2011 F1 testing day 15 live: Barcelona

37 comments on “2011 F1 testing day 15 live: Barcelona”

1. 

   Ralph Schumacher
   11th March 2011, 8:14

   Random question people.. Is it me or do the rest of u feel that the rapidly degrading pirelli tyres might result in a drop in sales of their tyres.. I know that the compounds for F1 tyres and road cares are totally different but in my mind, i cant help but subconciously feel that the pirellis will finish faster. Just me?
   1. 

      Adrian J
      11th March 2011, 9:28

      Ironically I was buying new tyres for my car last week and was told that the Bridgestones aren’t as durable as the Pirelli’s.
   2. 

      matt88 (@matt88)
      11th March 2011, 10:36

      no way, Pirelli’s experience on the circuit can’t be compared to what they do on the road. Bridgestone has achieved that quality in over a decade, while Pirelli has just started. Moreover, Bridgestone could accelerate their experience without the restrictions in testing of these days (Ferrari could do hundreds and hundreds of laps in Fiorano…).
   3. 

      Prisoner Monkeys (@prisoner-monkeys)
      11th March 2011, 11:16

      Is it me or do the rest of u feel that the rapidly degrading pirelli tyres might result in a drop in sales of their tyres..

      Why would that happen? Bridgestone were so image-conscious that it led them to develop a “soft” tyre that could last for 52 laps of Monza because they didn’t want to be seen as producing an inferior-quality product. But if the Pirelli tyres as a success and it produces more exciting racing, I think Pirelli will have done themselves a huge favour.
      1. 

         BBT
         11th March 2011, 16:05

         Yes, it sure will. Almost a cert. Many that only watch the odd race and don’t really follow F1 won’t understand the situation. Friend that aren’t that interested in F1 have already said why do they make such $%^& tyres.
2. 

   ivz
   11th March 2011, 9:07

   What’s the reason that the Pirelli tyres go off so quickly? Are they just really soft? And if so, shouldn’t that mean that they are offering heaps of grip, and would make lap times very very fast?
   1. 

      Prisoner Monkeys (@prisoner-monkeys)
      11th March 2011, 11:17

      They were deliberately designed to experience significantly higher rates of degradation than the Bridgestones.
3. 

   the-muffin-man
   11th March 2011, 9:11

   Is there any sign of an HRT emerging from a garage – or has anyone even seen an HRT in a garage!!!?
   1. 

      Adrian J
      11th March 2011, 9:26

      Or even a HRT garage???
   2. 

      Keith Collantine (@keithcollantine)
      11th March 2011, 9:29

      Apparently it’s out for the first time this afternoon.
      1. 

         Ben N
         11th March 2011, 10:02

         It will be interesting to see who drives it… if they are serious they should send out Liuzzi.
         1. 

            bosyber
            11th March 2011, 11:44

            I agree, especially since he hasn’t driven the HRT car yet at all, so has to get on track with the engineers. But also because he did drive a recent higher up in the field car and can thus evaluate how the new car is doing. Maybe it would have been good if they first gave him some torturous laps in last years car to fully appreciate where they came from though.
            1. 

               the-muffin-man
               11th March 2011, 12:20

               I’d guess that the man with the biggest wallet gets to drive the new toy first – and that isn’t Liuzzi!
            2. 

               BasCB (@bascb)
               11th March 2011, 13:15

               He drove the old HRT car in the last barcelona test for 1 day.
4. 

   Rob Wilson
   11th March 2011, 10:02

   Surely there’s a middle ground between Last years Bridgestone’s and the new Pirelli’s that would be perfect for Formula 1?…
5. 

   Rob Wilson
   11th March 2011, 10:25

   Red Bull slowest at the moment! waayyyyy
6. 

   Coefficient
   11th March 2011, 10:27

   1m 21.2 for Schumacher. Will Red Bull be forced to show their hand yet?
7. 

   Morgan C
   11th March 2011, 10:31

   Interesting Newey will be driving Ford GT 40 at Barcelona test…I wonder whether Costa would be driving one of the Ferrari to spice the Ford vs Ferrari case up again.
   http://www.gpupdate.net/en/f1-news/254263/newey-to-drive-ford-gt-40-at-barcelona-test/
8. 

   Prisoner Monkeys (@prisoner-monkeys)
   11th March 2011, 10:31

   I can’t help shake the feeling that we’re either going to see something incredible or something awkward from Hispania.
   1. 

      Ralph Schumacher
      11th March 2011, 10:35

      i’ve got my money on awkward.
   2. 

      Todfod (@todfod)
      11th March 2011, 12:23

      Do you honestly believe you will see something incredible from HRT?
   3. 

      BasCB (@bascb)
      11th March 2011, 13:16

      Or something incredible awkward maybe?
9. 

   Coefficient
   11th March 2011, 10:44

   1m 21.2 for schumacher. Will Red Bull go quicker?
10. 

    Rob Wilson
    11th March 2011, 10:47

    It’d be sweet as a nut if HRT come out of the garage with their new livery and get in amongst the times :)
11. 

    parsik
    11th March 2011, 11:26

    just a thought! Do u think Mclaren is deceiving everyone regardind their pace? I heard they brought multiple uogrades today!
    1. 

       Rob Wilson
       11th March 2011, 11:33

       I Really do hope that is the case but unfortunately i don’t think it is. Maybe they’ll do a low fuel run later to get themselves further up the list, not looking good at the moment stone dead last.
12. 

    Prisoner Monkeys (@prisoner-monkeys)
    11th March 2011, 11:43

    Hispania lives!

    Proof that the F111 does exist and is not some convoluted ruse, as I’ve seen many people imply in recent weeks.
    1. 

       bosyber
       11th March 2011, 11:46

       That actually looks pretty good – even if it is only a tiny bit of the car, it at least isn’t bulky. Looks like they went for form fitting engine cover.
       1. 

          the-muffin-man
          11th March 2011, 12:30

          Is that the instruction manual on the sidepod to show the mechanics how it fits together!!

          “take wing A, and attach to nose section B”, “Take 4 x round black things and attach to sticky-out bits at each corner”…..
13. 

    Coefficient
    11th March 2011, 12:11

    Is this a telling photograph perhaps. Schumacher returning to the pits after a run with what appears to be a big grin on his face.

    http://www.f1technical.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=12&t=9192&hilit=mercedes+w02&start=1470
14. 

    Dianna
    11th March 2011, 12:15

    Look at Michael Schumachers times this morning,the new upgrade must be exactly what he wanted.
    1. 

       Todfod (@todfod)
       11th March 2011, 12:49

       I was wondering where you were when Schumi put in that 1:21 lap in.
15. 

    Oliver
    11th March 2011, 12:35

    After Pirelli’s first tests last yar immediately the season ended, they decided that they would further reduce the durability of the tyres.
    Now between tyre durability and performance stability, they are yet to find the right compromise.
    They will need to complete at the very least, 3 – 5 races, run at normal conditions, before they can confidently chose a direction to take.

    They have only just returned after many years and been given a pretty odd request.
    With the current testing limits, teams are having hardly enough time to sort out their cars, with offical tyre tests vanishing from the schedules.
16. 

    Ralph Schumacher
    11th March 2011, 12:37

    so is McLaren running any upgrades today? The times surely don’t suggest this. Martin’s words gave me hope but he might have been blowing smoke to save his bacon… Which is now smoked..
    1. 

       parsik
       11th March 2011, 14:02

       I think they braught some major upgrades today hence yesterdays abscence but…I am a Mclaren fan for the last 17 years but this year…. I keep hoping
    2. 

       eternalsunshine
       11th March 2011, 16:10

       Agreed. I cannot believe they let themselves be at the bottom today.
       1. 

          VXR
          11th March 2011, 20:27

          Button said that they had been testing with heavier fuel loads today.

          “But I think we learnt some positive things: today was never about pace, as we weren’t running lower fuel loads, but there is pace in the car – it’s just been masked by reliability issues.”

          Being at the bottom of the list doesn’t necessarily make them slower than everyone else.

Comments are closed.