[soipguibbom]

Hi guys,when is the testing starting in Spain ?And as i am in OZ can someone post some times and first impressions of their views on who looks to have the nicest,and fastest looking cars please

[ScosyGissiok]

Google can be your friend

[U2DnBGFE]

Schedule for next week announced. Only Caterham TBA, awaiting confirmation of Petrov signing?

Running order for Jerez F1 test revealed - F1 news - AUTOSPORT.com

[Loonerisav]

Interesting to see Mercedes are delaying their launch and using the first 3 days to evaluate tyres.

Also no test drivers featuring in this test, so we should hopefully get a better idea of guide line performance.

I just wish Sky F1 was up and running, then I could watch some testing action. As with the snow hanging around, I might have a free day Tuesday

[StitlyDute]

I heard from a work colleague today that McLaren were also in Idiada for snow tests

[U2DnBGFE]

I just wish Sky F1 was up and running, then I could watch some testing action. As with the snow hanging around, I might have a free day Tuesday

Yes, it would be great if next year they could televise the testing too.

[Loonerisav]

Does anyone no if HRT are using an update 2011 car, with 2012 parts. Or just a pretty much 2011 car?

I know its early but so far after a couple of hours 7 out of 11 teams at the circuit have set times.

1 RaikkonenLotus 1m19.670s
RosbergMercedes 1m21.162s +1.492
Di RestaForce India 1m22.008s +2.338
KobayashiSauber 1m22.112s +2.442
RicciardoToro Rosso 1m22.270s +2.600
MassaFerrari 1m23.391s +3.721
De la RosaHRT 1m26.110s +6.440

[Loonerisav]

Caterham, Mclaren, Williams & Red Bull yet to venture out for anything more than installation runs

[Adollobdeb]

It seems he is in better form than back in 2009.

@Lotus_F1Team: "That lap time from Kimi was set on medium compound tyres; it'll be interesting to see how he fares on the softer compounds!"

[U2DnBGFE]

Ok, early days but straight to the top of the times and with a big margin (and with a driver who is out of practice) surely shows the Lotus is pretty decent out of the box?

The way Autosport are reporting it, it sounds as if Raikkonen has some of his flair and enthusiasm back too.

[GinaGomesz]

I just wish Sky F1 was up and running, then I could watch some testing action. As with the snow hanging around, I might have a free day Tuesday

As usual, lots of complaints about there being no video coverage of testing. Don't blame BBC, Sky or broadcasters, it's all down to FOM https://twitter.com/#!/f1fanatic_co_...04210338365440

[amelveEnromma]

Ok, early days but straight to the top of the times and with a big margin (and with a driver who is out of practice) surely shows the Lotus is pretty decent out of the box?

The way Autosport are reporting it, it sounds as if Raikkonen has some of his flair and enthusiasm back too.

Come on, it's the first day and no one has the slightest clue about fuel loads or how much drivers have pushed their cars. It would be rather pointless to try and draw any conclusions from the first hours of F1 testing in 2012.

[amelveEnromma]

Come on, it's the first day and no one has the slightest clue about fuel loads or how much drivers have pushed their cars. It would be rather pointless to try and draw any conclusions from the first hours of F1 testing in 2012.

On second thoughts...

09:26 @eddstrawF1 also enjoying Raikkonen's comeback so far: "had a watch trackside around the final part of the track. Great to see Kimi leaning on the car. Took a bite of the grass with his front-left entering the pits, so on it on an in-lap. Great to see him back in an F1 car."

[Switiespils]

Come on, it's the first day and no one has the slightest clue about fuel loads or how much drivers have pushed their cars. It would be rather pointless to try and draw any conclusions from the first hours of F1 testing in 2012.

With all this talk of Lotus being up for sale etc, I guess they need sponsorship. Oldest trick in the book is to go quick - i.e. not loadsa fuel.

Mind you, it could well be the car to beat, but I doubt it!!!!

[DenisMoor]

yes, yes. it must be said again

wish there was video!!!

[stutnerman]

Come on, it's the first day and no one has the slightest clue about fuel loads or how much drivers have pushed their cars. It would be rather pointless to try and draw any conclusions from the first hours of F1 testing in 2012.

I've said time and time again that testing and practice can't be used as much of a judge of true performance. But that's what people do here on the forum, try to draw conclusions from testing with very little information other than a raw time!


I know thse times mean little if anything, but in the case of Kimi I can't help but remain hopeful that the car is capable enough for him to at least challenge the forward part of the field. A lot of people here on the forum don't seem to think he is much of a driver and I'd like to see Kimi prove them wrong once again. He didn't post that many fast laps by being an average driver.

I'll say it now and make it clear. Regardless of where he finishes this season I'm very excited to see Kimi back in F1.

[Switiespils]

I've said time and time again that testing and practice can't be used as much of a judge of true performance. But that's what people do here on the forum, try to draw conclusions from testing with very little information other than a raw time!


I know thse times mean little if anything, but in the case of Kimi I can't help but remain hopeful that the car is capable enough for him to at least challenge the forward part of the field. A lot of people here on the forum don't seem to think he is much of a driver and I'd like to see Kimi prove them wrong once again. He didn't post that many fast laps by being an average driver.

I'll say it now and make it clear. Regardless of where he finishes this season I'm very excited to see Kimi back in F1.

Some of Kimi's back to front of grid drives at McLaren were the stuff of heroes. I think Ferrari sucked the life out of him a bit.....

[chujwduperjadzi]

With all this talk of Lotus being up for sale etc, I guess they need sponsorship. Oldest trick in the book is to go quick - i.e. not loadsa fuel.

Mind you, it could well be the car to beat, but I doubt it!!!!

Martin Whitmarsh said as much a few days ago, although obviously not talking about any team specifically:

Is there grandstanding and sandbagging? Yes. Do all of the teams do it? To varying degrees. We don’t go out of our way to grandstand, as we’ve got a long-term serious programme. We see it every year, a team that may be on the point of a new sponsorship deal appears to be very quick in some tests and then suddenly doesn’t look quite so quick, when it gets to the first race. It is so easy as the weight sensitivity of F1 cars is such that you can make a car artificially a second or two quicker if you need to.

[chujwduperjadzi]

By the way, can I shamelessly plug the link in my signature (no money or advertising is involved)? I find it handy to have as a side window during sessions, and is quite handy during testing.

[chujwduperjadzi]

Daniel Ricciardo has the dubious honour of causing the first red flag of 2012, stopping on Jerez's main straight. FWIW he is currently 4th fastest.