Now the run-up to the 2009 F1 season really gets under way, with major tests on three of the next four weeks. After the launch of Red Bull’s RB5 yesterday there are now seven new F1 cars in action. The first of those starts today with F1 teams running in Jerez and Bahrain. Follow today’s … Continue reading 2009 F1 testing: February 10th (Update: video and pictures added)
F1 Testing articles archive
Testing
2009 F1 testing notes: January 21st (Update: video and pictures added)
Posted onLewis Hamilton, Felipe Massa and Fernando Alonso are among the F1 drivers testing today. See below for more information on today’s F1 tests and share your thoughts on testing as it progresses throughout the day. Update: Video and pictures from today’s test added.
2009 F1 testing: January 19th (pictures)
Posted onSix F1 teams were in action at two different circuits today. Ferrari made a last-minute decision not to appear at the group test in Portugal and instead worked on the F60 at its home circuit, Mugello. Here are notes and pictures from the tests.
Should F1 teams test before racing?
Posted onFor the second race weekend in a row F1 teams are testing at the circuit where they will next be competing. Three days of testing conclude at the Hockenheimring today ahead of the German Grand Prix a week on Sunday. But does testing on race tracks so close to a race weekend risk making the … Continue reading Should F1 teams test before racing?
2008 F1 testing round-up 13: Catalunya
Posted onNine F1 teams tested at the Circuit de Catalunya last week – Force India were absent from the test. Each day’s running saw a little rain, but not very much, and the cars typically completed around 80 laps each. Here’s what they were doing and how they go on:
2008 F1 testing round-up 12: Paul Ricard
Posted onThe ten remaining Formula 1 teams spent Wednesday to Friday testing at Paul Ricard, former home of the French Grand Prix. It was very much a test in two parts, with the teams testing high-downforce configurations for the Monaco Grand Prix, the next round of the championship, and low-downforce settings for the Canadian Grand Prix … Continue reading 2008 F1 testing round-up 12: Paul Ricard
2008 F1 testing round-up 11: Catalunya
Posted onThe first official test since the start of the season ended at Barcelona today. The four-day test threw up some confusing times as some drivers tried out slick tyres for next year while others stayed on grooves, and today’s running was spoiled by rain. They will be back at the track in just eight days … Continue reading 2008 F1 testing round-up 11: Catalunya
F1 testing round-up 10: Catalunya & Jerez
Posted onThe final big test before the 2008 season was completed this week and it wasn’t Lewis Hamilton, Kimi Raikkonen or Michael Schumacher who set the fastest time – it was Jarno Trulli. Afterwards a confident Trulli praised the new Toyota: The TF108 is a completely different car. Last year straightaway I knew we had a … Continue reading F1 testing round-up 10: Catalunya & Jerez
2008 F1 testing round-up 9: Circuit de Catalunya & Valencia
Posted onMost of the teams tested at the Circuit de Catalunya this week, with BMW decamping to Valencia for a private test, and the beleaguered Super Aguri team cancelling their planned test amid continue doubt over their 2008 entry.
F1 2008 testing round-up 8: Jerez
Posted onAll the teams bar Ferrari and Toyota tested at Jerez this week. McLaren looked fast, but Williams and Red Bull impressed with their speed as well. Next week should provide the first opportunity for several weeks to compare the expected 2008 front runners – McLaren and Ferrari. However teams are expecting rain at the Circuit … Continue reading F1 2008 testing round-up 8: Jerez
2008 F1 testing round-up 7: Bahrain
Posted onFerrari and Toyota completed their second three-day stint of testing yesterday – but this time although Ferrari remained extremely quick they also ran into reliability problems. But Toyota looked quicker over the second three days than the first and their reliability looked promising as well.
Video: F1 testing at Bahrain (part 4)
Posted onFerrari looked very quick in testing at Bahrain International Circuit last week. Here’s some video from the test and an interview with a very happy-looking Kimi Raikkonen. But it didn’t all go well for the team – there’s some footage of Felipe Massa pulling to a halt with apparent technical problems. Toyota, who were also … Continue reading Video: F1 testing at Bahrain (part 4)
2008 F1 testing round-up 6: Bahrain
Posted onFerrari and Toyota left the other F1 teams behind by testing in Bahrain this week – perhaps McLaren wished they’d followed them after the events at the Circuit de Catalunya? It may prove an advantage for them as the other teams are not likely to test at Bahrain before its Grand Prix, but Ferrari and … Continue reading 2008 F1 testing round-up 6: Bahrain
Video: F1 testing at Barcelona (part 3)
Posted onHere are two more videos of the recent Formula 1 tests, covering the session most of the teams attended last week at the Circuit de Catalunya. It includes footage of Red Bull’s unusual new rear engine cover design as well as a couple of the drivers making mistakes and going off.
Kimi Raikkonen shows Ferrari speed at Bahrain
Posted onShortly before the start of the 2004 season, Michael Schumacher and Ferrari tested the new Bridgestone tyres at Imola and suddenly found they were whole seconds quicker than the opposition. Kimi Raikkonen’s highly competitive lap times at Bahrain today may have reminded Ferrari’s rivals of that moment. But with only Toyota testing alongside them it’s … Continue reading Kimi Raikkonen shows Ferrari speed at Bahrain
2008 F1 testing round-up 5
Posted onFerrari and Toyota stayed away from this week’s test at the Circuit de Catalunya, and with Super Aguri still absent that left eight teams testing at the track near Barcelona. The test was marred by ugly scenes as some of the spectators that showed up hurled racist taunts and abuse at Lewis Hamilton. And for … Continue reading 2008 F1 testing round-up 5
2008 testing round-up 3
Posted onHow much can you tell from F1 testing times in January? Not very much, especially when rain interrupts the running as happened at Jerez this week. It’s too early to say for certain who’s fastest and which driver is doing better than his team mate. But trends are emerging already: Ferrari and McLaren not only … Continue reading 2008 testing round-up 3
2008 testing round-up 2
Posted onThis week saw the final four days of testing of 2007. Although much was made of the opportunity to compare Michael Schumacher and Lewis Hamilton on track at the same time, in reality the diversity of testing programmes being run meant that no worthwhile comparison was possible. Teams ran a mixture of grooved and slick … Continue reading 2008 testing round-up 2
2008 testing round-up 1
Posted onThe 2008 winter testing got under way at Barcelona this week as the teams prepared for the first race without traction control since 2001. This was the first of two tests before the break, the second at Jerez next month. Here’s what the teams were all up to.
2007 testing round-up 6
Posted onFernando Alonso summed up the state of play as the last major test before the start of the season ended this week: “I think Ferrari is a little bit ahead of everybody – really quick and really consistent – and I think BMW, Renault, Williams, McLaren will be very close on timed laps.” Ferrari’s indeed … Continue reading 2007 testing round-up 6