Testing Bahrain

[Tazio]

Bahrain F1 testing times – Thursday:

1) Massa, Ferrari (B), 1:31.766, 86 laps
2) Raikkonen, Ferrari (B), 1:31.901, 47
3) Button, Honda (B), 1:32.099, 83
4) Hamilton, McLaren-Mercedes (B), 1:32.182, 83
5) Barrichello, Honda (B), 1:32.570, 101
6) de la Rosa, McLaren-Mercedes (B), 1:32.621, 47
7) Vettel, BMW-Sauber (B), 1:32.652, 104
8) Trulli, Toyota (B), 1:32.787, 33
9) Heidfeld, BMW-Sauber (B), 1:32.810, 49
10) Davidson, Super Aguri-Honda (B), 1:32.396, 76
11) Kovalainen, Renault (B), 1:33.139, 113
12) Piquet, Renault (B), 1:33.816, 92
13) Webber, Red Bull-Renault (B), 1:34.077, 27
14) Coulthard , Red Bull-Renault (B), 1:34.595, 31
15) R.Schumacher, Toyota (B), 1:35.265, 35
16) Liuzzi, Toro Rosso-Ferrari (B), 1:36.345, 25

[F1boat]

Interesting, this order seems a lot closer to what people thought BEFORE winter testing began.

[BTCC2]

All of the Renault powered cars were slow !!

[SGWilko]

And the Honda team seem to be ideally placed. But does this mean they were struggling to get heat in the tyres in the earlier tests, again?

[jens]

Well. One example from 2005. Toyota was struggling during winter testing, because test sessions took place in quite low temperatures and the didn't get their tyres to work. Tyres worked well in hot as it turned out in Sepang and Sakhir, but it wasn't seen during winter and that's why their form was a surprise.

Maybe this is gonna be also Honda's case, it means they'll be competitive mainly in hot conditions. But this all still has to be seen.

[F1boat]

Renault seem in trouble.

[futuretiger9]

Renault seem in trouble.


They are lacking that extra zip which they have had in recent seasons. All a little lacklustre.

The Honda question is interesting. If it is purely a tyre temperature issue, does that bode well for their season overall? Can they replicate this performance elsewhere?

[waitey]

It is also interesting to note the lap times compared to last years lap times at bahrain. This year with the harder tires, we are supposed to be expecting a jump in lap times. But from comparing lap times from last year's times during the race and in testing here, it looks exactly the same.

http://www.formula1.com/archive/grandprix/2006/751/9.html

http://f1.gpupdate.net/en/testresults.php?testID=653

could it be that the initial thought of losing 2 seconds or so with the new tires, will actually turn out to have the same lap times? if they are running the same lap times with a harder tire, all the teams have obviously done a lot of work to gain those 2 seconds or so back. But this is only one test and we will have to see come the real season.

[F1boat]

Heiki said that he is happy with the Renault. If he made his time in dirty track, not so bad.
http://f1.gpupdate.net/en/news/2007/02/22/kovalainen_happy_with_first_day_in_bahrain/

[Juppe]

Heiki said that he is happy with the Renault. If he made his time in dirty track, not so bad.
http://f1.gpupdate.net/en/news/2007/02/22/kovalainen_happy_with_first_day_in_bahrain/

In Finnish he did not sound very optimistic. The basic problem seems to be that their car is not very good with the Stones. They start to be worried at the Renault camp, unfortunately.

[harsha]

Is Alonso testing in Bahrain or is it just Hamilton and De La Rosa

[Donney]

Alonso should be testing today and tomorrow along with Hamilton.

[Big Ben]

i don't get testing times. I don't understand how they can be so different form one day to another...
I don't understand how they can make a car fast for one lap but not for an entire race.

[andreag]

Have you ever been in a circuit during testing sessions?

Some days a driver can spend the whole session in long stints, with used tyres, while the other driver (or the same one, but a different day) makes a 2-3 laps stint with new tyres. The difference will be as qualy times vs. race times.

Some days a driver is testing an aero configuration, while the other (or the same one, but a different day) tests another. The difference shows what's the benefit of any aero part.

Some days a driver spends the day with high fuel loads, while the other (or the same one, but a different day) drives with lower loads. The same can apply to engine configurations, rev limits, etc.

Testing is made to find the differences of everything involved in car reliability and performance. Topping the times on testing days gives some evident publicity to any team, but they can't spend the limited testing days on that, as they need to do real testing, and this wouldn't be achieved if they just take in mind finishing every day on top of the time table.

[andreag]

By the way (and sorry for posting again), here are the second day times:

1. Heidfeld (ALE) BMW-Sauber 1:30.469 103
2. Alonso (ESP) McLaren-Mercedes 1:31.225 64
3. Button (GBR) Honda 1:31.807 107
4. Hamilton (GBR) McLaren-Mercedes 1:31.934 87
5. Kubica (POL) BMW-Sauber 1:32.220 100
6. Raikkonen (FIN) Ferrari 1:32.240 67
7. Piquet (BRA) Renault 1:32.539 82
8. Massa (BRA) Ferrari 1:32.584 68
9. Barrichello (BRA) Honda 1:32.614 63
10. Kovalainen (FIN) Renault 1:32.973 67
11. Webber (AUS) Red Bull-Renault 1:33.139 65
12. Trulli (ITA) Toyota 1:33.155 90
13. Davidson (GBR) Super Aguri-Honda 1:33.248 108
14. Coulthard (GBR) Red Bull-Renault 1:33.930 42
15. Liuzzi (ITA) Toro Rosso-Ferrari 1:34.187 24
16. Schumacher (ALE) Toyota 1:34.464 50

[jens]

BMW: Heidfeld probably went very light today, which explains that advantage.

Renault: Somewhere there were information that they are struggling to get used to B-stones. But maybe there is also something wrong with Renault engine (RBR, why did you decide to prefer it then?).

RBR: It seems pretty evident that DC was trying to get some attention on the last test day at Barcelona, which didn't accurately reflect their form.

Toyota: They are getting weaker and weaker as the time goes by so that even I am starting to lose my last piece of optimism. And what more times goes by that more problems they tend to have and are unable to solve them and move forward. Trulli really seems to be the "Mr. Unhappiness of February" as he practically hasn't had any problemfree test day. I have got the feeling that Toyota is missing Gascoyne...

[andreag]

BMW: Heidfeld probably went very light today, which explains that advantage.
Heidfeld's fastest lap was set on a simualted qualifying run.

http://f1.gpupdate.net/en/news/2007/02/23/bahrain_day_2_heidfeld_shines/


Renault: Somewhere there were information that they are struggling to get used to B-stones. But maybe there is also something wrong with Renault engine (RBR, why did you decide to prefer it then?).
As Pat Symonds admit it “From what we have seen so far, we seem to be several tenths [of a second] away from the fastest runners in most conditions – on the first lap, and the long runs too."

http://www.itv-f1.com/News_Article.aspx?PO_ID=38492


RBR: It seems pretty evident that DC was trying to get some attention on the last test day at Barcelona, which didn't accurately reflect their form.
Coulthard topped the timesheets on the final day of the recent test at Barcelona, the same day that (Red Bull boss) Dietrich Mateschitz chose to visit the Spanish track to watch his team(s) in action.

http://www.pitpass.com/fes_php/pitpass_news_item.php?fes_art_id=30597


Toyota: They are getting weaker and weaker as the time goes by so that even I am starting to lose my last piece of optimism. And what more times goes by that more problems they tend to have and are unable to solve them and move forward. Trulli really seems to be the "Mr. Unhappiness of February" as he practically hasn't had any problemfree test day. I have got the feeling that Toyota is missing Gascoyne...
Some wise guy named Ralf said "It is really still too early to say, but I have the feeling that this car is a good one."

http://www.dailyf1news.com/dailyf1news/nieuw/artikel.php?nwsID=2564

[Sleeper]

The ITV site said Heidfeld was running qualy practice today, so it explains why he is at the top by half a second. Honda, or at least Button, are begining to look very good, maybe they've added something new to the car for this test.

Does anyone know which teams are running in their full Melbourne spec cars at this test, I know McLaren are but are any others?

[jens]

1 F. Alonso McLaren Bridgestone 01:30.994 73
2 L. Hamilton McLaren Bridgestone 01:31.094 53
3 F. Massa Ferrari Bridgestone 01:31.718 52
4 K. Räikkönen Ferrari Bridgestone 01:31.867 100
5 H. Kovalainen Renault Bridgestone 01:32.032 86
6 R. Barrichello Honda Bridgestone 01:32.115 129
7 J. Button Honda Bridgestone 01:32.137 78
8 D. Coulthard Red Bull Bridgestone 01:32.220 73
9 N. Piquet jr. Renault Bridgestone 01:32.334 102
10 N. Heidfeld BMW Bridgestone 01:32.451 65
11 R. Kubica BMW Bridgestone 01:32.475 95
12 A. Davidson Super Aguri Bridgestone 01:32.553 126
13 F. Montagny Toyota Bridgestone 01:32.917 110
14 M. Webber Red Bull Bridgestone 01:33.034 73
15 J. Trulli Toyota Bridgestone 01:33.062 104
16 S. Speed Scuderia Toro Rosso Bridgestone 01:33.255 60

Today's times.

Next time Toyota will get beaten by everyone. :o "In terms of performance, we were concentrating on long runs rather than performance over one lap so the lap times do not reflect the potential of the car." The words of chief engineer Dieter Gass, but they don't seem very convincing, although the car has had fewer problems in the last two days, which has enabled to drive more laps.

But in the standings team-mates are quite close, which is interesting. BMW was probably also concentrating on longer runs this time and McLaren on shorter stints. Don't know about others.

[andreag]

Tuesday times:

1. Massa Ferrari (B) 1:31.260 102
2. Raikkonen Ferrari (B) 1:31.590 95
3. Alonso McLaren-Mercedes (B) 1:31.851 96
4. Kubica BMW Sauber (B) 1:32.108 74
5. Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes (B) 1:32.193 55
6. Fisichella Renault (B) 1:32.556 82
7. Kovalainen Renault (B) 1:32.880 19
8. Montagny Toyota (B) 1:32.999 37
9. Trulli Toyota (B) 1:33.150 64
10. Vettel BMW Sauber (B) 1:33.219 34
11. Klien Honda (B) 1:33.378 90
12. Coulthard Red Bull-Renault (B) 1:33.526 69
13. Webber Red Bull-Renault (B) 1:33.642 74
14. Rossiter Honda (B) 1:33.697 78
15. Sato Super Aguri-Honda (B) 1:33.813 75
16. R.Schumacher Toyota (B) 1:34.030 36
17. Speed Toro Rosso-Ferrari (B) 1:34.137 44

Heikki crashes, Toyota with 3 drivers and Honda without Jenson and Rubens. The rest as usual.

[Donney]

Alonso will be testing until Thursday, apparently there are a couple of things they want to test more.

[fly_ac]

Some info

The Finn was testing a new aerodynamic package which will be tried by Massa tomorrow.

Massa was nearly six tenths quicker than world champion Fernando Alonso, third fastest in the McLaren. Alonso's teammate Lewis Hamilton was fifth quickest, the Briton causing one of the red flags of the day when he stopped on track with the MP4-22.

BMW-Sauber continued to show impressive pace, with Robert Kubica finishing as fourth quickest, albeit nearly a whole second behind Massa. Kubica's day, however, was not without trouble, the Pole stopping twice on track with apparent mechanical problems.

The day was marked by Heikki Kovalainen's big accident. The Renault driver, who was uninjured in the crash, managed only 19 laps before he lost control of his car and smashed heavily against the barriers, forcing him to stop testing as his team tried to repair the damage.

His teammate Giancarlo Fisichella enjoyed a much more productive day, covering 82 laps despite being hindered by gearbox problems.

Frenchman Franck Montagny took to the track to replace Toyota teammate Ralf Schumacher, who covered just 36 laps before he hurt his back when he spun his car over the kerbs. Schumacher is expected to return to work for tomorrow's session.

Honda's Christian Klien and James Rossiter were the men in charge of testing duties for the Japanese squad, the Austrian driver trying some new aerodynamic components fitted to the RA107.

Klien, running with Bridgestone's harder compound, finished as 11th fastest. Rossiter, still learning the track, was 14th.

David Coulthard and Mark Webber were still far from the top of times with Red Bull's RB3, the Scot also causing the final red flag of the day when he stopped with problems.

Super Aguri were the only team not running this year's car, with Takuma Sato still at the wheel of the interim machine. The Japanese finished ahead of American Scott Speed, slowest in the new Toro Rosso.

The Bahrain test is the final one before the start of the season in Australia.

From AutoSport

[fly_ac]

Does anyone know why Hamilton have 4 mirrors on his car?

http://i9.tinypic.com/4clfpk0.jpg

[ArrowsFA1]

Does anyone know why Hamilton have 4 mirrors on his car?
:confused: Perhaps there's a new championship for the most appendages to be fitted to the bodywork :crazy:

[Roamy]

he can't see sh!t !!!

[andreag]

Does anyone know why Hamilton have 4 mirrors on his car?
To help him to park the car after the testing. Bahrain parking lot is too narrow.

[jens]

Toyota already a couple of days ago announced that now they'll be concentrating on 'performance' instead of long runs, which explains their slightly better times - still not impressive though.

Toyota has at last witnessed that they lack of speed and this is mainly caused by lack of grip. To solve this problem, they have tested a new front wing, which seems like a mix of Renault's, Ferrari's and Williams's front wings:

http://www.f1-live.com/f1/photos/2007/tests63/diapo_131.jpg

It first appeared on 24th February (the Independence Day of Estonia :D ) and on that day they tested both of their wing-types.

[W8&C]

Unofficial Wednesday times from Bahrain:
1. Felipe Massa, Ferrari, 1:30.640
2. Lewis Hamilton, McLaren, 1:31.178
3. Kimi Raikkonen, Ferrari, 1:31.490
4. Giancarlo Fisichella, Renault, 1:31.967
5. Pedro de la Rosa, McLaren, 1:31.971
6. Heikki Kovalainen, Renault, 1:32.068
7. Nick Heidfeld, BMW Sauber, 1:32.254
8. Jenson Button, Honda, 1:32.293
9. Vitantonio Liuzzi, Toro Rosso, 1:32.359
10. Robert Kubica, BMW Sauber, 1:32.648
11. Rubens Barrichello, Honda, 1:32.650
12. Takuma Sato, Super Aguri, 1:32.837
13. Ralf Schumacher, Toyota, 1:33.054
14. David Coulthard, Red Bull, 1:33.146
15. Mark Webber, Red Bull, 1:33.238
16. Jarno Trulli, Toyota, 1:33.384


Massa again faster than Raikkonen. RBR and Toyota still nowhere.

[stevie_gerrard]

I'm a bit worried about hondas form going into this championship. theyve had a bit of an up and down testing period, but Button admitted himself that the car isnt quick enough, and i just hope he proves himself wrong :(

[futuretiger9]

The latest testing times bode well for the season ahead. Ferrari and McLaren continue to battle for supremacy. Of course, we won't really know anything until all of the cars are in Melbourne spec, which probably won't happen until Melbourne itself.

[VresiBerba]

The latest testing times bode well for the season ahead.

Actually the latest testing times, and information about them, suggest that Ferrari is WELL ahead of everyone else. That may of course bode well, for some, but hardly in general.

[PSfan]

Does anyone know why Hamilton have 4 mirrors on his car?


Well, it could be he is running all those mirrors in an attempt to eliminate any blind-spots behind his car be creating one beside it?

Or it could be the new Mcleran trailer towing package...

But my guess is, they are trying to figure out where He would like them, and they will drop down to 2 mirrors when Hamilton figures out which he likes best...

[Ari]

I'm actually mad at RBR. Can't anyone supply Webber with a farking car? Anyone? How long does this punk have to wait?

[harsha]

we actually don't know what they are testing about,the times are suggestive but not conclusive...

[jens]

I'm actually mad at RBR. Can't anyone supply Webber with a farking car? Anyone? How long does this punk have to wait?

Maybe Webber has got the "Alesi syndrom" - always somehow in wrong place. There are many good drivers and it's clear that all of them can't get a title chance during their career and unfortunately Mark seems to be in that last group. Mark's last chance is to get somehow into Renault for 2008/9 (Briatore is after all his manager), but even that may seem unlikely.

But if it somehow consoles you, then you are not the only one, who is worried. :) I'm worried about Jarno, whose car keeps braking down every day (mainly gearbox problems) - seems to become a "typical season" for him, mixed with all kinds of problems as usual... But let's try to be positive - it can't get worse than the current situation looks to be. :cool:

[samuratt]

Does anyone know why Hamilton have 4 mirrors on his car?

http://i9.tinypic.com/4clfpk0.jpg

To make sure he sees Fernando coming so he can let him pass :P

:laugh:

[ioan]

Of course, we won't really know anything until all of the cars are in Melbourne spec, which probably won't happen until Melbourne itself.

Well Ferrari said that they are running the Melbourne configuration this week, and that is normal, given that it's the last test before the first race.
I suppose they are all doing about the same as Ferrari given that they might not want to go to Oz without knowing how the whole package works.

[fly_ac]

By Jonathan Noble Thursday, March 1st 2007, 14:21 GMT

Felipe Massa maintained Ferrari's domination on the final day of major pre-season testing at Bahrain on Thursday to comfortably head the timesheets.

The Brazilian was evaluating an updated aerodynamic package on his F2007 and, although his best time was done on new tyres, it is understood it was not with a low qualifying-simulation level of fuel on board.

With the Ferrari's long run pace looking good as well, Massa was clearly full of confidence about how strong his team had ended testing.

"You don't just need a consistent car, you need a quick car," he said. "And here, we are quick and consistent."

Massa's closest challenger was Renault's Heikki Kovalainen, who ended the week with something to smile about following his spectacular crash on Tuesday. He did bring out a red flag, however, when he stopped on the track just after lunch.

The Brazilian was four tenths adrift of Massa, though, with teammate Giancarlo Fisichella a further one tenth of a second behind him.

With Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen, who used the new F2007 aero package in the afternoon, fourth fastest, McLaren's Fernando Alonso was fifth quickest overall.

Honda Racing's Rubens Barrichello was sixth quickest, ahead of McLaren test driver Pedro de la Rosa.

Scott Speed delivered a fairly impressive performance for Scuderia Toro Rosso to set the eighth quickest time, just ahead of the sister Red Bull Racing of David Coulthard.

The final day of testing brought more frustration for BMW-Sauber, who are still beset by reliability issues despite having a quick car. Nick Heidfeld, who ended the day 10th overall, stopped on track at 4pm, with teammate Robert Kubica coming to a halt 15 minutes before the end of the day.

Today's times:

Pos Driver Car Time Laps
1. Massa Ferrari (B) 1:29.989 45
2. Kovalainen Renault (B) 1:30.384 61
3. Fisichella Renault (B) 1:30.498 64
4. Raikkonen Ferrari (B) 1:30.534 77
5. Alonso McLaren-Mercedes (B) 1:30.564 113
6. Barrichello Honda (B) 1:31.067 118
7. De la Rosa McLaren-Mercedes (B) 1:31.354 90
8. Speed Toro Rosso-Ferrari (B) 1:31.500 124
9. Coulthard Red Bull-Renault (B) 1:31.589 66
10. Heidfeld BMW Sauber (B) 1:31.720 83
11. Webber Red Bull-Renault (B) 1:31.742 92
12. Kubica BMW Sauber (B) 1:31.751 98
13. Schumacher Toyota (B) 1:31.791 81
14. Button Honda (B) 1:31.837 97
15. Montagny Toyota (B) 1:32.264 119
16. Sato Super Aguri-Honda (B) 1:33.357 53

[Mikko]

[i]Massa's closest challenger was Renault's Heikki Kovalainen, who ended the week with something to smile about following his spectacular crash on Tuesday. He did bring out a red flag, however, when he stopped on the track just after lunch.

The Brazilian was four tenths adrift of Massa, though, with teammate Giancarlo Fisichella a further one tenth of a second behind him.



My God! Heikki has changed his nationality! You bloody traitor!!!

[fly_ac]

My God! Heikki has changed his nationality! You bloody traitor!!!

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/57011

:D :D

The error was repaired.

The Finn was four tenths adrift of Massa,..........

[Tazio]

That dog-blasted Massa is at it again!
What makes that guy think he's so fast?
Sh!t! Now he probably thinks he's Ferrari's #1 pilot
That guy’s got nerve.
Next thing you know, he's gonna' confront Fred (with his sideburns) and say
"Whip me punk"!

[ioan]

Also Toro Rosso faster than RBR for the second time in a row!
Berger must be happy with the inherited Ferrari engine deal.

[andreag]

Sh!t! Now he probably thinks he's Ferrari's #1 pilot
And he should. In fact his teammate hasn't win for 18 months, and is becoming something for "History and nostagia".

[Mikko]

Is Kimi REALLY that much slower than Felipe, or doesn't he simply want to show his actual performance? Maybe less revs in Kimi's car? Any rumours? Sector times?
My own gut feeling tell's me that when the qualifying starts in Melbourne, Kimi's going to amaze many of us...

[ioan]

Is Kimi REALLY that much slower than Felipe, or doesn't he simply want to show his actual performance?

Than how is he testing the cars performance and reliability for full pace?


Maybe less revs in Kimi's car?

They are all limited to max 19000 revs starting this season (compared to around 20000 last season), plus they have to see if the engine can keep it up at max revs, so not likely at all that he gets less revs than Felipe.


Any rumors

It seems that Felipe is more at ease with the tires.


My own gut feeling tell's me that when the qualifying starts in Melbourne, Kimi's going to amaze many of us...

Maybe, maybe not, at least let's hope it will be a positive one...

[jens]

I think that making a comparison between team-mates based on their test times, is quite useless. Drivers often run different programmes and comparing their laptimes is often not adequate at all.

[SGWilko]

they have to see if the engine can keep it up at max revs, so not likely at all that he gets less revs than Felipe

They have Dynos for that, don't they?

[harsha]

the race will reveal everything

[ioan]

They have Dynos for that, don't they?

You might happen to know that the engine is the basis of an F1 car, is the part on which they build the rest of the car (unlike with normal cars that have a chassis that supports everything).
Given this, an F1 engine is stressed in every corner and every time they go over the curbs and so on, things that aren't simulated on the dyno.

[F1boat]

I can say only one thing - CAN'T WAIT FOR MELBOURNE!!!

[kalasend]

I tend to believe the top testing time does reveal certain, if not most, part of the car's performance. Especially when testing season is closing to the end. I think somewhere in those 100 or so laps of testing everyday, the team must have tested the car's(and the driver's) maximum speed with minimal fuel.

[futuretiger9]

And he should. In fact his teammate hasn't win for 18 months, and is becoming something for "History and nostagia".


It just shows what self-belief and confidence can achieve. Massa has really grown in stature since mid-2006, and in this game, you have to believe in yourself. He probably feels now that he really belongs at the top table in F1. It's up to Kimi to respond positively.

[ioan]

Even if the times of 1 day do not say much, if we take the top times over the whole test (3 days in this case), as kalasend said, for sure every team tested their cars and drivers at least once in low fuel qualifying trim. Given this we might see which car and which driver are the fastest, not the most consistent but fastest.