Posts tagged Jerez
A wet day of tests in Jerez
Feb 11th
Rain affected the day of testing at Jerez on Wednesday. The fastest times of the day were set very early in the morning before the first drops fell and fromt hat point on the times were never going to be beaten with all teams on inters and full wets for the rest of the day.
It was the first chance the world had to se RedBull’s RB6 in action, however it was a disapointing day RedBull. The RB6 stopped out on the track and brought out the red flag due to an oil leak. The team tok that car back to the garage but then spent a large amount of time working on he car, even removing it’s floorpan. Webber didn’t return to the track until 45 mins prior to the end of the day.
Despite this setback Webber did manage to put 50 laps in, all be it in mostly wet conditions. Mark remained upbeat however.
“It was a pretty positive feeling actually,” said Webber “It wasn’t exactly a clean day of testing with the changeable conditions but that is the same with everyone.
Webber admitted that the team was going to be doing a shakedown of their car over the next few days, and do not intend to even ‘look’ at lap times until later in the month. He said that the car felt as it should on a wet day in Jerez, but did hope for dry weather tomorrow so that they could continue their shakedown.
Engine reliability has been the only variable that could be the downfall of the RedBull team. The Renault engine was no-where near as good as other engines on the grid in 2009 and it could be the soar point of the team again in 2010. Regardless of the team and drivers remaining upbeat about todays test, the fact that and oil leak let them down was not a good first outing.
The day in contrast was far better for the MercedesGP team who were finally able to knck Ferrari off their perch and claim the fastest time of the day. Nico Rosberg put some strong laps in early in they day before the rain set in and his time was obviously not beaten. The times however may not mean much with most teams evidently concentrating more on shakedown and development rather then trying to prove pace.
McLaren tried to water down the concern onlookers had to the large metal rig stuck to the side of the car, used for measuring windflow and aerodynamics and comparing it to CFD and wind tunnel data.
Virgin Racing were also present for the first time, however they spent most of the day waiting for the fitment of new parts to the car and in the end.
Timo Glock only managed to venture out for 5 laps before the end of the day, not surprisingly coming bottom of the times on a day where thankfully the timesheet really didn’t mean much anyway.
Most teams are hoping for fine weather tomorrow as they continue their shakedowns.
For those interested, the times from today are below:
1. Nico Rosberg, Mercedes GP, 1:20.927, 57 Laps
2. Sebastien Buemi, Toro Rosso, 1:21.031, 84 Laps
3. Nico Hulkenberg, Williams, 1:22.243, 118 Laps
4. Fernando Alonso, Ferrari, 1:22.895, 88 Laps
5. Kamui Kobayashi, BMW Sauber, 1:23.287, 55 Laps
6. Jenson Button, McLaren, 1:24.947, 68 Laps
7. Vitantonio Liuzzi, Force India, 1:24.968, 71 Laps
8. Vitaly Petrov, Renault, 1:25.440, 27 Laps
9. Mark Webber, Red Bull, 1:26.502, 50 Laps
10. Timo Glock, Virgin, 1:38.734, 5 Laps
Schumacher to test GP2 car at Jerez
Jan 11th
A spokesman for Seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher has confirmed that he will setp into a GP2 car at Jerez circuit in Spain this week in preparation for his Formula One return.
The last time he drove an F1 car was during a brief test in a two-year old Ferrari last year during his planned return to Ferrari which was aborted due to a neck injury.
Whilst there is an F1 testing ban in place, the FIA has approved Schumacher ‘s GP2 test which will take place between Tuesday and Thursday this week.
The GP2 car will be provided by the British GP2 team, Super Nova Racing.
Last week Schumacher visited the Mercedes factory to check on his new team’s preparations. No doubt there will be a bunch of Mercedes team members on hand during his GP2 test this week in Spain.
Ricciardo tops the time sheet at Jerez.
Dec 4th
Aussie Daniel Ricciardo has ended the final day of testing at Jerez on the top of the time sheets recording the quickest time of all 3 days with a 1:17.418. The day was not without drama though, after a large plume of smoke appeared from the back of his Renault powered RedBull, it was clear the engine had cooked and Daniel had to retire after 77 laps.
For the Aussie who won this years British Formula 3 cahmpionship it was important to show his abilities in an F1 car at Jerez this December. He has succeeded and is now rumoured to get a permanent test role for 2010 and a seated driver for the 2011 season.
Di Resta did a great job in the Force india to hold off the McLaren being driven by their test driver Paffet.
Times from the Thursday:
01. Ricciardo Red Bull 1.17.418s 77 laps
02. Di Resta Force India 1.18.736s 53 laps
03. Paffett McLaren 1.18.746s 59 laps
04. Conway Brawn 1.19.096s 77 laps
05. Hulkenberg Williams 1.19.226s 106 laps
06. Baguette Sauber 1.19.356s 70 laps
07. Turvey McLaren 1.19.358s 32 laps
08. Ericsson Brawn 1.19.382s 49 laps
09. Di Grassi Renault 1.19.602s 123 laps
10. Hildebrand Force India 1.19.873s 41 laps
11. Sanchez Ferrari 1.21.147s 39 laps
12. Zampieri Ferrari 1.21.279s 42 laps
12. Zipoli Ferrari 1.21.725s 41 laps
13. Hartley Toro Rosso 1.22.493s 50 laps
15. Bortolotti Toro Rosso 1.23.271s 34 laps
16. Tung Renault 1.32.477s 4 laps
Also a recap of the times from day 1 and day 2:
Tuesday
1. Andy Soucek, Williams-Toyota, 1:19.158, 87 laps
2. Paul Di Resta, Force India-Mercedes, 1:19.369, 46 laps
3. Gary Paffett, McLaren-Mercedes, 1:19.426, 54 laps
4. Daniel Ricciardo, Red Bull-Renault, 1:19.534, 113 laps
5. Jules Bianchi, Ferrari, 1:19.626 91, laps
6. Mike Conway, Brawn-Mercedes, 1:19.920, 58 laps
7. Alexander Rossi, BMW, 1:20.227, 82 laps
8. Marcus Ericsson, Brawn-Mercedes, 1:20.333, 50 laps
9. Bertrand Baguette, Renault, 1:20.511, 105 laps
10. JR Hildebrand, Force India-Mercedes, 1:20.537, 49 laps
11. Oliver Turvey, McLaren-Mercedes, 1:20.856 27, laps
12. Brendon Hartley, Toro Rosso-Ferrari, 1:21.325, 69 laps
Wednesday
1. Gary Paffett, McLaren-Mercedes, 1:18.718, 80 laps
2. Nico Hülkenberg, Williams-Toyota, 1:19.184, 94 laps
3. Daniel Ricciardo, Red Bull-Renault, 1:19.243, 92 laps
4. Paul Di Resta, Force India-Mercedes, 1:19.411, 58 laps
5. Esteban Gutierrez, BMW, 1:20.190, 68 laps
6. Mike Conway, Brawn-Mercedes, 1:20.222, 83 laps
7. Marcus Ericsson, Brawn-Mercedes, 1:20.440, 37 laps
8. JR Hildebrand, Force India-Mercedes, 1:20.517, 49 laps
9. Jules Bianchi, Ferrari, 1:20.586, 113 laps
10. Lucas Di Grassi, Renault, 1:20.898, 54 laps
11. Ho-Pin Tung, Renault, 1:21.492, 67 laps
12. Mirko Bortolotti, Toro Rosso-Ferrari, 1:21.761, 79 lap
Day Two at Jerez (updated)
Dec 2nd
The second day of testing at Jerez is underway right now Ricciardo, Conway, Ericsson, Bianchi and both the Force India drivers are back for their second day.
UPDATE:
We have new times as at 13:07 Local time in Jerez.
Paffet has out paced Ricciardo in the McLaren.
- 1 G. Paffett (GB / McLaren) 1:18.718-44v
- 2 D. Ricciardo (AUS / Red Bull) 1:19.243-45v
- 3 P. Di Resta (GB / Force India) 1:19.411-58v
- 4 M. Conway (GB / BrawnGP) 1:20.267-55v
- 5 E. Gutiérrez (MEX / BMW-Sauber) 1:20.450-38v
- 6 H. Tung (CHN / Renault) 1:21.492-67v
- 7 M. Bortolotti (ITA / Toro Rosso) 1:21.761-23v
- 8 N. Hulkenberg (GER / Williams) 1:21.814-53v
- 9 J. Bianchi (FRA / Ferrari) 1:23.340-63v
UPDATED:
New times posted at 12:06pm local time:
1 D. Ricciardo (AUS / Red Bull) 1:19.243-38v
2 P. Di Resta (GB / Force India) 1:19.411-44v
3 G. Paffett (GB / McLaren) 1:19.535-34v
4 E. Gutierrez (MEX / BMW-Sauber) 1:20.450-26v
5 M. Bortolotti (ITA / Toro Rosso) 1:21.761-23v
6 N. Hulkenberg (GER / Williams) 1:21.814-42v
7 H. Tung (CHN / Renault) 1:22.003-51v
8 M. Conway (GB / BrawnGP) 1:23.049-37v
9 J. Bianchi (FRA / Ferrari) 1:23.517-37v
A provisional time table at 11:17 local time is as follows:
- 1 D. Ricciardo (AUS / Red Bull) 1:19.243-30v
- 2 E. Gutiérrez (MEX / BMW-Sauber) 1:20.450-20v
- 3 G. Paffett (GB / McLaren) 1:20.503-21v
- 4 P. Di Resta (GB / Force India) 1:20.724-28v
- 5 M. Bortolotti (ITA) Toro Rosso 1:21.835-18v
- 6 H. Tung (CHN / Renault) 1:22.003-46v
- 7 N. Hulkenberg (GER / Williams) 1:22.149-22v
- 8 M. Conway (GB / BrawnGP) 1:23.049-27v
- 9 J. Bianchi (FRA / Ferrari) 1:23.517-30v
We will be bringing you more updates as they develop, please follow our tweets for instant updates
Todays drivers will be:
BMW – Esteban Gutierrez (MEX)
Brawn GP (Mercedes) – Mike Conway (GBR) and Marcus Ericsson (SWE)
Ferrari – Jules Bianchi (FER)
Force India – Paul di Resta (GBR) and JR Hildebrand (USA)
McLaren – Gary Paffett (GBR)
Red Bull – Daniel Ricciardo (AUS)
Renault – Ho-Pin Tung (CHN)
Toro Rosso – Mirko Bortolotti (ITA)
Williams – Nico Hülkenberg (GER)
Daniel Ricciardo, the next big thing from Down Under.
Nov 26th
Twenty year old Daniel Ricciardo from Perth, Western Australia has got what it takes to be an F1 superstar. Not only has he got talent, but he’s also got the look.
He is not shy and admits his only goal is to become the Formula1 World Champion. Make no mistakes he is well on his way to achieving his goal.
His favourite circuit is Spa-Francorchamps, Ayrton Senna is his idol and Formula1 is not just a dream, it is an obsession and it will be his future.
This year Daniel won the British Formula 3 World Championship driving for Carlin Motorsport. He placed first at the all-important Silverstone and Spa-Francorchamps rounds and he wowed the fans by recording three wins in his first four races.
His Idol, Ayrton Senna won the British Formula3 championship in 1983. When he was asked what it felt like to be the British Formula3 Champion, he replied with “It feels bloody awesome.” He hasn’t lost any of his Aussie flair.
Earlier this month Daniel visited RedBull’s F1 headquarters in Milton Keynes which is also where Daniel now lives. He attended a seat fitting and spent some time practising in the teams F1 simulator. Next week however will be the most important week of his life so far as he makes his Formula1 test debut with the RedBull team at Jerez circuit in Spain.
When asked what he thought of his F1 test, Daniel said “No way did I think I’d be getting this at the end of the year, …this is something I’ve dreamed about since I can remember, so I’m really looking forward to it.”.
Daniel will be playing an important role for the team next week since their signed drivers for next year (Mark Webber and Sebastian Vettel) will not be allowed to get into the car until February 2010, due to the testing ban for seated drivers. It will not only be a good test of Daniel’s on-track abilities, but it will also test how he interacts with the team and works with the engineers and is able give them valuable feedback.
After a bad race at the Macau grand prix where he crashed out of the race from starting 5th on the grid, Daniel will be even more focused on making a good impression. He has already announced that he will be racing next year in the Formula Renault 3.5 Championship. If all goes well next week, chances are that he will be driving in Formula1 in one to two years at the most.
We will be following his progress at Jerez next week, good luck Daniel mate!
Jerez December test, less then a week away
Nov 26th
The testing at Jerez in Spain only a week away there are a lot of young drivers getting excited.
We are excited about Aussie Daniel Ricciardo testing for RedBull, he just claimed the British Formula3 World Championship this year and we think he is not far off an F1 seat if he can prove himself next week.
Ferrari are testing the 1st, 2nd and 3rd place championship finishers in this years Italian Formula 3 Championship and Williams are testing Nico Hülkenberg who has already been confirmed as their driver for 2010 partnering with Rubens Barrichello.
Despite pulling out of Formula1, BMW has kept it’s promise to allow Mario Alexander Rossi and Esteban Gutiérrez a test. BMW Motorsport Director Mario Theissen said ”Depriving these junior drivers of the test we had promised them was not an option for us, even after the withdrawal of BMW from Formula One,”
Updated: Mercedes have announced their drivers as Mike Conway and Marcus Ericsson, McLaren are TBC and Ferrari have added a forth driver, Jules Bianchi.
The teams and drivers testing in Jerez from next Tuesday are as follows:
Red Bull
Daniel Ricciardo
Toro Rosso
Brendon Hartley
Mirko Bortolotti
Brawn GP/Mercedes:
Mike Conway
Marcus Ericsson
BMW Sauber
Esteban Gutiérrez
Alexander Rossi
Renault
Bertrand Baguette
Ferrari
Pablo Sanchez-Lopez
Daniel Zampieri
Marco Zipoli
Jules Bianchi.
Williams
Nico Hülkenberg
Andy Soucek
Force India
Paul di Resta
JR’ Hildebrand
We will be following testing very closely next week and give you live updates throughout the two days.
