Felipe Massa heads the charts as Barcelona test ends

2011 F1 testing

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Felipe Massa, Ferrari, Barcelona, 2011

Felipe Massa set the fastest time on the final day in Barcelona.

The Ferrari driver lapped the Circuit de Catalunya in 1’22.625 – the quickest time seen during the four-day test.

Lewis Hamilton managed a productive day in the McLaren. He completed over 100 laps in the MP4-26 which has struggled to accumulate mileage over the course of its first two tests.

However the day came to an early end for Jarno Trulli after a problem with Lotus caused a crash at Campsa a little over an hour into the test.

With the car needing extensive repairs he was done for the day.

Nick Heidfeld had a quiet start to the morning due to a problem with the Renault’s KERS. Pastor Maldonado’s Williams also had a KERS glitch relating to the water pump.

The Williams driver was later able to run a long stint but his car came to a halt at the end of it, bringing out the red flags.

Another stoppage came close to the end of the session as Michael Schumacher hit trouble in the Mercedes.

The session was re-started with 11 minute to go giving a handful of drivers the chance to complete a few extra laps.

DriverCarBest timeLapsDifference
1Felipe MassaFerrari F150th Italia1’22.625121
2Mark WebberRed Bull-Renault RB71’23.442690.817
3Sebastien BuemiToro Rosso-Ferrari STR61’23.550900.925
4Nick HeidfeldRenault R311’23.657951.032
5Lewis HamiltonMcLaren-Mercedes MP4-261’24.0031071.378
6Pastor MaldonadoWilliams-Cosworth FW331’24.0571211.432
7Adrian SutilForce India-Mercedes VJM041’24.177641.552
8Sergio PerezSauber-Ferrari C301’24.515701.890
9Jerome d’AmbrosioVirgin-Cosworth MVR-021’26.501503.876
10Michael SchumacherMercedes W021’27.0791144.454
11Jarno TrulliLotus-Renault T1281’29.992187.367

2011 F1 testing

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    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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    87 comments on “Felipe Massa heads the charts as Barcelona test ends”

    1. Wow that was quick, Keith not Massa

      1. that lap time from Massa was pretty quick, it’s faster than 2010 Spain GP, which prolly means it was a low fuel run on softer tires.

    2. Pretty sure Massa’s time was a qualifying sim (although I believe the session was red flagged so its hard to know).

      Brundle tweeted some great comments about today:

      Drivers will bitch like crazy bt I’m really liking what I’m seeing out on track. They are really having to drive the cars, loads of mistakes

      Mercedes has poor traction, McLaren looks shocking as if on cold tyres, Red Bull+Ferrari+Renault Lotus Lada+Williams all pounding round

      Torro Rosso looks solid, Buemi is chasing the throttle as hard as anybody. Watching cars it’s definitely going to be a wild +variable season

      All food for thought!

      1. Toro Rosso incredibly high on the charts of all the tests! I hope they have improved.

        1. Toro Rosso has show some promise, but still it’s a bit early to say where they are in relation to competition as i believe Merc has not show all it’s cards for now. but given all the data we have, it seems that all the 3 Merc powered cars are struggling.

      2. In reality we could have drivers running around at 70 – 80% like Bahrain last year preserving tyres. I hope the tyres present the opinion for guys to run flat out and take on extra sets and not some middle ground where they try to complete on 2 or 3 sets.

      3. I think Toro Rosso is faster than Merc at present.

        1. Rosberg’s time yesterday is roughly 4 seconds faster than Schumacher’s time today, strange isn’t it?

          And I doubt STR are faster then MERC

    3. Well it will be interesting to see what Massa says about the tyres.

      He’s probably got the most to gain from the switch to Pirelli tyres, and yet he has been very quiet about it this year, which is strange.

      Anyway, I think Ferrari and Red Bull look very close, but clearly ahead of the rest. Then, it is very close after that, and I think Renault, Williams and Toro Rosso will spring some surprises.

    4. good lord…. now can anyone go and ask if that was a glory run? I guess not…. as he is not schumi !!

    5. I am increasingly awaiting Massa to deliver great races seeing his results in tests and I really hope he will manage to be on the Hall of Fame by the end of 2011.

      1. Now that would make me very happy :P

      2. That indeed is a very happy thought.

        1. Same here mates. :-) wish massa all the best and also best of luck 2 Ferrari

          1. No! Alonso needs a third title!

            1. Kimi's Ice-Cream
              21st February 2011, 18:42

              If Ferrari gets a 1-2 I don’t really care who’s on top. And they well might, at least if Felipe baby gets his mojo back. I have a hunch about Ferrari getting the most of the Pirellis.

            2. He can have it, later on in his career.

            3. Ferrari Rocks :-)

      3. so you want massa to retire? remember that hall of fame induction only for non active drivers.

        1. Wrong, every champion is in the Hall of Fame.

    6. I’m getting concerned with Renault’s KERS

      With one test to go (now two since there won’t be Bahrain), I hope they iron out the problems by then.

      1. Seems everyone safe McLaren and possibly Ferrari have had their problems with the KERS unit.
        That might be a small advantage for McLaren

    7. i think massa is back to his best
      i think the pirelli tyres suit him real good but we will have too wait and see what he says.

      @Fixy i completely agree with you

      1. Alonso is still going to have 3 tenths over him due to sheer pace.

      2. I hope the tyres suit him and that he can improve and mantain a good form throughout the whole season being consistent, because that was the real problem in 2010 for Massa but also for Alonso.

    8. It will be interesting to see, just how much quicker they will be with the last test being in Barcelona as well.

    9. It looks like STR’s radical ‘twin floor’ is doing the bizz!

      McLaren is handling like a Tesco shopping trolley.

      Mercedes is fish-tailing everywhere!

      Should be some big surprises down-under with just one test to go.

      1. Rather have Mercedes fish-tailing than the front end washing out. They say that the aero package will be at the next test and that they have had over-heating problems.
        A lot of people say McLaren have bitten more than they can chew.
        STR looking sporty aren’t they.
        Wish the season would start already!

    10. Looks like Mclaren can’t get the setup correct, it feels like there missing some talent in the design department in recent years.

      I’ve held off doing this as i believe it gives them an unfair advantage, however I have decided that i’m going to offer them my services as a driver to partner Lewis.

      ;o)

      1. How is that going to help the “lack of talent” in the design department?

      2. Hey hey hey Great mates ;-)

      3. It didn’t require much talent for them to get it right, all they needed to do was copy the blinking Red Bull and crush the rear end in! that what everyone else did. But what I find inconceivable how they couldn’t figure out their design was useless at an early stage, I mean surely the wind tunnel would have told them this when they first tested the idea.

      4. Kimi's Ice-Cream
        21st February 2011, 18:49

        I’m ready to partner YOU and leave the other individual out.

      5. Love your modesty ;)

    11. It’s quite interesting that many of the driver’s quickest times came during the last 25 minutes of today’s session. Were they saving their short stint/super soft tire runs for last?

      http://f1tests.mine.nu/2011_1.php?rev=on

      1. They only had 10 mins after the last red flag, so time was indeed limited

      2. Thank you for the link. Have been looking for a site like that for a while. Know of anymore?

    12. The long runs from Hamilton look worringly slow. Schumacher’s long run on the other end seemed to be quite better.

      1. Kimi's Ice-Cream
        21st February 2011, 18:47

        Doesn’t worry me a bit. 107%, you know.

      2. Well, Hamilton has an aggressive style, that combined with quickly-degradating tyres may cause him problems.

    13. Don’t worry abt McLaren’s new car it’s too early and today was the first real testing 107 laps we put some good miles on the car, definately need a lot more for reliability, balancing, set up and tyres of course.

      1. Have a look at the best times of each driver. Alonso did 1.23.978 on Saturday. Hamilton did 1.23 858 on Sunday. Look at the variables – Drivers are evenly matched (both dead quick). Track should be a bit quicker for Hamilton’s Sunday run. McLaren are a few days behind on their testing schedule. I’d say that is encouraging for McLaren. Red Bull look well ahead though.

    14. My speculation about performance Top 5

      Ferrari>=Redbull>Mclaren>=Renault>=Toro Rosso

      I think Redbull is still faster in term of a flying lap, but Ferrari is more consistent and faster in race sim. Mclaren is not so good in time sheet but they have not tried seriously until now. Today they had first over 100 lap, so I believe they will show real pace in the next test.

      I have a little doubt about Renault because of their inconsistent and reliability but if everything goes fine, they would comfortably stay within top5(as team). the most suprising of recent tests is Toro Rosso. They’re fast and very consistent. maybe they are faster than Renault and Mercedes. I believe Mercedes is definetly in serious situation.

      1. I still expect RBR to be fastest. I wouldn’t be surprised if they turned up at Aus and in q3 suddenly went 3-5 tenths quicker than Ferrari.

        1. Hope not that would be dull. But I expect you’re right!

          1. If I am (unfortunately) right then hopefully they’ll be close on race pace so a Sunday is exciting. Although RBR were a little slower on race pace last year, had Seb crashing and collecting failures every other race and they still won! :P

            1. You’re expecting a 2010 repeat but a little closer and also more limited (McLaren a little lower)? As much as high competition is very nice, I like championships where there are mainly two rivals and the others, whilst battling, are still below those two.

          2. I get that feeling as well. I think we’ll see even more poles for Vettel this year, and maybe less race wins as I agree with Eggry, that Ferrari (and maybe McLaren) will at least be on par with Red Bull on race pace, making it difficult for the Bulls to defend with the DRS in place and Alonso/Massa/Hamilton/Button breathing down their necks…

    15. Anyway, it seems like Renault’s KERS make so much trouble. Isn’t it Redbull using same one? at least I know they use the unit from Renault&Magneti Marelli. or they’re just dealing with it much better?

    16. Ferrari=Redbull>=Renault>=Toro Rosso>=Williams=Mclaren>=Merc

      1. Redbull>Ferrari>=Mclaren>Mercedes>=Renault & tororosso

        1. Ferrari=Redbull>Renault=Toro Rosso>Williams=McLaren=Force India=Sauber>Mercedes>Virgin>/=Lotus

      2. Ferrari>=Redbull>Mclaren>=Renault>=Toro Rosso

        I don’t think Merc is so good. it seems like worse shape for them than last year.

        1. Lots of optimism regarding STR but I doubt, sadly, they’ll be there fighting for podiums, although I would be happy to eat a slice of humble pie if I prove wrong!

          1. maybe not but i do think that they will score more regulary than 2010

          2. I don’t think anyone has them any higher than 6th – 7th

    17. I wouldn’t put McLaren or Mercedes ahead of even Lotus, on current form.

    18. Martin Brundle today, twittered:

      “Drivers will complain like crazy but I’m really liking what I’m seeing out on track. They are really having to drive the cars, loads of mistakes. Mercedes has poor traction, McLaren looks shocking as if on cold tyres, Red Bull+Ferrari+Renault+Williams all pounding round.”

    19. lol, i love that everyone’s <=>=<< now. I say we wait until after the final test. I really hope Mclaren's up there with Red Bull and Ferrari :(. Or, if that's not the case, i hope there's at least no difference between Red Bull and Ferrari, so we can really have a fight up there.

      1. I agree. I love watching qualifying, but I was just sick of the Red Bull front row lock outs last year. Lets hope Ferrari and Red Bull have a closer fight right from the 1st race.

        1. Yeah, they made Qualli boring really. Have Q1, nice gamble who was the 7th guy out. Q2 nice with a lot of competative cars racing it out. Q3 oh, well will Vettel pull it out or leave Webber to do the honours.

          I really hope we will see some Ferrari poles from both drivers as well as McLaren at times and maybe the odd Mercedes one as well?

    20. Guys, This is only the reliablity test for MGP-W02, As Ross said the performance is going to be tested in the next test. So far its a plain car to check reliablity and come up real good. Wath out guys! Deadly evil is coming up.. Sure, Red bull and ferrari is doing great.

        1. Schumacher states that his goal is the same as a few weeks ago. A few weeks ago, his goal was to fight for the championship and to have a car capable of winning races throughout the season. Now, his goal is to fight for podiums, and hopefully win a race.

          This tells us a lot about the situation at Mercedes.

          1. I saw that as well. Quit a bit lower expectations.

            Seems their KERS might be ok (see McLaren) but getting to grips with it in a car is a big problem so far for everyone new to it, plus Renault.

            Who said Mercedes would be in front of McLaren this year?

    21. McLaren is disappointingly slow. It’s probably good for them that the Bahrain GP is cancelled.

    22. HRT > all.

      1. Gotta agree.. and in the drivers its Karthikeyan > All as well. Looks like we are in for a boring season.

        1. Seeing it will probably be the Stig in the other car, they might win it all, safe the odd win by Rubens that is.

      2. HRT > all.

        I am convinced you are erraneously reading the 2010 standings up-side-down!

      3. I love Hispanian Curry.

    23. I actually hope the McLaren is right at the back of the grid so that the designers and engineers can be sacked and or lewis will realise he needs to find a better team.

      1. Are you Lewis’s new manager?

        1. Did I forget to mention?

    24. I hope McLaren can sort their tyre warming issues out. Looks like they just need to be more aggressive with their suspension settings.

    25. I think that McLaren has got small issues that will solve in the next test or after the first couple of GPs. The car seems incredibly developed under an aero aspect; they just need to understand better the tyres and then they’ll be in front as always.

      1. Maybe, I’m sure it has more development potential, but by that time the season could be over. Looking like a case of 2 out of the last 3 very poor cars, but they can still turn it around as can Merc

    26. I’l give it a shot:

      1) RBR
      2) Ferrari
      3) Mercedes
      4) Williams
      5) Renault
      6) Mclaren
      7) Torro Rosso
      8) Force India
      9) Sauber
      10) Lotus
      11) Virgin
      12) HRT

      probably wrong though

    27. in regards to STR… can i remind you all of Sauber last year. I don’t think its quite as extreme…but don’t get too excited

      1. Completely agree. During last year’s tests Sauber were on non stop glory runs, and were the only midfield team mixing it up with the Ferrari’s, Mclarens and RBs. I definitely thought they were the 5 quickest team on the grid. But then again.. with the new tyres this year, we could have some real surprises. I do not think that STR will be chasing podiums, but I think they will perform better than last year, and could be the strongest of the midfield teams.

    28. I am really concerned about Mercedes performance & reliability.

    29. I see all the F1 teams are pushing the limit and making mistakes, including drivers way of driving. Massa catchinhg fire isn’t then a matter of concern, but then what is with the fin-like periscope on the air inlet above the driver?

      http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/formula_one/9387516.stm

    30. For those of you sceptical about McLaren, better read this:http://www.formula1.com/news/interviews/2011/2/11766.html

      I am convinced the MP4-26 is on the right track of development as I have watched the times during the tests and have seen they are always within the limits of the RB7 until each does a quali lap before they go apart. 8)

      And dont forget the MP4-26 has a pullrod too. So, where could that difference come from the RB7? …. Answer: None!!

    31. D’Ambrosio quicker than Schuey in less laps? Wow, are we going to see Michael struggle again this year?

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