Mercedes GP – Michael Concludes Testing in Barcelona
February 28, 2010 by Christine
Filed under Press Releases
Michael Schumacher was at the wheel of the MGP W01 car today to conclude this week’s four-day test at the Circuit de Catalunya in Barcelona and complete his own on-track preparations for the new season.
Michael spent the morning focusing on qualifying simulations and developing the set-up of the car before working on race procedures throughout the afternoon. Michael completed 123 laps with a quickest time of 1:20.745.
Today’s action brings the pre-season test programme to a conclusion after fifteen days of track action in Valencia, Jerez and Barcelona during February. With the 2010 Formula One season getting underway in less than two weeks, Michael and Nico Rosberg will next be in action on Friday 12 March for the first practice session for the Bahrain Grand Prix.
Michael Schumacher: “The four testing days here in Barcelona have helped us to make significant progress with the MGP W01 and I am feeling quite confident for the start of the season. It is always difficult to read too much into testing but knowing our programme, it is fair to say that the times did not always reflect the true picture. We have worked through many set-up and development evaluations this week and gained valuable information to study before Bahrain. We are heading the first race with a good feeling and we know that we will have our upgrades there. But most of all we know that our prospects for even the first races are looking very reasonable now.”
Ross Brawn: “Today brings our pre-season testing programme to its conclusion and overall we are very pleased with the progress made with the MGP W01 and the integration of Michael and Nico into our team. In performance terms, we are not quite where we want to be yet but then again we are not far off. In testing, it is always difficult to be precise about your position relative to the competition, and we have our complete upgrade package due for the first race in Bahrain which should bring further improvements. Michael and Nico have both looked very good during the tests and they are working well together to improve the car.”
Quotes Roundup – Week Ending 14th February
February 14, 2010 by Christine
Filed under Weekly Quotes
The very best from the mouths of those in the know.
Three Launches
Force India, Red Bull and Lotus all reveal their new cars…
- “There is a compromise now: either make the car much longer or wider, or, as we have done, a combination of both. This of course has influenced the mechanical design solutions and also the aerodynamics, specifically with respects to the diffuser and bodywork.” Mark Smith
- “I think you are going to have four teams that are race-winning contenders this season. McLaren and Ferrari look like they have come up with good cars, and for sure the Mercedes GP team is going to be competitive with its driver line-up. But we are quietly confident we’ve made good progress during the winter.” Christian Horner
- “What this is about for me, and it is the first launch I have been to where the whole team is here, there is a fantastic buzz about this place, the whole team has given their heart and soul to this project. I want to thank Tony on behalf of the whole team to have the courage to back us and trust us.” Mike Gascoyne
Moving on to Jerez
Testing switches from Valencia to Jerez…
- “We are still in the first week here, and a bit low on parts, so that means if we have a crash we are more in trouble for the next test. So we decided to not do much running today and unfortunately parts didn’t arrive until quite late yesterday – 11 or 12 o’clock – and the mechanics had to work 24 hours a day to get the car ready for this morning.” Timo Glock
- “On a normal wet, slippery day at Jerez it felt fine. There were no real vices in the car. We still have to understand a few things with it but now it is shaken down we can start to do a bit of work tomorrow and in the back part of the month we can start to look at lap times.” Mark Webber
- “We went deeper into set-up work and understanding the car after what we did in Valencia. We were lucky with the weather because yesterday it was quite bad and the next two days don’t look very good. It was important to get a lot of things done.” Robert Kubica
Former Champs Talk
Three champions talk testing…
- “It’s very tough for all of us to understand what is the order of teams. We have four that I think are the major teams, and others that look very interesting such as Sauber, the car is quite quick, and the Renault – there is a question mark how quick it is.” Michael Schumacher
- “The team spirit is very good, very special. You feel part of a big team, part of a legendary team, and it’s a nice feeling. I keep enjoying life. The team is very, very friendly with me and I felt at home straightaway.” Fernando Alonso
- “We’ve only done one test and there’s such a huge variation with fuel loads so we have absolutely no idea – less of an idea than we had in the past. Some people could be driving with 30 kilos or 10 kilos, others could have 150. So it’s impossible to say.” Lewis Hamilton
Deliverance
February 8, 2010 by Christine
Filed under F1 Big Picture
Nico Hulkenberg looking thoughtful during the Valencia test last week. Nico has been discussing his position within the Williams team, and said that whilst he is a rookie, he’s not going to be given an easy ride. He knows there are expectations on him and he’s determined to deliver.
Credit: Glenn Dunbar/LAT Photographic
Quotes Roundup – Week Ending 7th February
February 7, 2010 by Christine
Filed under Weekly Quotes
The very best from the mouths of those in the know.
Testing in Valencia
The first pre-season test got underway…
- “With such narrow front tyres, and the shape of them as well – they’re a lot more curved – you do lose a lot of front grip. That’s what we’ve got to try and get back. That’s the biggest difference out of all the changes we’ve had this year.” Gary Paffett
- “I have a positive feeling. I’ve obviously kept a close eye on the development of the car and the results we got at the end of 2009 – so seeing this car evolve and having the input into it, I was very excited to get in the car today to see what parts we have improved.” Lewis Hamilton
- “It’s difficult to say where we are, the result was a quite good lap time, but with new rules and another team like Red Bull still to come it’s difficult to say where we are. But it was a really good start.” Kamui Kobayashi
More testing thoughts
Who was fast and who was slow…
- “There are no miracles in Formula 1: if you want to be fast you have to work hard for months and months and then you’ll meet your competitors, who have as much capacities and are as motivated as you” Stefano Domenicali
- “I think at the next test we might have more of an understanding when people are running very different fuel loads, and you can get an understanding of the difference of those loads and how much time per 10 kilos it is. Then you can work out who is quick and who isn’t.” Jenson Button
- “We all know how quickly Michael used to do it. We are all optimistic, as I am sure that he is, that there is a lot more to come. He has had one or two sessions but he hasn’t driven a Formula 1 car seriously for three years so it is pretty encouraging.” Ross Brawn on Schumacher
Potential F1 Newcomers
The grid could expand even more…
- “Stefan Grand Prix becomes the first team in F1 history who did send a 40 foot container full of equipment to the race in Bahrain without having entry for 2010 season.” Statement from Stefan GP
- “I had the chance to drive the Ferrari F1 car in Barcelona. It was great, I had fun and it was a very good test, with good lap times, but I think that it will be very difficult to see me driving in Formula 1.” Valentino Rossi… again
- “We’re going to be doing the majority of the Fridays, and being at all the grands prix, sitting in on the briefings, listening over the radio, and just making myself best prepared to hopefully become a race driver.” Paul di Resta, Force India
Tweets of the Week – 7th February 2010
February 7, 2010 by Christine
Filed under Tweets of the Week
This week’s tweeting has been absolutely epic, with lots of insiders following testing and giving us great insight into what has been happening. We also had a couple of new team launches, so opinions were everywhere.
- A good feeling in the team after the first day of testing. Felipe’s first impressions are positive: a better beginning compared to last year. Inside Ferrari
- Williams are not launching as such, when the car rolls out at 10am, that will be its debut. Claire Williams
- STR5 was wheeled into pit lane at 9.05 and the photographers did their stuff. Special guest? Schumacher was having a good look at our car. Toro Rosso Spy
- My new car is just about to turn it’s first wheel in anger at Valencia… Wish I had a live feed!! Jenson Button
- Four kilometers of cueue to get into the circuit… It is Alonso mania at Valencia with more than 30,000 people attending the testing session. Inside Ferrari
- Already in barcelona! I really think we have a great car! This season will be exciting! Ou yesssssaaa! Jaime Alguersuari
- Mr Wirth’s Virgin car looks very IRL to me. Hope it doesn’t only turn left. Shakedown is at Silverstone and the pit exit’s a right! Will Buxton
- Forecast for Jerez is 60% chance of rain all four days. Not good news for Red Bull, Force I and Virgin who have first runs on new cars. James Allen
- Lots of tweets about Mercedes and Ferrari copying our chassis design. All rubbish: do they have propellers and a flamethrower? I think not… Red Bull F1 Spy
- Good that Anthony Davidson is back on the BBC in 2010. Last year I invested in a Kangaroo TV, so I could hear Ant and Crofty every session. Adam Cooper
Great Expectations
February 5, 2010 by Christine
Filed under F1 Big Picture
Michael Schumacher concentrates on the task at hand during the Valencia test in February 2010. His new team Mercedes GP have been quick to dismiss concerns that the pressure is mounting on them, what with a championship to defend, plus a seven times world champion on their books.
Credit: Mercedes GP
Bridgestone Motorsport Valencia Test Summary & 2010 Season Preview
February 4, 2010 by Christine
Filed under Press Releases
Bridgestone Motorsport, the Official Tyre Supplier to the FIA Formula One World Championship, has completed the first group test of the exciting new 2010 season after three days at the 4.05 km Circuit Comunitat de la Valenciana, in Spain.
This was the first opportunity for teams, drivers and observers to see in action the final specification of the new narrow front Potenza F1 tyre developed by Bridgestone for this season. With a tyre size of 245/ 55R13, the new front tyre when fitted to a rim is 20mm narrower than the 2009 specification and is designed to redress the balance of the cars after grooves were removed from the tyres ahead of the 2009 season.
Bridgestone will again have four dry tyre compounds (Hard, Medium, Soft and Super Soft) to cover the 19 race calendar, with two selected per race weekend. Two of these four compound designations of 2010 dry tyre: the Soft and Super Soft; were available for use by the teams in Valencia this week, as well as the current specification intermediate and wet weather tyres.
Seven teams attended the test, which took place between 1-3 February, with sunny conditions and moderate winds prevailing over the course of the three day test.
Bridgestone’s Potenza Formula One tyres will next be seen in use in Jerez on February 10-13, where Bridgestone expects ten teams to be present, including Virgin Racing, the first of the four new F1 teams to break cover. This will be quickly followed by another four days of testing at Jerez from February 17-20, where Lotus Racing is also expected to join the group test. Along with the intermediate and wet weather tyres, the Medium will be the main dry compound available at both these Jerez tests, with teams also able to request the Hard and Soft compounds as additional options during both weeks.
Q&A with Tetsuro Kobayashi – Technical Manager, Bridgestone Motorsport:
Which specifications were brought to Valencia and why?
“We brought the Soft and Super Soft dry compound tyres to Valencia, along with our intermediate and wet weather specifications too. Valencia is a less severe track compared to some and although it has a slightly rough surface we are able to use our softer compounds here. One interesting factor at Valencia however is the front tyre graining caused by the lateral forces, which makes it a good track for us to evaluate the graining resistance of our front tyres. This is in contrast to the Jerez track, where teams will next test, which is much more severe, especially on the rear tyres. So we will be able to check our rear tyre performance more thoroughly next week.”
First test of the year with no fewer than seven teams: what was learnt from this test?
“First of all, we are pleased to have seen the good potential of the 2010 specifications, even though it’s a little difficult to judge fully the true performance because of the special characteristics of the Valencia circuit. So far though, our tyre performance is in line with our expectations. We are expecting to learn more about rear tyre behaviour at the next consecutive Jerez tests where the rough tarmac and severe layout will provide a good testing opportunity for the Bridgestone rear tyres.”
The next two tests will be at Jerez. Which specifications will be seen there?
“The Medium compound will be supplied as the prime compound for both of the tests and the Hard and Soft compounds will be available during both week one and week two as option compounds.”
Why has Bridgestone only now developed the narrow front?
“The decision to change from grooved to slick tyres ahead of the 2009 season meant that the front tyres gained proportionately more contact surface area in comparison to the rear tyres. This in turn gave the fronts more grip than was ideally required. However, at the request of the teams, who had already designed their 2009 cars based on the previous sized fronts, we delayed the introduction of the narrow front until 2010.”
How much more narrow is the new front and did the teams have to do anything in particular to accommodate it?
“Of course, being a new sized front, the front construction has been slightly modified but the other main change this year has been a change to the rear tyre construction in order to increase its durability. There has also been some modification of the tyre compounds in order to manage the expected longer stint lengths and to provide quicker warm up times in comparison to our 2009 compound range.”
How much work is involved from Bridgestone’s perspective in designing, developing and manufacturing new tyre specifications?
“There is a great deal of effort required when designing and introducing new tyre specifications. Firstly, it is vital that the tyres are safe and of a high quality. They must also be capable of doing the job they have been designed for. Our tyre designers and engineers at our Technical Centre in Kodaira City, Tokyo, Japan, were extremely busy last year working on the prototypes and ensuring that the final specifications met the stringent quality and performance tests at our indoor testing facility. Only when tyres pass these tests on the rigs are they allowed to be run on the cars. It has to be said that the teams have also played an important part in this process as their simulation data is vital in ensuring that we are placing the tyres under the right amounts and types of loading. It is very much a collaborative process and we now look forward to seeing the tyres in action on the race tracks.”
Does the no refuelling rule and anticipated longer stint lengths place the tyres under added stresses?
“Certainly, with the cars being potentially 100kgs heavier this year at the start of the races than last year, the longer stint lengths with greater amounts of fuel will place additional loads on t he tyres but our 2010 casing should be much more durable in comparison to the 2009 casing: the strengthened rear construction in particular; will help the cars accommodate this new rule. We will also keep monitoring and analysing the data very carefully at the coming winter tests and races because the downforce created by the 2010 cars will keep improving throughout the season. We have already noted that much higher downforces are being produced in comparison to last season.”
How will Bridgestone allocate the two types of dry tyre in 2010?
“Like 2009, Bridgestone intends to take two dry compounds which are a step allocation apart to most races: Hard and Soft or Medium and Super Soft for example. This will not be possible at some races however, such as Monaco, where it is important to have consecutive soft compounds to ensure maximum grip on the street circuit. The compound allocation will again be determined by Bridgestone, based on our experience of previous years and the data received from the teams.”
How many sets of tyres will drivers have available at race weekends?
“The number of sets of dry tyres to be made available in 2010 for each driver per race weekend has been reduced from 14 sets to 11 sets. These will consist of six sets of the “prime” tyre and five sets of the “option” tyre. Furthermore, we will provide four sets of intermediate tyre and three sets of wet tyre. This is welcome news from Bridgestone’s perspective as we will have additional teams to supply and provide tyre fitting services to this year and we thank the FIA and teams for their co-operation in this regard.”
How will the tyres be visually distinguishable from each other this season?
“We will mark the softer of the two compounds available at each race weekend with green bands on the outer edges of the sidewalls. We tested many different alternatives and this location gave the best visibility, from the side and also a head-on view. We have used the colour green as it shows our support of the FIA’s Make Cars Green campaign.”
03-Feb-10: Alonso Makes it Three out of Three for Ferrari
February 3, 2010 by Christine
Filed under Daily F1 News
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This is F1 Minute and it’s the 3rd February 2010.
The final day of testing in Valencia was a big one, with no less than three world champions ready to go. Alonso kept Ferrari on top for the third day in a row, Schumacher finished the day in third for Mercedes, whilst McLaren were fifth with Button behind the wheel. Petrov had his first go in the Renault finishing 6th with just a Williams behind him. And de la Rosa was second in the BMW Sauber, another good showing from them.
Elsewhere today, Virgin Racing were all set for an online launch but technical difficulties saw a severe delay in proceedings. We eventually got a glimpse of the new car and the livery is a nice black and red. The car has been designed solely by CFD with no wind tunnel action, so it is slightly different to the launched cars we have seen already – the nose looks a lot thinner.
Finally, Force India confirmed that they will be launching their car in a similar online fashion, although hopefully more successfully, and that will be on the 9th February.
That’s all for now, I’ll be back tomorrow with another F1 Minute.
BMW Sauber – Test in Valencia – Day 3
February 3, 2010 by Christine
Filed under Press Releases
The BMW Sauber F1 Team has drawn quite a positive conclusion after the first three days of testing in Valencia with the new car for the 2010 FIA Formula One World Championship. Along with the F1 teams, an impressive total of 59,100 spectators enjoyed the bright sunshine over the three days of testing.
Weather
Sunny all day, air 6-14 °C, track 7-19 °C
Circuit length
4.004 km
Driver
Pedro de la Rosa (ES)
Chassis / engine
BMW Sauber C29-01 / Ferrari
Kilometres today
320.320 km (80 laps)
Fastest lap
1:12.094 min
Pedro de la Rosa
“After the roll-out on Monday this was my second day of testing with the new car and I’m happy it was another positive one. We learned a lot about the set-up of the car with these tyres, and also about the direction we have to go in with our work for the future.”
Willy Rampf (Technical Director)
“We are quite satisfied with the first test. We did exactly 1001 km in total. As well as being reliable, it was important to see that the car responded to changes in the way we expected. The drivers’ comments on the car basically were in line with that, which also helps the team to work in the right direction. In the morning we lost around one and a half hours of track time because of an incident with another car. We had to change the floor, the front wing and the engine cover and to prioritise our programme afterwards. But still it was a good day on the track. Again we were lucky with the weather, which gave us very good and consistent track conditions.”
What comes next
This was the third and final day of the Valencia test.
The BMW Sauber F1 Team will be testing next in Jerez (10th to 13th February). For the first two days Kamui will be on duty, and Pedro for the last two.
Renault F1 Team completes a final day of testing in Valencia
February 3, 2010 by Christine
Filed under Press Releases
The team will remain in Spain and travel to Jerez next week to continue its winter testing programme.
Vitaly Petrov: “I really enjoyed my first day in the car and everything went well. The car is very impressive compared with a GP2 car and I enjoyed experiencing the power and braking performance. After about 30 laps I was starting to feel comfortable and understanding the limits of the car. It was also my first chance to work with my engineers and so far everything is going really well so I’m happy with the day.”
Alan Permane, Chief Race Engineer: “This was Vitaly’s first day in the R30 and we concentrated on getting him comfortable and familiar with the car. There’s a lot for him to get used to in terms of the brakes, power and the extra downforce, but he adapted well and did a good job. Overall our first week with the car has been successful and we’ve come away with a lot of valuable knowledge about the car. We’re now looking forward to building on this work in Jerez next week.”
