F1 testing pictures: 10th February

McLaren ran an aerodynamic measuring device on Button's car
Here’s the pictures I’ve taken at the first day of the the F1 test at Jerez.
- Jenson Button in the McLaren-Mercedes MP4-25
- Jenson Button in the McLaren-Mercedes MP4-25
- Sebastien Buemi in the Toro Rosso STR5
- Kamui Kobayashi in the BMW Sauber C29
- Kamui Kobayashi in the BMW Sauber C29
- Vitantonio Liuzzi in the Force India VJM03
- Vitantonio Liuzzi in the Force India VJM03
- Vitaly Petrov in the Renault R30
- Nico Rosberg in the Mercedes W01
- Nico Rosberg in the Mercedes W01
- Jenson Button in the McLaren MP4-25
- Jenson Button in the McLaren MP4-25
- Jenson Button in the McLaren MP4-25
- Jenson Button in the McLaren MP4-25
- Nico Hulkenberg in the Williams FW32
- Kamui Kobayashi in the BMW Sauber C29
- Kamui Kobayashi in the BMW Sauber C29
- Vitantonio Liuzzi in the Force India VJM03
- Vitantonio Liuzzi in the Force India VJM03
- Vitantonio Liuzzi in the Force India VJM03
- Mercedes W01 and Toro Rosso STR5
- Nico Rosberg in the Mercedes W01
- Nico Rosberg in the Mercedes W01
- Nico Rosberg in the Mercedes W01
- Mark Webber in the Red Bull RB6
- Mark Webber in the Red Bull RB6
- Mark Webber in the Red Bull RB6
- Mark Webber in the Red Bull RB6
- Fernando Alonso in the Ferrari F10
- Fernando Alonso in the Ferrari F10
- Fernando Alonso in the Ferrari F10
- Fernando Alonso in the Ferrari F10
- Sebastien Buemi in the Toro Rosso STR5
- Jenson Button in the McLaren MP4-25
- Jenson Button in the McLaren MP4-25
- Force India VJM03 and Toro Rosso STR5
- Timo Glock in the Virgin VR-01
- Force India drivers
- Nico Hulkenberg in the Williams FW32
- Fernando Alonso in the Ferrari F10
More to follow
Images (C) F1Fanatic.co.uk














































Captain Caveman said on 10th February 2010, 8:35
well at least it looks dry, i had thought it would be a washout today.
interesting to see they still have the appendages to assess review their aero.
still one of the best looking cars though :-)
ap said on 10th February 2010, 8:39
forget the rest just RBR pics today
LOL
Rob B said on 10th February 2010, 8:41
Cheers for the pics Keith!!! :D
BBT said on 10th February 2010, 8:48
My favourites are the Mclaren and Red Bull cars
Ned Flanders said on 10th February 2010, 11:26
In terms of car design I’d agree Red Bull and McLaren are best. I can’t choose which colour scheme I like most… McLaren and Red Bull’s liveries are good too, but also Renault, Force India, Ferrari, Virgin. Mercedes… I’m loving most of the new liveries this season!
jason said on 10th February 2010, 8:52
keith if what we can expect from you taking f1 fanatic full time instead of part time is great twitter coverage of testing and so on then i say you should have gone full time long ago thanks again
sijs said on 10th February 2010, 8:52
There isn’t a word from Virgin!?
Keith Collantine (@keithcollantine) said on 10th February 2010, 9:05
Glock’s not been out yet.
ajokay said on 10th February 2010, 11:29
There’s still a worrying lack of Virgins. I was told to expect Virgins!
ap said on 10th February 2010, 8:54
yes would be a great word from a virgin…
8P
alex said on 10th February 2010, 8:56
what is this at the mclaren car??
Maciek said on 10th February 2010, 9:05
My guess would be something to measure the airflow coming over the front wheel…?
MuzzleFlash said on 10th February 2010, 9:07
My uneducated guess is that it measures airflow coming off the front wheel.
MuzzleFlash said on 10th February 2010, 9:07
Beaten too it, almost word for word haha
Ned Flanders said on 10th February 2010, 12:39
Haha, how did you come up with such identical answers?! All he called it was ‘this at the mclaren car’, he was hardly very clear about it!
Frank said on 10th February 2010, 15:39
The device is called a Pitot Tube (each golden tube is one) and it calculates air velocity, which can then be used to calculate pressure. These devices are used on planes to measure speed. By having many like this, McLaren can look at the pressure gradient behind the wheel. If you pay close attention they have been using it at different height so they’ll be able to trace the pressure gradient everywhere behind the wheel. As mentioned this will allow them to double check their CFD and wind tunnel data and also improve their future simulations.
iFuel said on 10th February 2010, 8:57
I hate testing.. McLaren makes me so worried with all those peculiar testeing programme
epi said on 10th February 2010, 10:43
It’s not really such a big deal…
Fluid flow/aerodynamics is impossibly complex mathematically, so rather than being an exact science “models” are made of what airflow does.
The only way to check/improve these models are with real life tests, if the airflow measured is slightly different to be expected then these models can be revised to better match what actually happens. Then using the improved model a closer simulation can be run.
I guess in a way that device is the antithesis of the Virgin design process
Tim said on 10th February 2010, 12:24
Not necessarily. The McLaren device (like the flo-vis paint) is intended to help the team validate the results it gets from its windtunnel. Virgin could could feasibly run something similar to validate what their CFD systems are telling them.
da said on 11th February 2010, 11:09
Exactly right – all teams, what ever simulation tools they use, need to calibrate their assumptions with what happens on the car.
Prateek said on 10th February 2010, 9:23
I like how Macca have used the red paint at the end of the shark fin. Makes it look much less jarring! :)
Scribe said on 10th February 2010, 11:53
sort of blends into the rear wing huh?
Damon said on 10th February 2010, 9:29
OMG, the 2010 cars might be too much ugliness for me to handle :(
Scribe said on 10th February 2010, 11:58
I think they look better than the 2009 on the whole.
ElChiva said on 10th February 2010, 20:20
quit now there is still time :)
Prisoner Monkeys said on 10th February 2010, 22:43
Bah! They look far prettier than the pre-2009 cars!
ferrarifan said on 10th February 2010, 9:35
more ferrari pics please
BBQ2 said on 10th February 2010, 9:37
I assume McLaren is still working on their asymmetric side pods, if not, why should the device be only on one side?
Damon said on 10th February 2010, 9:44
Assymetric chassis are not allowed in F1.
Damon said on 10th February 2010, 9:47
And the device is only on one side, because the data they get from it (as it is a measurement device) would be identical on both sides, obviously ;)
BBQ2 said on 10th February 2010, 9:58
Thanks Damon…. So, eyes has been deceiving me all this time? :-(
Fat cat said on 10th February 2010, 14:10
Obviously not though, there is nothing (to use a word already used here) symmetrical about a cars handling, let alone an F1 car going round an asymmetrical track with an asymmetrical environment. If there were sensors on both sides the the data would be anything but the same, if for example following another car or driving through a corner!
PJA said on 10th February 2010, 10:07
Didn’t McLaren have asymmetric exhausts openings last year because both sides cooled different things like oil and KERS?
thestig84 said on 10th February 2010, 10:34
yes and asymmetric intakes in 2008. Used in spa for sure!
Scribe said on 10th February 2010, 12:40
Thats not true. McLaren are masters of the aysemetric chassis.
They had assymetric exhausts for loads of last year as well.
Why would assymetry be banned? Can’t think of any reason at all.
Dan Bigham said on 10th February 2010, 19:58
An asymetric chassis is different to an asymetric body. The chassis itself (the carbon fibre/aluminium honeycomb) that makes up the centre inside of the car MUST be symmetrical. Bodywork can be assymetric.
Fat Cat, The data they receive on the left side would be identical as the right. Granted they could be going through a left hand corner, and the telemetry will show that, so McLaren will know that during a left hand corner the air flows like this, and the same principle would apply to the opposite side going through a right corner.
Fat Cat said on 11th February 2010, 0:23
@Dan B, Klar aber, Place two identical cars on a track like uummm? decisions, decisions,,, Cadwell for two races on different days, you will not get identical results. Either in a comparison left, left or left, right sensors or even day 1 and day 2 or car 1, car 2. You might get expected or experienced and even similar results but not “identical”.
ferrarifan said on 10th February 2010, 9:37
more ferrari pics please!
Keith Collantine (@keithcollantine) said on 10th February 2010, 10:42
Alonso’s not been out much yet but he’s just gone out now. Will see what I can do…
Keith Collantine (@keithcollantine) said on 10th February 2010, 11:46
I’ve added some pictures of Alonso now.
JV said on 10th February 2010, 9:49
Early times
1 N Rosberg 1.20.927
2 S.Buemi 1.21.031
3 N.Hulkenberg 1:22.243
4 F.Alonso 1:22.895
5 K. Kobayashi 1:23.287
6 V. Liuzzi 1:24.968
7 V. Petrov 1:25.440
8 M. Webber 1:26.502