it also meant that the medical helicopter could not fly, so the day's running was abandoned after an hour. That cost Felipe Massa (Ferrari), Robert Kubica (BMW Sauber) and Timo Glock (Toyota) valuable track time. Two days remain of this part of the Bahrain test, while after a break it resumes with another four days next week. Little was learned Wednesday, although on Tuesday the three teams were matched quite evenly. Meanwhile in Spain, Sebastien Buemi continued to top the times for Scuderia Toro Rosso, but only because the Swiss rookie is still running a high downforce 2008-spec car. The big news on Wednesday was the return of Red Bull Racing's Mark Webber, who broke his leg when his mountain bike collided with a vehicle in November. The Aussie completed more than a race distance in the Red Bull RB5, which was into only its third day on the track yet is already looking competitive. Heikki Kovalainen was quickest of the 2009 cars in the new McLaren-Mercedes, but the team once again ran last year's wider rear wing so it was not a truly representative time. This week McLaren is running with its Kinetic Energy Recovery system, having not used it in the shakedown test in Portugal. Nelson Piquet was slowest as Renault continues to lag behind some of the other cars. __________________ "Life goes on,within you,and...with out you !" xoxoxoo

02-12-2009, 09:48 PM	#2 (permalink)
fiatguy85 Crazy	I'm getting excited for the new season I wish testing was a little more meaningful in terms of performance, but there's just no telling until the races.