F1 2012 testing timesheets

by Fernando Tue 07 Feb 2012, 4:22 pm

Kimi Raikkonen Lotus 1:19.670 75 laps.

Paul Di Resta Force India 1:19.772 101.

Nico Rosberg Mercedes 1:20.219 56.

Mark Webber Red Bull 1:20.496 54.

Daniel Ricciardo Toro Rosso 1:20.694 57.

Michael Schumacher Mercedes 1:20.794 42.

Kamui Kobayashi Sauber 1:21.353 106.

Jenson Button McLaren 1:21.530 62.

Felipe Massa Ferrari 1:22.815 69.

Heikki Kovalainen Caterham, 1:23.178 28.

Pastor Maldonado Williams 1:23.371 25.

Pedro De la Rosa HRT 1:23.676 44.

by Guest Tue 07 Feb 2012, 4:59 pm

Well, it's been an interesting day of testing which resulted in the Iceman topping the timesheets.....I'm sure he's off for a well deserved ice cream and delusional thoughts of winning his second world title. We've seen this before with Lotus/Renault last year, with Kubica topping the times and then for the car to be uncompetitive during the season, so there's no real rush to the bookies as of yet. HRT are clearly sanbagging and once again the Red Bull looked as impressive as ever. A change to this years testing seen significantly less marbles on track, further evidence to suggest Pirelli have improved and made modifications to the tyre durability. I think everyone is just waiting for the Vettel, Hamilton & Alonso battle to commence later in the week.

by Critical_mass Tue 07 Feb 2012, 8:12 pm

I agree John, people are getting excited about Kimi topping the times today. But it means nothing - not taking anything away from Kimi, i want him to do well. But testing means nothing.

HRT need to make improvements this season, Lotus (Caterham) have done well, Virgin (or whatever theyre called now) havnet made much either but certainly more than HRT.

I hope the tyres are more durable than last season. Sure, no one wants tyres that last all the race but they prevented very little true racing going on.

by Fernando Wed 08 Feb 2012, 4:26 pm

Day 2 times

1 Schumacher Mercedes 1m18.561s 132
2 Webber Red Bull 1m19.184s +0.623 97
3 Ricciardo Toro Rosso 1m19.587s +1.026 100
4 Bianchi Force India 1m20.221s +1.660 46
5 Raikkonen Lotus 1m20.239s +1.678 117
6 Di Resta Force India 1m20.272s +1.711 69
7 Massa Ferrari 1m20.454s +1.893 95
8 Button McLaren 1m20.688s +2.127 85
9 Perez Sauber 1m20.711s +2.150 68
10 Maldonado Williams 1m21.197s +2.636 97
11 Kovalainen Caterham 1m21.518s +2.957 139
12 De la Rosa HRT 1m22.128s +3.567 64

by Guest Wed 08 Feb 2012, 5:26 pm

The ease and regularity with which Mark Webber was able to lap in the 1m19s bracket in the new Red Bull is significant in my opinion. Webber stated, 'The car was pretty competitive in winter testing last year and it's the same again this year'.....ominous!

Mclaren have had a few issues with the floor and although Button completed 85 laps he was still a good 1.5s off the RB8. Not suprising to see the 2011 Mercedes on top of the timesheets and I can't wait to see their 2012 version.

by Critical_mass Wed 08 Feb 2012, 7:58 pm

Hmmmm im not reading too much into it. I can be sure the RB will be competitive but until at least practice before Melbourne i'll reserve judgement.

What are the issues Mclaren had with the floor John?

by Guest Wed 08 Feb 2012, 8:11 pm

Just some burning issues, not suprising really but it did cost Jenson quite a bit of testing time. The burning formed approximately in-line with the exhaust slot (just in front of the rear tyres) which I've seen from one picture, however i'm sure it's not a significant problem. Apparently Charlie Whiting will be closely looking at the exhausts and the direction of the gases towards the rear brake ducts over the testing period.

Yes I'm not getting too worried as of yet regarding the times & I certainly won't be judging until at least the end of practice 3 at Aus.

by Critical_mass Wed 08 Feb 2012, 8:29 pm

Ah literally burning issues Laugh

Im sure that will be sorted, we dont want another Renault incident! Yeah i heard about CW scrutinising the exhausts and where they exit, what body work the gases hit and also the angle.

Cant wait to see their true speeds, exciting! Very Happy

by **NeilyBroon** Fri 10 Feb 2012, 4:35 pm

I reckon Lotus and Mercedes will be the smaller teams to watch this season! Up with McClaren and Red Bull, I'm also looking forward to seeing Kimi race again!

by Fernando Fri 10 Feb 2012, 4:46 pm

Day 3

1 Rosberg Mercedes 1m17.613s 118
2 Grosjean Lotus 1m18.419s +0.806 117
3 Vettel Red Bull 1m19.297s +1.684 96
4 Hamilton McLaren 1m19.464s +1.851 80
5 Vergne Toro Rosso 1m19.734s +2.121 79
6 Perez Sauber 1m19.770s +2.157 48
7 Alonso Ferrari 1m20.412s +2.799 67
8 Senna Williams 1m21.293s +3.680 125
9 Van der Garde Caterham 1m23.324s +5.711 74

Day 4

1 Alonso Ferrari 1m18.877s 39
2 Vergne Toro Rosso 1m19.597s +0.720 80
3 Vettel Red Bull 1m19.606s +0.729 50
4 Hamilton McLaren 1m19.640s +0.763 86
5 Grosjean Lotus 1m19.729s +0.852 95
6 Kobayashi Sauber 1m19.834s +0.957 76
7 Hulkenberg Force India 1m19.977s +1.100 90
8 Senna Williams 1m20.132s +1.255 125
9 Trulli Caterham 1m22.198s +3.321 117

by Guest Fri 10 Feb 2012, 4:48 pm

Following Felipe's critical comments regarding the F2012's handling problems and lack of pace, I find it hardly suprising that Fernando sets the fastest time of the day presumably on low fuel. The time may appear good, however completing only 39 laps tells to me that these new exhaust parts are because their exhaust configuration has legality issues or that Ferrari didn't want Fernando to reveal it's more worrying long-run times with fuel. Just an observation.

by Fernando Fri 10 Feb 2012, 4:55 pm

Despite their aggresiveness with their car im actually expecting them to come a long way behind this season behind Mclaren, Rb, Mercedes and potentially Lotus and Sauber who've seemed to have found a very consistent car for the year.

http://f1tests.co.cc/2012.php?rev=on it's a sheet with every time set through out the day Smile

by dummy_half Fri 10 Feb 2012, 5:04 pm

First impressions are that Lotus look to have taken a step forwards, Toro Rosso have posted some competetive times (low fuel to impress sponsors, or realistically at the same sort of level as RB?) and Sauber are pretty close to the top end teams as well. Caterham and Williams still a bit to find, but both churned out the laps effectively and reliably.

Ferrari looked to be in a spot of bother, but at least grabbed the headlines today on presumably a low fuel run.

Too early to be that certain of the relative performances of McLaren and Red Bull - doubt either have really shown their full potential yet, and both have had a few issues, probably worse for Red Bull as they lost running today because of electrical issues.

by Critical_mass Fri 10 Feb 2012, 7:26 pm

Well taking things at face value, Ferrari have got over their problems, RB and Mclaren are where they should be. Caterham have taken a huge step forward as have STR.

In reality, again RB and Mclaren are where they should be. Ferrari went out on low fuel (can someone confirm what tyres when fastest lap was completed) to try deflect the impression they've got issues - it was mind games in my eyes. THey didnt sort the problems over night, thats if you go on what Massa said.

Caterham, i hope and do believe they have made improvements and i do think they'll be challenging the midfield, i reckon a top ten finish at some point in the season is easily possible.

STR again, same as Caterham really.

by Guest Fri 10 Feb 2012, 8:46 pm

Critical_mass wrote:Ferrari went out on low fuel (can someone confirm what tyres when fastest lap was completed) to try deflect the impression they've got issues - it was mind games in my eyes.

1:18.877 - Alonso set his time in the morning using a set of Pirelli's soft compound tyres. The time, however, was almost half a second shy of Romain Grosjean's Thursday best in the Lotus, set on medium compound rubber....Interesting. The only positive note that seems to be clear, is that the new F2012 is looking good as far as tyre warm-up is concerned an issue they've been trying to rectify from last season.

by Critical_mass Fri 10 Feb 2012, 8:56 pm

ah ha, i thought it would be on the soft tyres. Im sure they'll make improvements before the season starts... but how much.

Also assuming RB and Mclaren have got the basics right immediately - which looks to be the case. Ferrari will be spending their test time trying to get the basics right, whilst RB and Mclaren, even other teams go onto tweeking the components.

by tunes666 Sat 11 Feb 2012, 11:05 pm

Last season Ferrari had great testing, and then fell short when the season started, so it seems they are addressing the same issues that let them down last, taking care of the frame work.

For me it is looking more and more like another Red Bull leading the pack with McLaren and Ferrari fighting to catch up.

I have not seen anything to suggest a change.

hope I'm wrong.

by Critical_mass Sun 12 Feb 2012, 11:06 am

Im not sure about that, i dont think any teams are showing their true pace yet. Besides, even if they were Lewis was only a tenth off Vettel on Friday.

by dyrewolfe Mon 13 Feb 2012, 12:09 pm

I'm just waiting for Mercedes to unveil their new car and put it through its paces.

As CM said, all the teams will be holding back to some degree and we can't read much into these times...though I'm curious about whether the times Rosberg has been setting are indicative that last year's cars are about a second faster than this years'.

by Alessandro Ciambella Mon 13 Feb 2012, 12:21 pm

I would of thought last years cars would be quicker than this years car now they have lost the 'engine mapping/blown diffusers.'

Guess we wont know until the very first Q3. Headscratch

by Critical_mass Mon 13 Feb 2012, 1:06 pm

It'll only be indicative to a certain extent. We know the 2011 cars will be faster, but if theyre holding back in the 2012 cars then a second may not be a true figure.

Though saying that, id expect the 2011 spec to be at least a second faster than 2012 spec. So odd if they are holding back and the difference is less than a second.

by Fernando Mon 13 Feb 2012, 3:42 pm

I think ill be more interested to see how the Mercedes front wing F duct will work them and red bull both see to have different versions on it.

by Fernando Mon 13 Feb 2012, 4:19 pm

John wrote:
fernando wrote:I think ill be more interested to see how the Mercedes front wing F duct will work them and red bull both see to have different versions on it.

At Jerez, McLaren's Martin Whitmarsh stated, 'the top speed benefit of the system, which first appeared on the Mercedes in prototype form late last season, was thought to be around 5 to 8kph only. I more than anyone is looking forward to the new Mercedes and I firmly believe with Brawn at the helm supported by Willis, Bell & Costa, it will only be a matter of time before Mercedes are winning races. The thing is how effective is this F-Duct actually going to be in relation to the design of Newey's RB8. Firstly the last F-Duct got banned & secondly Red Bull still won the championship, so don't think this on it's own is something extraordinary to knock Red Bull off their perch just yet.......AND yes all the teams will have differing versions of it, depending on it's effectiveness by the start of the european phase of the season.

From rumors ive heard the Mercedes F Duct doesn't tear up the tyres as badly like it does on the RB8 somehow with the speed the mercedes had last season i don't think they need an extra 5 to 8kph but time will tell.

by Critical_mass Mon 13 Feb 2012, 4:19 pm

I wonder if Mclaren are/have developing an F duct type device for their non stepped nose - thats if they need one.

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