2010 F1 testing live: 28th February
Lewis Hamilton will drive the McLaren for the last time before Bahrain
It’s deadline day for the F1 teams – today is their last chance to test their cars before they head out to Bahrain for the first race of 2010, just two weeks from now.
We’re expecting to see a few low-fuel runs which should give us an idea who’s got the best ultimate pace.
I’m at the track to follow testing as it happens – join us below to see how the crucial final day unfolds.
Times from today’s test
| Driver | Car | Best time | Laps | Difference |
| Lewis Hamilton | McLaren-Mercedes MP4-25 | 80.472 | 134 | 0 |
| Mark Webber | Red Bull-Renault RB6 | 80.496 | 61 | 0.024 |
| Felipe Massa | Ferrari F10 | 80.539 | 114 | 0.067 |
| Adrian Sutil | Force India-Mercedes VJM03 | 80.667 | 100 | 0.195 |
| Sebastian Vettel | Red Bull-Renault RB6 | 80.667 | 76 | 0.195 |
| Michael Schumacher | Mercedes W01 | 80.745 | 123 | 0.273 |
| Rubens Barrichello | Williams-Cosworth FW32 | 80.87 | 84 | 0.398 |
| Kamui Kobayashi | BMW Sauber-Ferrari C29 | 80.911 | 67 | 0.439 |
| Sebastien Buemi | Toro Rosso-Ferrari STR5 | 82.135 | 88 | 1.663 |
| Robert Kubica | Renault R30 | 83.175 | 107 | 2.703 |
| Heikki Kovalainen | Lotus-Cosworth T127 | 85.251 | 64 | 4.779 |
| Lucas di Grassi | Virgin-Cosworth VR-01 | 86.16 | 49 | 5.688 |
Testing notes
Several teams used the brief period of dry running yesterday to do some race distance simulations which gave us some useful insight into how quick they are.
The weather looks set to remain dry throughout today’s test so we should see some more representative runs throughout the day.
Today’s testing line-up
McLaren MP4-25 – Lewis Hamilton
Mercedes W01 – Michael Schumacher
Red Bull RB6 – Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber
Ferrari F10 – Felipe Massa
Williams FW32 – Rubens Barrichello
BMW Sauber C29 – Kamui Kobayashi
Renault R30 – Robert Kubica
Force India VJM03 – Adrian Sutil
Toro Rosso STR5 – Sebastien Buemi
Virgin VR-01 – Lucas di Grassi
Lotus T127 – Heikki Kovalainen
The track: Circuit de Catalunya
The final test of 2010 is being held at the Circuit de Catalunya, where the teams will return later this year for the Spanish Grand Prix.
Rubens Barrichello set the fastest time during last year’s Spanish Grand Prix race weekend with a 1’19.954 in Q2. The fastest lap of the race itself was also set by Barrichello, a 1’22.762,
For further comparison, Valentino Rossi lapped the track in a 2008-specification Ferrari on GP2 slick tyres in a time of 1’21.900 earlier this year.
Live Tweets and times
Check out MSFree.gr for live times from the track during the test.
Here’s the 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
- Jerez test 2 statistics
- F1 testing pictures: 20th February
- 2010 F1 testing live: 20th February
- F1 testing pictures: 19th February
- 2010 F1 testing live: 19th February
- F1 testing pictures: 18th February
- 2010 F1 testing live: 18th February
- F1 testing in pictures: 17th February
- 2010 F1 testing live: 17th February
- 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
Tombong said on 28th February 2010, 8:13
anyone know the msfree.gr live timing link?
mclewis said on 28th February 2010, 8:17
http://www.msfree.gr/ms.php?id=11062
sushant008 said on 28th February 2010, 8:18
here’s the link for live timings-
http://www.msfree.gr/ms.php?id=11062
sushant008 said on 28th February 2010, 8:20
for french lovers-
http://www.f1-direct.fr/live-essais-prives.php
patrick(uk) said on 28th February 2010, 8:39
just wondering why the mclaren team is never on time when the testing starts each morning….already the likes of FERARI,SAUBER,REDBULL ETC have done timed laps ..and its now well into the first hour…it seems they are not weell prepared…they should treat each day as a miltary campaign since each second counts in formula one….
Dingle Dell said on 28th February 2010, 8:44
because they think that they are damn bloody good and able to take their own sweet time, that’s why.
Scott said on 28th February 2010, 13:41
Nah, they are just waiting to see what times the other teams are laying down and then adjust there fuel levels (low)and maybe setup to try and put in a quicker time.
Salty said on 28th February 2010, 17:07
Guessing that track temp has a lot to do with it. Not much point in chewing up rubber on a cold track unless worried about reliability and so are trying to run max possible laps. As the McLaren doesn’t seem to be in that situation, better to get meaningful data when track conditions are closer to those they will be racing on throughout the season.
david said on 28th February 2010, 8:43
NobleF1 tells us: “McLaren is practicing pit stops with Lewis this morning”
Quick stops are vital this year due to the banning of refuelling, which used to give the mechanics plenty of time to change tyres.
patrick(uk) said on 28th February 2010, 8:44
ops just seen on autosport that mclaren are practising pit stops this morning….with lewis …that is being too over confident we need to see them on the track early….
Scribe said on 28th February 2010, 11:20
Practising pit stops is over confidence?
What universe do you live on. There’s whole seconds to be gained this year. It’s going to be one of the most exciting bits of the racing.
Anyway McLaren have come at testing in a whole different way to anybody else, an considering they had an upgrade applied to the car yesterday, don’t you think it’s possible that instead if over confidence they are trying to configure a very changed car.
Keith Collantine (@keithcollantine) said on 28th February 2010, 14:50
Pretty much everyone has practised pit stops during the tests at one time or another, I wouldn’t read anything into it.
patrick(uk) said on 28th February 2010, 8:49
ok …i agree but i think they should concentrate on proper race simulations before the weather turns nasty….we have not seen them do a proper race stint run before someone red flags or the heavens open…
patrick(uk) said on 28th February 2010, 8:57
On another point i have this sneaky feeling that KOBAYASHI and BARICHELO may this year prove to be the dark horses this time and am willing to bet that kobayashi may be on the pondium at Baharain and Barichelo may pip the top guns for the WDC …ANY comments on this?
yelrom said on 28th February 2010, 8:58
umm why isnt webber testing??
kem said on 28th February 2010, 9:01
Nice video here of Mclaren spying on Ferrari http://www.f1zone.net/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=5252&p=159175#p159175
Tombong said on 28th February 2010, 9:19
That’s a funny video. Spying thing in F1 kinda fun
Scott said on 28th February 2010, 13:47
That is typical mclaren, can not come up with any ideas of there own…
Salty said on 28th February 2010, 17:12
LOL – I think you’ll find all the teams express a very healthy interest in the opposition vehicles. Be stupid not to actually.
McLaren are the second most successful team in F1 because they are technically smart, if they were solely reliant on the other teams developments, the would always be playing catch up, not leading from the front.
Rubel_Frm_BD said on 2nd March 2010, 5:22
but they are benefited by spying as they have both data on what others doing and what they are doing (so it is easy to measure the performance and while others are developing new things, they are just refine the idea). Even in 2007 they are benefitted by the fact that they have full information about the Ferrari’s car and they Know everythings about ferrari,what is their fuel capacity, fuel consumption, potential strategy.
Rubel_Frm_BD said on 2nd March 2010, 5:29
* McLaren are the second most successful team in F1 because they ………….
kept an eye open and try to copy the idea what other team is doing either by spying or by just simply stealing.
* McLaren are the second most successful team in F1 ………….
So they copy the idea of the first team. haha ha
Rum and Coke said on 28th February 2010, 19:18
OH NO!!!! NOT AGAIN!!! This is blatant spying by McNobs, in full view of everybody!!!! Wheres the FIA when you need them!!??? Why cant the Ferrari boys give them a slap??? Will there be another paltry fine or will Jean Todt show some ba!!s and fine them £500 million this time!?? Thge questions never end!! #:)
Kanyima said on 1st March 2010, 11:17
And here’s Ferrari spying on McLaren
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rHVv8uz_n78
irishlad (@irishlad) said on 28th February 2010, 9:03
Yelrom
They want to let Vettel test until mid day because of the bad weather yesterday, so webbers back at mid-day.
patrick(uk) said on 28th February 2010, 9:30
yeah ….remember VETTELS car had an oil pump change yesterday..so maybe they are still” running “it into some reliable milage before D day next two weeks
patrick(uk) said on 28th February 2010, 10:16
it seems kobayashi redflaged at turn 9…similar high speed corner…
sushant008 said on 28th February 2010, 9:05
why is the session red flagged???
sushant008 said on 28th February 2010, 9:06
oh!Rubens Barrichello is stuck in the gravel at turn 4…
patrick(uk) said on 28th February 2010, 10:14
looking at turn four it appears that since it is a high speed corner cars with bad grip on tyres will almost certainly run wide ….and kobayashi has just done that again causing the second red flag..
patrick(uk) said on 28th February 2010, 9:16
thats a good video on the “spying activity”..wonder how long before FIA take it down…?
Keith Collantine (@keithcollantine) said on 28th February 2010, 9:53
Massa and Schumacher trading fastest times at the moment – Schumacher’s just gone quickest with a 1’21.039.
patrick(uk) said on 28th February 2010, 9:57
looks like mercedes have decided to unleash the true potential of this car…and dont be surprised if they demolish the rest of the boys just to prove a point..
KMal said on 28th February 2010, 11:18
P Pilotes Equipes Temps Ecarts Trs
1 F.Massa Ferrari 1.20.539 +-.— 33
2 M.Schumacher Mercedes 1.20.804 +-.— 31
3 R.Barrichello Williams 1.21.441 +-.— 23
4 S.Vettel Red Bull 1.21.660 +-.— 43
5 L.Hamilton McLaren 1.22.097 +-.— 27
6 S.Buemi Toro Rosso 1.22.402 +-.— 21
7 K.Kobayashi Sauber 1.22.713 +-.— 32
8 A.Sutil Force India 1.23.079 +-.— 8
9 H.Kovalainen Lotus 1.25.251 +-.— 46
10 R.Kubica Renault 1.25.830 +-.— 3
11 L.Di Grassi Virgin 1.26.790 +-.— 28
patrick(uk) said on 28th February 2010, 11:39
HAMILTON and massa now top the times…it seems by end of today we shall know the pecking order for the rest of the season….also vettel and schumaker are showing very strong runs on low fuels for qualifying runs…but the key will be the actual mid stints during the races where tyre management,brakes and pit stop activity will determine who wins the races.SO far the reliability issues have been shown to favour FERFARIS who have covered more miles during these tests so far…and so my prediction for the fisrt race winner at Baharain will be as follows
1-ferari
2-mercedes
3-mclaren?renault
4-bmw sauber?redbull
5-force india
6-williams?toro roso
7-lotus
8-virgin