2010 F1 testing live: 18th February

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Paul di Resta is testing for Force India again today

The rain looks set to stay at Jerez today as F1 testing continues at the track.

Heikki Kovalainen will get his first run in the Lotus today and at Mercedes Nico Rosberg will take over from Michael Schumacher. Follow testing with us below.

Times from today’s test

DriverCarBest timeLapsDifference
Rubens BarrichelloWilliams-Cosworth FW3287.145980
Vitaly PetrovRenault R3087.828560.683
Sebastian VettelRed Bull-Renault RB688.162701.017
Nico RosbergMercedes W0188.515711.37
Felipe MassaFerrari F1088.879921.734
Pedro de la RosaBMW Sauber-Ferrari C2989.69182.546
Paul di RestaForce India-Mercedes VJM0390.344333.199
Timo GlockVirgin-Cosworth VR-0190.476723.331
Vitantonio LiuzziForce India-Mercedes VJM0390.666243.521
Lewis HamiltonMcLaren-Mercedes MP4-2590.979573.834
Sebastien BuemiToro Rosso-Ferrari STR592.678575.533
Heikki KovalainenLotus-Cosworth T12793.554306.409

Testing notes

The dreaded rain arrived as expected yesterday, keeping many teams from getting their planned programmes of work completed. Unfortunately the forecast for today looks little better.

Today’s testing line-up

McLaren MP4-25Lewis Hamilton
Mercedes W01Nico Rosberg
Red Bull RB6Sebastian Vettel
Ferrari F10Felipe Massa
Williams FW32Rubens Barrichello
BMW Sauber C29Pedro de la Rosa
Renault R30 – Vitaly Petrov
Force India VJM03 – Paul di Resta
Toro Rosso STR5Sebastien Buemi
Virgin VR-01Timo Glock
Lotus T127Heikki Kovalainen

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):


View Larger Map

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

Author information

Keith Collantine
Lifelong motor sport fan Keith set up RaceFans in 2005 - when it was originally called F1 Fanatic. Having previously worked as a motoring...

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64 comments on “2010 F1 testing live: 18th February”

  1. hope we can get some good pics of lotus today :)and hope they get some good times in :)

    1. Today they will probably overtake virgin in terms of testing mileage.

      1. Tell that to Kovi as he gets bussed back to the pits

    2. There’s some pictures of Lotus teting yesterday here: F1 testing in pictures: 17th February

  2. Come on Mclaren!!

    Does any one know if Xerez football team are from Jerez because it seems to be pronounced hereth like the circuit.

    1. The name of the city came from the arab name Sherish.

      In the XIII Century, when Castilla Kingdom reconquer the city, the name was changed to Xerez, and at that time, the “X” was pronounced like “Sh” in English. (For this reason, Jerez wine is named Sherry in English)

      Just in the XVI Century, the “X” evolved to the current “J”.

      Jerez is still commonly known as Xerez in many languages.

      So, Xerez Football team belongs to Jerez City.

      A long way to answer your question!!

      1. Good knowledge :-)

  3. Has Glock damaged the car? Will they spend another day fixing things or waiting for parts now?

    1. Younger Hamilton
      18th February 2010, 21:45

      i dont think so but Yesterday they were saying they had problems but i think its all sorted now

  4. Remember… Livetiming with lap by lap times for all drivers (click on drivers names)

    http://www.msfree.gr/ms.php?id=10757

  5. Who’s driving Force India? Autosport.com says that is Liuzzi, it’s live commentary says di Resta, and here said that’s Adrian.

    1. Liuzzi was originally down for today but the team said yesterday it would be Sutil. But according to Costas’s link it’s di Resta, which would be interesting if true.

      1. The Sun tabloid, has a 2 page feature on DiResta today (in Scottish edition anyway, dunno about the rest of uk). Unusual for them to do motorspor in any length!

        Out of interest what newspaper has best F1 coverage?

        1. Newspapers? What’s that then… I have a smartphone.

          That’s a thought – wonder if Keith’s considered doing an iPhone app? Either a freebie one to raise the profile of the site, just as a glorified RSS… or you could charge a small amount and have all the live timing and so on…

          1. Ha yeah I know they seem dated, but I wasn’t allowed a contract phone due to lack of income, the joys of being under 18! I don’t have permanent internet access on my ipod touch either.

            I always wondered if he had thought about it. There is an app(pay one) on my ipod that takes news from bbc sport, planet f1 and other sources. You choose one from the settings and it sets up links to all the latest headlines.

            Perhaps Keith culd get his site included in the contacts by contacting the developers – if he didn’t know how to go about creating an app.

        2. the times, and telegraph do good f1. one of the two bring out a free formula 1 guide at the beginning of every season.

          1. I think it’s the Telegraph. Which one is it that Martin Brundle writes for?

  6. if read on one of the biggest dutch F1 Sites that USF1 stops because their car wont be ready before the first grand prix and that lopez is lookin for another team to drivwe for, this of course putst the door wide open for stefan GP

  7. Strange i see this on live timing:
    5. P. di Resta Force India F8-VII 1:30.344 +1.465 14 pit

    F8-VII? and di Resta drives?

    1. F8-VII is marking of 2007 Spyker @ VJM-01. There is must be mistake?

      1. Yes, so i wonder they drive with a old car? But Sutil was planned to drive today as di Resta only got a half day to test? is Sutil reported Sick?

        1. No Paul drives VJM-03. Maybe they’ll change after lunch.

          1. Ah the VJM-03 is back probaly a old transponder. BTW lotus has engine problems after it fires up it abrupt suddenly.

  8. where’s lotus???

    1. Lotus is on fire.

      1. When I first read this I thought they were blisteringly quick, now i realise they are actually in flames!

  9. Where is Renault?

  10. oh, lol, no electricity at the Jerez track.

  11. I thought initially you meant that the Lotus was flying when you said it “was on fire” got quite excited!! Seems you mean it litteraly lol. Oh well, early days.

    1. they had overheating problems yeasterday, and today it seems like even more – and it’s in rainy cold Jerez. wonder, what will be at Bahrain…

  12. Early gremlins there at Lotus :( I also wished they had a different driver line up…… Such a nice car being driven by two dull drivers. We might be seeing a Trulli-Kova-Train this season :(

    1. Agreed, I really wish they had a young up-and-coming driver in the team…still early days and I’m sure that with Trulli and Heikki they’ve got 2 good development drivers.

      Though I personally think Kova-Trulli-Train has a better ring to it..!!

    2. Kovalainen is still pretty much an up and coming driver.

      1. Got to remember no matter what anybody says, both are F1 race winners.

      2. Anybody can make a mistake, but it seems like he just can’t stop making them.

        There was a time when I ranked him highly, then he got the drive at McLaren and I thought we’d see very good things with that partnership. Then it seemed like he just dropped off the map, it seemed like he stopped trying. And last season was just embarrassing at times.

        Today’s crash, just disappointing.

  13. Seeing di resta is getting so much testing, definitely Mercedes/Mclaren have a lot of role in that. I think there are 90% chances he will get a race seat next year.

    Keith is he any good? I remember reading he defeated Vettel in some junior single seater series to the title.
    Than he should be great and maybe already close to the performance of current Force india drivers.

    1. It was in the 2006 F3 Euroseries. They both drove for Team ASM, Vettel no1, Di Resta no2, and Di Resta won the championship with 86 points, 11 more than Vettel – the runnerup.

      Also of interest, Kamui Kobayashi drove in this championship with the Team ASM as well. He was a rookie and he finished 8yh overall and picked up a couple of podiums.

      Team ASM sure can pick drivers with F1 potential!

      1. ASM merged with ART, who ran Hülkenberg in GP2 last year and Grosjean the year before. Their latest charge is Jules Bianchi, who you definitely want to keep an eye on: Jules Bianchi (Meet the rookies)

    2. Di Resta has looked promising indeed but I don’t care what anyone says about how useful the DTM is – he would have been far better off in GP2 the last couple of season. I hope it hasn’t dulled his potential.

  14. “11:18 Glock continues to rack up the miles in the Virgin. He is now on 33 laps, which is like three times what he managed yesterday”

    Haha, Autosport there gettin down wiv da slang lad! Like three times more laps, wicked man!

  15. I was looking for some laptimes of Heikki to start some useless (but fun) comparing.

    Check out the fire on pictures with the link on page: http://www.f1today.nl/live-update/2010/02/18/circuito-de-jerez/

  16. According to Lotus it was a minor hydraulics issue that they were able to fix quickly.

  17. I know the lotus is on fire and all that, but my god i LOVE the yellow and black rims on the Lotus, it is real old school Lotus!

    1. Thank god they banned those disgusting wheel covers this year hey!

  18. More one time, Red Bull is flying in the rain, as in 2009…

  19. Have to admire Kovalainen’s honesty:

    “Had a crash and damaged front wing, session over for us. S..t! My mistake, tomorrow we go again…”

    1. Most recent tweets from Gascoyne, you can just feel his frustration!
      “Slight off for Heikki. Knocked off the front wing. Spare on its way but will not be here until 2am in the morning so no more running today”

      “Conditions drying up so a shame not to get any dry running today ”

      “Made some progress on the hydraulic issues we have been having. Guess we will have time to test that progress this afternoon!!!”

  20. It is finally dry in Jerez. What I do not understand is everybody requesting for dry runs, but now only three cars on track.

    I do not think the admiration will be shared by Gascoyne.

  21. Some murmurs coming through on twitter that teams are pushing for an extra day’s testing next week due to the poor weather so far, but need a unanimous decision by the teams. Can’t see anyone being against that seeing as the equipment and people will all be there anyway.

    1. I can. Because it’s a logical decision so someone in F1 that has a veto of some sorts is going to be against it…

      1. Now there’s a classic F1 cynic guys !

        Unfortunately you are probably dead right James…..

        Lets hope you are wrong then eh ?

        1. @James_mc

          Yeah because someone who used to have a veto on the technical regulations now has a veto on a decision that requires unanimous consent. Can you see the floor in that multi-storey logic??

  22. Just got this tweet after asking them to confirm or deny the rumors
    ————–

    USF1Team

    The US F1 Team web server is down and is being repaired as this is written. We are not gone, as many have reported. More news soon. 10 minutes ago from web

  23. Maybe it’s a smoke screen and they are testing their car in secret…?

    is there any web cams where they were going to test in US?

    1. here is bit more on this…

      A guy asking Barber Motorsports Park about the usf1 test on facebook

      “i know they are planning on doing it. maybe on the 20th? I shouldnt be hush though, i’ve been attending the testing of the other cars here in spain”

      I maybe well of the mark but what the hell cant be any less accurate than the media…LOL

      1. track cam has been disabled?? at barbermotorsports…well I don’t know if it has but it’s only a static image and the link says cam…never tried it before.

        http://www.barbermuseum.org/index.php

  24. USF1 website back up working , just for anyone wondering

  25. added to days times to the following file…

    http://www.ergouk.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/images/F1%20Times%203rd%20Test.xls

    Day 1 and day 2 on different tabs

    Hope it’s dry tomorrow….

    1. BBT – you are doing a great job, mate. Thanks a lot.

  26. Nobody said anything about Williams & Rubens…:( The Brazilian dog of war shows his teeth again! Go Rubinio Go > > >

  27. Younger Hamilton
    18th February 2010, 21:57

    i dont Blame lewis for finishing 10th today its just too wet ouy in Jerez for any Driver to go out and do some hot laps but they gonna need to understand How the cars perform in the Wet sometime.To be honest i think the rain should stop Teams and Drivers are struggling to continue with their planned testing programmes and are Eager to do some Dry Running btw Ferrari,Mclaren,Red bull and any other team being on top in testing it doesnt prove nothing until after the race in Bahrain.The testing Sessions is about learning and Developing the Car

  28. found this website the other day.
    http://live.autosport.com/commentary.php/id/178

    Got some really cool nice updates from the testing. Plus adding in twitter messages from teams and other sources plus their own commentary twitter style updates.

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