Barcelona Test - Day One

3rd & 7 37yd

@ragav: It is the 2014 car.

by Laurence Edmondson 2/19/2015 9:08:22 AM
What were the times of last year's test in Barcelona? How do they compare with this year's cars and also with Wehrlein

by ncs 2/19/2015 9:08:27 AM
@ncs: We didn't do a pre-season test at Barcelona last year, testing was in Bahrain. However, the pole lap for the grand prix was a 1:25.232 and Maldonado set a 1:24.871 at the post-race test (Barcelona was one of the few tracks where the Lotus E22 was quick).

by Laurence Edmondson 2/19/2015 9:09:43 AM
It goes to show that these times are far from flat-out at this stage of the test. Quicker times will come as the week progresses.

by Laurence Edmondson 2/19/2015 9:10:22 AM
However, there was a test here in 2013 ahead of the season and Nico Rosberg set the pace with a 1:20.130 in the Mercedes W04. As an interesting comparison, that year's Caterham set a 1:23.115, which is quicker than anybody managed in a 2014 car at this track last year.

by Laurence Edmondson 2/19/2015 9:11:32 AM
As I type, Kimi lowers the top time to 1:27.523.

by Laurence Edmondson 2/19/2015 9:11:53 AM
Good morning! Firstly thank you for your great coverage as always. However, why are the timing sheets not updated as regularly as the comments section?

by Oggi84 2/19/2015 9:12:29 AM
@Oggi84: A fair question. They are updated manually from the track by our very own Nate Saunders. However, to update after every lap means we'd have to chain him to the desk and he doesn't like that very much. We'll bring you news of any quick laps in the commentary and update the times in full as often as we can.

by Laurence Edmondson 2/19/2015 9:13:51 AM
Can we expect more teams to do race simulations this week, or only from the next test?

by Andreasjsn 2/19/2015 9:13:57 AM
@Andreasjsn: You'll probably see a few this week. I'd be surprised if McLaren gets that far this week, but the likes of Williams, Ferrari and Mercedes may choose to switch their focus to race sims.

by Laurence Edmondson 2/19/2015 9:15:09 AM
Button goes purple the second and third sector and slots i just behind Kimi with a 1:29.428.

by Nate Saunders 2/19/2015 9:15:13 AM
Hello Nate , what is your opinion on the proposed future car design pictures being circulated by Ferrari ? Are they something they would have spent some real technical analysis on ?. Perhaps something they may see a technical reason for, or are they just arty farty stuff for discussion ?

by grahamg 2/19/2015 9:15:55 AM
@grahamg: Ferrari said the concept car was based on some minor changes to the regulations and was designed with pointers from its engineers, but in reality it was just arty farty stuff to create a debate. The car didn't have an airbox, for example, which might frustrate some of the engine engineers.... Ferrari is adamant F1 needs to be more appealing to fans, but it's worth keeping in mind that a change in regs would also give it a chance to catch up with Mercedes.

by Laurence Edmondson 2/19/2015 9:18:10 AM
can we read into force india pace now ?

by Tungath 2/19/2015 9:18:20 AM
@Tungath: You can, but they are using the old car so it wouldn't be much use.

by Laurence Edmondson 2/19/2015 9:18:41 AM
Force India running with 2014 car at fourth place .. how ?

by Tungath 2/19/2015 9:19:01 AM
@Tungath: None of these times are particularly representative at this stage.

by Laurence Edmondson 2/19/2015 9:19:26 AM
Yeeeeeeea Raikkonen!!! (Over enthusiastic - can't contain excitement, it's only testing!)

by Donovan 2/19/2015 9:19:34 AM
Head down, Kimi Raikkonen is getting down to business. This shot from earlier this morning shows aero paint on the left sidepod of the car

by Laurence Edmondson 2/19/2015 9:23:00 AM
If you want a future F1 concept with some technical backing just look at the Newey designed Redbull X2010 from Gran Turismo. Bonkers!

by Steve Taro 2/19/2015 9:23:12 AM
How's the noise of the Honda engine in this test? In the last test at Jerez I read many comments that the engine is making a dull noise.

by Patz 2/19/2015 9:23:27 AM
@Patz: It's not a dull noise, it's just a bit more throaty and bassy than its rivals. It's already sounding better than its first few runs in Jerez - although that was down to an issue that took the team a couple of days to trace.

by Laurence Edmondson 2/19/2015 9:24:32 AM
Verstappen getting his first significant laps of the day completed but still no time.

by Nate Saunders 2/19/2015 9:24:41 AM
which track condition is best for fast times.. cold or hot weather conditions...

by ragav 2/19/2015 9:25:11 AM
@ragav: Hot weather is usually better for lap times. It's certainly a bit too chilly this week for the tyres to work properly. However, Pirelli does have a solution in a special winter compound. It's essentially the hard tyre but manufactured to work in lower temperatures like the ones we experience in winter testing. It's easy to spot when a driver is on these tyres as they have no sidewall markings.

by Laurence Edmondson 2/19/2015 9:26:48 AM
Any idea on what Merc are trying to hide with that 2015 rear wing? Thought I saw a square looking monkey seat in the pics?

by Steve Taro 2/19/2015 9:27:11 AM
@SteveTaro: The Mercedes probably has the most complicated monkey seat out there - it is indeed a little box. I suspect they are trying to just squeeze every ounce of downforce out of that area of the regulations. The benefit a team like Mercedes has is that they can use their greater resources to develop several different solutions (some very experimental) whereas smaller teams have to stick to one and hope it's the right route.

by Laurence Edmondson 2/19/2015 9:29:18 AM
Flyby from @JensonButton. Some good laps under our belts now. #F1testing http://pbs.twimg.com/media/B-Mm0R4IcAA6_Ex.jpg

by McLaren via twitter 2/19/2015 9:30:34 AM
And for those wondering what a monkey seat is on an F1 car, here is a picture of the Mercedes one from Jerez. Don't worry, no monkeys were harmed in the development of the W06

by Laurence Edmondson 2/19/2015 9:32:46 AM
Hey.. By letting Pascal Wehrlein run Force India's car, do they get any cost concessions from mercedes?

by Josh_Radnor edited by Laurence Edmondson 2/19/2015 9:33:21 AM
@Josh_Radnor: The details of Force India's engine contract aren't public, but I think it's safe to assume they have some advantage for running Wehrlein, who is a Mercedes development and DTM driver.

by Laurence Edmondson 2/19/2015 9:34:19 AM
How do this year's Pirellis seem to be holding up

by replayDon 2/19/2015 9:34:41 AM
Red flags are out, and it's Maldonado stopped out on track again.

by Nate Saunders 2/19/2015 9:36:09 AM
@replayDon: No complaints from the teams so far. It's always hard to tell when the weather is as cold as it is now because Pirelli understandably develop their race tyres for warmer climates. The constructions are largely unchanged (only the rear supersofts are completely new for 2015) but the cars are faster this year and therefore put more stress through the tyre. As a result we should see more degradation this year, but Pirelli is still committed to two or three stop races - nothing crazy.

by Laurence Edmondson 2/19/2015 9:36:45 AM
The Lotus has stopped at Turn 5 and Maldonado is currently cutting a rather grumpy figure, stood on the kerb watching on.

by Nate Saunders 2/19/2015 9:37:40 AM
Only testing but it's nice to see Ferrari on top again

by Ice Cold Beard™ 2/19/2015 9:39:17 AM
Do customer engine cars sound different than Ferrari or Merc factory cars? Would the chassis layout effect the note?

by Forza 2/19/2015 9:39:33 AM
@Forza: The exhaust has a big effect on the note and that is often down to how each team packages its car. Watching trackside at Jerez, I felt the Mercedes sounded different to the Williams, but its very subtle. Last year the Caterham had one of the sweetest sounding exhaust notes, sadly it didn't do much for them.

by Laurence Edmondson 2/19/2015 9:41:14 AM
Since they are coming to Australia for the GP in Melbourne. Why don't the teams test at Sydney motorsport park before heading to Melbourne for the GP. If you have been watching the cricket world cup you would have noticed how warm it is down under at the moment.

by Craig Simpson 2/19/2015 9:41:26 AM
@CraigSimpson: Teams fly out updates during the test and the trip downunder is rather long for all of them. Bits that will be on the car at the end of this week are still in the factory right now, plus any major breakages would result in a long trip for spares.

by Laurence Edmondson 2/19/2015 9:42:37 AM
Last year's poll was 1:25:232 set by Hamilton on medium tyres and Kimi is at 1:27:523 on colder circuit right now and hard tyres I believe it will be an interesting season.

by Konstantinos Kazantzoglou 2/19/2015 9:42:48 AM
@KonstantinosKazantzoglou: True. The fastest time here last year was actually Pastor Maldonado's 1:24.871 on the second day of the post-race test. However, the quickest time from this test in 2013 was a 1:20.130 by Nico Rosberg in the Mercedes. Still some way to go yet...

by Laurence Edmondson 2/19/2015 9:43:54 AM
How can you make a lap and not have a time ?

by Arjan Elk 2/19/2015 9:44:05 AM
@ArjanElk: If a driver opts to return to the pits before completing a lap then it does not register a time.

by Laurence Edmondson 2/19/2015 9:44:39 AM
The Lotus has finally been returned to the garage and we have green flags again.

by Nate Saunders 2/19/2015 9:45:27 AM

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