Schumi testing the F2007 w/o TC next week!

[AzShadow]

Alonso Faster today, and better than yesterday best time (kimi 1:19.846 59).

Yeah, but it was done on a quick stint with an old car so no miracle has happened yet. :P Probably had more to do with giving something for the Spanish crowd to cheer on.

Anyway, Alonso seems to fit well on the car considering he hasn't been driving for a couple of months.

[Lilellatho]

Good lap time for Alonso but, remember people, this is only testing.

In the Autosport article it says that Fernando did 2 quick laps, so short on fuel, towards the end of the day, probably to please all the Spanish fans in the stands. The other drivers set their times earlier in the day.

Oh dear, I can already imagine the headlines in the Spanish press osweat:

[dacer]

first, sorry, I didn't want to say, "Alonso it's the better, faster than any and would win championship again". After read my post, seems that I want to say that. No, sorry.

I only want to say, that Alonso, It's no dead for this season, surely he win some races, maybe at mid and end of season, and I hope, he can fight for a second place on championship.

"Hasta el rabo todo es toro", is a spanish phrase that means, than when you think any is dead and can not fight, then he can still fight hard.

And 2 notes. First, Yes, Alonso get the time on a quick stint, but, the others have no quick stints?. Second, it's his first day with this car and this season. It's second for kimi, massa, pedro, and many others, and a lot of them, drove "same" car last year

[Lilellatho]

Don't misunderstand us dacer, we have nothing or atleast I have nothing against Alonso. I've always respected him, even though he's not my favourite.

On the points you made, from the official releases of the teams and the live timing commentary it seems that the other teams or most of them insisted on long runs and testing different setups and practising some starts. But they didn't do quick runs, on very low fuel.

But I'm happy to see him back to work, as I'm sure many of his fans are. :cheezy:

[raikks]

Hamilton was supposed to drive today but he didn't, although
he was seen in the garage and on the pit wall. He is scheduled
for tomorrow. Does anyone know why this change in schedule
for McLaren?

You can't make a clear idea about the performances between
this year's cars. Now it's all about set-up, reliability and getting
used with a car without TC.

[iceman1]

Nando back on top, Impressive :cheezy:

[megasyxx]

Nando back on top, Impressive :cheezy:

yeah, that's one slap on the cheek for ferrari and two slaps on both for mclaren osweat:

[WDC]

yeah, thats a pretty strong message to the rivals... alonso P1 in his debut test for renault (since 06)

the next 4 or 5 positions were only searated by less than a tenth. looking good! so far!

[iceman1]

times as they are before lunchtime (obviously quite wet the track) :

1 Felipe Massa Ferrari F2008 1:28.672 38
2 Kimi Räikkönen Ferrari F2008 1:29.550 + 0,878 21
3 Mark Webber Red Bull Racing RB3 1:31.174 + 2,502 17
4 Timo Glock Toyota TF108 1:31.261 + 2,589 34
5 Heikki Kovalainen McLaren MP4-23 1:31.371 + 2,699 26
6 Fernando Alonso Renault R27 1:31.926 + 3,254 21
7 Kazuki Nakajima Williams FW29 1:32.069 + 3,397 27
8 Lewis Hamilton McLaren MP4-23 1:32.278 + 3,606 24
9 Adrian Sutil Force India F8-VII 1:32.336 + 3,664 38
10 Kamui Kobayashi Toyota TF107 1:32.712 + 4,040 11
11 Nico Hülkenberg Williams FW29 1:32.933 + 4,261 23
12 Sebastien Bourdais Toro Rosso STR2 1:33.383 + 4,711 23
13 Sebastian Vettel Toro Rosso STR2 1:33.555 + 4,883 23

Massa's F2008 suffers two electical failures at the end of the pitlane, Ferrari doesn't seem to be reliable osweat:

[joey_bolso]

Today´s times -> http://www.tsl-timing.com/f1/2008/80389qu3f1t.gif

By the way, Hamilton ran off 2 times in Jerez today: http://img442.imageshack.us/my.php?imag ... 989qn4.jpg

[AzShadow]

Lewis Hamilton insists he is still happy with the pace of his McLaren despite coming off twice during the third day of testing in Jerez.

The 23-year-old blamed the lack of engine braking and traction control, now banned under new regulations, as he twice beached the car in gravel.

"Without these controls helping you on the entry to corners there is more locking of the rear wheels," he said.

Ferrari's test notes

McLaren's test notes

Renault's test notes

[WDC]

thats another reason why they are testing!
to fix any faults that lead to unreliability and in hamiltons case, to get used to driving the new car!

[iceman1]

Alonso's face after the test and back to Renault:


http://www.cadenaser.com/recorte/200801 ... -Jerez.jpg

Heikki's face after his discovery of Ron's Mclaren osweat:

http://www.motorsport.com/photos/f1/200 ... p-0188.jpg

[AzShadow]

Massa: F2008 addresses '07 weaknesses

Felipe Massa is sure that Ferrari have made a step forward with their F2008, after claiming that the car has improved in the areas where its predecessor was weak.

The longer wheelbase F2007 struggled last year against rivals McLaren on the tighter, slower circuits, and the team's decision to shorten their car for 2008 is aimed at addressing this area.

Speaking during a break in testing at Jerez in Spain, Massa said that early impressions of the car were that it was just as good as the F2007 in quick corners, but much better in the slower bends.

"The car is definitely good for me: we've made a step forward especially in the slow corners," said Massa. "As for the quick corners, the car is pretty good as it was last year too. So I think we've improved the car a bit in that aspect.

"With this car it's a bit easier to be without traction control. We had a good feeling on the kerbs at the chicane here, so I'm happy from the start about the car's balance. We didn't have to work so much on the car to get good lap times, so it's definitely positive."

[Lilellatho]

Good to hear those things from Massa, although he is known to be hopeless optimist.
But Kimi seems to agree with the fact that the new car is a progress from last year, so it's a good sign. The main thing is reliability and again reliability, as this was their main problem last year, so it's good to see that the car resisted in all those long runs.

Only 58 days to the Australian GP

Heikki's face after his discovery of Ron's Mclaren osweat:

What on earth did he see in there? He seems absolutely disgusted. Maybe he smelt sth. rotten in that team?