Valencia Test Day 3 Results

[Mike Kellner]

The regulations are always supposed to slow the cars down, they seldom do. Button was only 0.7 faster than the Virgin in last year's McLaren, and not as fast as chart toppers each day.

My feeling is they were seeing how the tires degrade with various fuel loads. Pit strategy is super important, and with new tires, how they wear and how much their performance changes over the length of a run are the most important thing to learn right away so they can start doing simulations and test strategies.

It remains to be seen if the blown underbody is the new F Duct. It could be, or it could roast parts of the undertray and cause problems. I think getting your KERS right is more important. Ferrari had the best one in 09, and that gives them a leg up this year. That being said, you could be right, Renault was close last year and a little improvement plus Kubica's driving could put them up front.

Whatever, I am sure glad to have F1 back under way and giving us something to think about.

To get slightly off topic: Indycar could do a few early tests and get some press if they set it up right.

mk

[numetalbizkit]

I don't think the times are telling us much. Each day no one was faster than 1:13. Last year's Virgin did a 1:14. Last year, if the Virgin could do a 1:14, the pole would be about 1:10.

My take is, the teams were mostly gathering data on the new tires and getting the bugs out of the cars. I don't think anyone is showing their hand yet.

mk

Yes, but the technical changes they made this year are supposed to slow the cars down by 2 seconds or so. They banned the advanced diffusers. Honestly, I think Renault has the car to beat this year, just a gut feeling.

[gsabass3581]

Yeah, I don't take too much stock in the times right now too; an HRT was within 1.1 seconds of a Ferrari on the 2nd, which I think is the first time that has ever happened...

http://pitpass.com/fes_php/pitpass_news_item.php?fes_art_id=42882

[Mike Kellner]

I don't think the times are telling us much. Each day no one was faster than 1:13. Last year's Virgin did a 1:14. Last year, if the Virgin could do a 1:14, the pole would be about 1:10.

My take is, the teams were mostly gathering data on the new tires and getting the bugs out of the cars. I don't think anyone is showing their hand yet.

mk

[numetalbizkit]

Pos Driver Team Time Gap Laps
1. Robert Kubica Renault 1m13.144s 95
2. Adrian Sutil Force India Mercedes* 1m13.201s +0.057 117
3. Jenson Button McLaren Mercedes* 1m13.553s +0.409 105
4. Mark Webber Red Bull Renault 1m13.936s +0.792 105
5. Felipe Massa Ferrari 1m14.017s +0.873 80
6. Timo Glock Virgin Cosworth* 1m14.207s +1.063 114
7. Pastor Maldonado Williams Cosworth 1m14.299s +1.155 101
8. Sergio Perez Sauber Ferrari 1m14.469s +1.325 104
9. Michael Schumacher Mercedes 1m14.537s +1.393 110
10. Sebastien Buemi Toro Rosso Ferrari 1m14.801s +1.657 73
11. Narain Karthikeyan HRT Cosworth* 1m16.535s +3.391 63
12. Jarno Trulli Lotus Renault no time 38

* indicates 2010 car.

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/89267

I think this is an accurate depiction of what the cars are capable of at the moment. Renault has a really good car this year. Team Lotus will be the only car out there tomorrow.