2010 F1 testing live: 17th February
Fairuz Fauzy will drive the Lotus at Jerez today
The F1 teams reach the halfway point in their preparations for the 2010 season today – it’s the eighth day of their 15-day testing allocation.
We now have 11 teams working at Jerez as Lotus has joined in with its newly-launched T127. Join us to follow testing as-it-happens below.
Times from today’s test
| Driver | Car | Best time | Laps | Difference |
| Sebastian Vettel | Red Bull-Renault RB6 | 82.593 | 99 | 0 |
| Lewis Hamilton | McLaren-Mercedes MP4-25 | 83.017 | 72 | 0.424 |
| Felipe Massa | Ferrari F10 | 83.204 | 72 | 0.611 |
| Sebastien Buemi | Toro Rosso-Ferrari STR5 | 83.322 | 79 | 0.729 |
| Pedro de la Rosa | BMW Sauber-Ferrari C29 | 83.367 | 76 | 0.774 |
| Michael Schumacher | Mercedes W01 | 83.803 | 111 | 1.21 |
| Adrian Sutil | Force India-Mercedes VJM03 | 84.272 | 28 | 1.679 |
| Paul di Resta | Force India-Mercedes VJM03 | 85.088 | 74 | 2.495 |
| Vitaly Petrov | Renault R30 | 86.237 | 55 | 3.644 |
| Rubens Barrichello | Williams-Cosworth FW32 | 87.32 | 109 | 4.727 |
| Fairuz Fauzy | Lotus-Cosworth T127 | 91.848 | 76 | 9.255 |
| Timo Glock | Virgin-Cosworth VR-01 | 92.417 | 10 | 9.824 |
Testing notes
The weather in Jerez last week wasn’t great with two of the four days’ running disrupted by rain. Unfortunately it’s set to be just as bad if not worse over the next four days.
Due to the agreements the teams have with the circuits, they’ll only be able to move to a different venue if they look like getting zero chance of dry running. At the moment it looks like they willl get a dry day on Friday, but heavy rain is forecast for today and tomorrow.
Today Lotus becomes the second of the new teams to join testing – we’ll see if they an get their car on-track more quickly and with fewer problems than Virgin did last week.
Another new addition to this week’s test is Paul di Resta, who will get half a day’ running in the Force India.
Today’s testing line-up
McLaren MP4-25 – Lewis Hamilton
Mercedes W01 – Michael Schumacher
Red Bull RB6 – Sebastian Vettel
Ferrari F10 – Felipe Massa
Williams FW32 – Rubens Barrichello
BMW Sauber C29 – Pedro de la Rosa
Renault R30 – Vitaly Petrov
Force India VJM03 – Adrian Sutil/Paul di Resta
Toro Rosso STR5 – Sebastien Buemi
Virgin VR-01 – Timo Glock
Lotus T127 – Fairuz Fauzy
The track: Circuito de Jerez
The teams are testing at the Circuito de Jerez, formerly the home of the Spanish (1986-1990) and European Grands Prix (1994 and 1997):
Eight of this year’s pre-season test days will take place at this circuit. Last week Lewis Hamilton set a best time of 1’19.583 at the track.
Tweets from the test
Here’s the ten latest Tweets from people at the track (plus me):
If you would like to suggest a Twitter feed to add to the list, please name them in the comments. The list only updates when this page is refreshed.
2010 F1 testing
- Who’s fast and who’s not? A closer look at the lap times from Jerez testing
- Jerez test 1 statistics
- F1 testing pictures: 13th February
- F1 testing live: 13th February
- F1 testing pictures: 12th February
- 2010 F1 testing live: 12th February
- F1 testing pictures: 11th February
- 2010 F1 testing live: 11th February
- F1 testing pictures: 10th February
- 2010 F1 testing live: 10th February
- F1 testing review: Valencia (Pictures)
- F1 testing pictures: February 3rd
- 2010 F1 testing: February 3rd
- F1 testing pictures: February 2nd
- 2010 F1 testing: February 2nd
- 2010 F1 testing: February 1st
Bullfrog said on 17th February 2010, 14:07
Tony Fernandes says:
Is power steering an optional extra? Is the Lotus 127 stripped-out like an Elise? They’ll be at a disadvantage in the long hot races if they’re without that.
Bullfrog said on 17th February 2010, 14:12
Ah my question’s just answered itself. A “supplier issue” according to Mike Gascoyne.
three4three said on 17th February 2010, 15:26
Fauzy’s arms are gonna be pumped! Good thing he’s not driving tomorrow poor chap.
ajokay said on 17th February 2010, 14:08
Shouldn’t the Virgin and Lotus really be a bit faster than 10 seconds off the pace? Come on, this isn’t Giovanni Lavaggi in a Pacific.
Yuri Mikhailovich said on 17th February 2010, 14:09
Anyone remember the 1997 Lola?
FLuidd said on 17th February 2010, 14:18
Losers are not remembered.
Yuri Mikhailovich said on 17th February 2010, 14:20
I think losers are best remembered.
Bullfrog said on 17th February 2010, 14:23
Wait till Trulli gets in it, in qualifying.
Robert McKay said on 17th February 2010, 14:32
It’s hard to tell what’s going on speedwise but Virgin have only done laps or something, and presumably when it was wet.
I think the large spread is due to them not being on track when it’s dry, as opposed to them just being dog slow.
That’s my hope, anyways.
Robert McKay said on 17th February 2010, 14:33
only done 5 laps, i meant to say.
Adrian said on 17th February 2010, 14:45
Obviously there’s the fuel question to put into the equation, but the Lotus is now lapping faster than the Williams in the wet conditions…
Tim said on 17th February 2010, 14:59
Lucas di Grassi was only 3.3 seconds off the pace at Jerez last Saturday – probably a better indication.
Leon said on 17th February 2010, 14:59
Hey…have we still got the Trulli Train in prospect for the season then lads ?
Peter said on 17th February 2010, 16:01
Trulli train is only possible when Trulli is not last. So it seems very possible.
Bullfrog said on 17th February 2010, 16:51
Could be a long wait before we get a Virgin train.
wdf2 said on 17th February 2010, 14:36
Germany’s motorsport total site claims that USF1 and Campos will “merge.” More specifically, Chad Hurley is supposedly tired of USF1 lack of progress, so he will provide the funds to get Campos out of hock with Dallara.
Still speculation at this point.
http://www.motorsport-total.com/f1/news/2010/02/Campos_und_US_F1_Aus_zwei_mach_eins_10021611.html
Scribe said on 17th February 2010, 14:58
I wish they’d send that Virgin out to lap more. I’m starting to belive it’s going to be Branson wearing the hostest unifrom.
Surley they could have put up, just a little bit more money to test the car in a wind tunnel for but one day. Why they would miss that I don’t know.
maciek said on 17th February 2010, 15:00
It’s part of their whole approach – they’re pushing the idea that simulation technology has made wind tunnels obsolete. So it’s not something they’re missing out on (in their view).
Scribe said on 17th February 2010, 15:09
I know what they think there doing I’m just wondering since this is the first time the technology has been used in this way. Why they don’t just rent a wind tunnel for a day. Just to check the data.
K said on 17th February 2010, 15:43
Because then they’d be like every other team.
Maybe they’re doing virtual testing as well and maybe when they get to Bahrain they’ll do a virtual race in which they virtually win!
Tim said on 17th February 2010, 16:40
Like CFD, a windtunnel is just another tool for simulating what will happen on the racetrack – it might be right, it might be wrong. A poorly calibrated windtunnel is worse than useless. The other teams use windtunnel data to verify and validate what CFD is telling them, and vice versa.
There’s no substitute for actual track time.
Oliver said on 17th February 2010, 20:15
Even if poorly caliberated, a wind will still give consistent information, and this can be normalised and referenced with another wind tunnel.
david said on 17th February 2010, 15:02
did anyone see massa’s Ferari, the rear wing has with what looks like a black bag around it.
Scribe said on 17th February 2010, 15:06
An aerodynamic decvice quite spectacularly lo tech prehaps.
Or maybe that bag was fall of wires staraws an lazers.
Gagan said on 17th February 2010, 16:45
It looks like the car is being towed away.
Scribe said on 17th February 2010, 19:38
The tow rope prehaps being what tiped you off?
Scribe said on 17th February 2010, 16:01
Hamilton appears to be going for it in the dying moments.
Vettle’s time looks safe bar pointless last lap heroics. Which I would love to see.
Hamilton needs to improve by 0.424 seconds.
Becken said on 17th February 2010, 16:23
In a dump track, he was the fastest man on the final stage of the test…
Calum said on 17th February 2010, 17:02
Er, what is a dump track? I presume you mean damp, if you do it makes sense since LEWIS was always strong in the wet.
Ned Flanders said on 17th February 2010, 17:11
Of coursen he means damp
Becken said on 17th February 2010, 17:13
Of course you’re RIGHT, Ned. Thanks and sorry for my inability with English!
steph90 said on 17th February 2010, 17:17
It’s just a typo, we all do them from time to time.
Ned Flanders said on 17th February 2010, 16:42
Wow… Virgin and Lotus are miles of the pace! It’s early days, I know, but it doesn’t bode well. If they are doing that badly, then how slow might USF1 and Campos be?? It’s a good thing that the 107% rule in Qualifying is gone
K said on 17th February 2010, 23:20
Didn’t help that Lotus had a rookie out there.
KMal said on 17th February 2010, 17:35
Is there anything in the fact that the bottom three cars are ALL using the Cosworth engine?
steph90 said on 17th February 2010, 18:38
Don’t think so. The main reason being is that it’s testing which means that the times are almost in npossible to work out and they don’t mean that much.
I don’t think Cosworth really will make much on an impact next year. I think it’s more chassis and that none of the Cosworth powered cars are likely to topple Merc, RBR, Ferrari or Mclaren because of design etc. So far I haven’t read any compaints about Cossie’s power but reliability problems may be expected as they have are just returning.
BBT said on 17th February 2010, 19:28
Test times in Excel spreadsheet
BBT said on 17th February 2010, 19:29
http://www.ergouk.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/images/F1%20Times%203rd%20Test.xls
Becken said on 17th February 2010, 19:49
Fantastic job!
HG said on 17th February 2010, 21:12
great work, chears! :)
Oliver said on 17th February 2010, 20:51
This is testing only. We should cheer for reliability not just fast time. :-)
Scribe said on 17th February 2010, 21:38
the only actual pointer we have is consitency. Which must be a good thing. Unless you are of course consitentaly 3 tenths slower than the car in front. In which case, hopefully the car in front drops off.
I think McLaren have gone for the be the fastest an then limit drop off route. While Ferrari have gone for not being fastest on outright pace but being the most consistent, an not far off the pace. Ideally meaning they can complete a race distance in fastest time. May leave them having to do a lot of overtaking in closing laps. May also let them stay out longer an lead to overtaking from cars taking the other route on fresh tyres.
FLuidd said on 18th February 2010, 22:24
This is quite right. Nice thinking.