Hulkenberg on top as second day of Barcelona test ends
2012 F1 testing
Nico Hulkenberg, Force India, Barcelona, 2012
Force India headed the times sheets at the end of the second day of testing at the Circuit de Catalunya thanks to Nico Hulkenberg.
The team’s new recruit for 2012 lapped the Spanish track in 1’22.608 – over half a second fastest than Sebastian Vettel’s best time for yesterday.
The world champion completed his week’s testing with the third-fastest time, but spent a long time in the pits during the middle of the day. Mark Webber will take over from him tomorrow.
Between the pair was Sauber’s Sergio Perez, despite suffering an exhaust problem late in the session.
Fernando Alonso moved up to fourth late in the session with a lap of 1’23.180.
Fifth-fastest Daniel Ricciardo stopped twice on the track, causing two red flag interruptions. He did not return to the track following the second which was caused by a driveshaft problem.
Lewis Hamilton was sixth-quickest and was the busiest driver of the day, completing 120 laps.
Williams test driver Valtteri Bottas had his first run in the FW34 but ended the day eighth, over a second off the next-slowest car. Behind him were Caterham debutant Vitaly Petrov and Charles Pic in Marussia’s 2011 car.
| Driver | Car | Best time | Laps | Difference | |
| 1 | Nico Hulkenberg | Force India-Mercedes VJM05 | 1’22.608 | 112 | |
| 2 | Sergio Perez | Sauber-Ferrari C31 | 1’22.648 | 85 | 0.040 |
| 3 | Sebastian Vettel | Red Bull-Renault RB8 | 1’22.891 | 104 | 0.283 |
| 4 | Fernando Alonso | Ferrari F2012 | 1’23.180 | 87 | 0.572 |
| 5 | Daniel Ricciardo | Toro Rosso-Ferrari STR7 | 1’23.639 | 50 | 1.031 |
| 6 | Lewis Hamilton | McLaren-Mercedes MP4-27 | 1’23.806 | 120 | 1.198 |
| 7 | Nico Rosberg | Mercedes W03 | 1’24.555 | 82 | 1.947 |
| 8 | Valtteri Bottas | Williams-Renault FW34 | 1’25.738 | 117 | 3.130 |
| 9 | Vitaly Petrov | Caterham-Renault CT01 | 1’26.605 | 69 | 3.997 |
| 10 | Charles Pic | Marussia-Cosworth MVR-02 | 1’27.343 | 108 | 4.735 |
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Image © Force India F1 Team
Mattfd said on 23rd February 2012, 6:53
As we all know testing times are hard to read with fuel loads tyres ect.
however I think there is a bit of guide information we can use. I have looked at last years Spanish race and looked at Vettel and Lamiltons Qualifying best lap versus there first proper slowest lap in the race the spread between those times are approximately 9 seconds.
If you have a look at the Vettels simulation run hes and Hamiltons long run they are both in the low to mid 1.30s for there slowest laps near the start of the stint (therefire we have to presume are on full fuel). Therefore I think we can make an assumption that they are looking very evenly matched so far.
Mattfd said on 23rd February 2012, 6:56
to add to that looking at Nico Hulkenburgs times his slowets is around the 1.31-2 mark if you look at the spread to his fastest time it is around 9 seconds showing that he would have been very light on fuel setting that lap and is close to there normal qualy lap.
AndrewTanner (@andrewtanner) said on 23rd February 2012, 13:46
Some very long runs yesterday. The most laps of any testing day so far?