Live: 2012 F1 testing day six – Circuit de Catalunya

F1 Fanatic Live

February 22, 2012 at 7:30 am by Keith Collantine

Fernando Alonso, Ferrari, Barcelona, 2012

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9 comments on Live: 2012 F1 testing day six – Circuit de Catalunya

Nick.UK (@nick-uk) said on 22nd February 2012, 12:38

Is the circuit they test on the same layout as the race? Hulkenberg has done a 1.22.6 on super softs according to twitter, yet in qualifying Force India only managed a 1.24.3 as there fastest lap over the weekend (in Q1 by Di Resta). They ran softs over the weekend, but the difference can’t be a full 2 seconds between the tyres this year compared to last etc?? Pole position was only a 1.20.9.

Anyone have any thoughts on this info? I just thought it was interesting. Maybe it’s just the tyres being faster generally this season. It’s obviously always impossible to get an accurate idea of true pace at this stage.

- dennis (@dennis) said on 22nd February 2012, 13:47
  
  Cars have lost a lot of downforce this year due to the ban of the blown diffuser and stricter regulations for flexible front wings.
  
  - infy (@infy) said on 22nd February 2012, 14:08
    
    Then why are the cars 2 seconds quicker than last year?
    
    - Nick.UK (@nick-uk) said on 22nd February 2012, 14:09
      
      Exactly my point. The different tyre compund will account for 1 second, but the other second I’m not sure on. I don’t know what the circumstances of qualifying were for Force India last year, or why their Q2 time was significantly slower for both cars than in Q1.
      
      - Robbie (@robbie) said on 22nd February 2012, 14:21
        
        Not sure if your comparisons are valid in making a point. Different track conditions, temperatures, humidity, different testing configurations, not knowing if current test times are sustainable or if they wouldn’t translate in real-world race-weekend reality, different car now, different tires…too many variables imho to dissect it that closely, especially to compare current testing times with last years race/quali times. Last year not everyone had EBD working well for them. Last year in quali did they not use their DRS whenever they wanted? This year in testing are they employing DRS at every opportunity? Or are they simulating it’s use as if it were a race? ie. only in the designated DRS zones?
      - Hairpin (@hairpin) said on 22nd February 2012, 16:17
        
        Fuel
Robbie (@robbie) said on 22nd February 2012, 14:10

I read on another site a few words from Vettel basically saying they all have less grip this year, no doubt the implication being due to the lack of EBD. Interestingly, MS seems to be saying they have good rear grip. As I recall, it was lack of front grip that hurt MS in 2010. Early days I know, but the more they test the more there might be little hints of what is going on. Seems to me last year it was obvious Mac was struggling. This year SV seems to think they may be strong. Oh well…fun to speculate while we anxiously await the truth ie. the first race that will show everyone’s hands.

mclaren (@mclaren) said on 22nd February 2012, 14:44

Very interesting comparison:
Hamilton and Vettel both on softs, HAM done 9 laps, VET done 10 Laps, thier average lap time of their stints was seperated by less the 0.1sec.

Ken said on 22nd February 2012, 15:04

Whats wrong with Mercedes again?Nico hasn´t driven for nearly 2 hours now:S…