Pre-2007 Season Testing

Discuss Formula 1 Testing

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gkaytaz
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Post by gkaytaz » Wed Nov 29, 2006 11:18 pm

Ed wrote:Anothony Davidson in the Super Aguri is doing well again today. The Super Aguri team have improved considerably from where they were less than a year ago!
Especially considering that Sato finished 10th while single-handedly managing to beat both Spykers, STRs and RBRs! I am not counting the others (Toyota and Williams) cuz ordinarily he wouldn't be able to do so. Nevertheless Aguri, now with Davidson, will become a force to be reckoned with among the small teams.
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Post by gkaytaz » Wed Nov 29, 2006 11:19 pm

Finished 10th in Brazil. You all know that but I prefer a complete post :)
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Post by gkaytaz » Wed Nov 29, 2006 11:29 pm

By the way Hakkinen was supposed to be at Circuit de Catalunya today. Rumor has it that he'll be testing a McL. Anyone seen or heard of that?
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Post by Ed » Wed Nov 29, 2006 11:36 pm

Mika Hakkinen was working with McLaren on the simulator and with the comments Ron Dennis made last week, it doesn't surprise me if he does test for them.

I doubt that he'll test today though as the session is nearing its end.

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Post by Snowy » Thu Nov 30, 2006 12:31 am

Nick Heidfeld has gone to the top of the timesheet with a 1'10.767! :shock: :shock: :shock:

I hope that's a glitch otherwise BMW is going to walk the 2007 Championship. :roll:
Lewis Hamilton & Jenson Button World Champions :)

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Post by Snowy » Thu Nov 30, 2006 12:36 am

Thank goodness for that he's back on a 1'17.6. Scared me half out of me wits! :shock:
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Post by Ed » Thu Nov 30, 2006 12:52 am

gkaytaz wrote:By the way Hakkinen was supposed to be at Circuit de Catalunya today. Rumor has it that he'll be testing a McL. Anyone seen or heard of that?
It is official, McLaren have confirmed that Mika Hakkinen will test for the team on Thursday in Barcelona. The team stressed though that no further tests are planned for Mika at this stage.

Mika said:
I'm really excited about driving a Team McLaren Mercedes Formula 1 car again and to be re-engaging with the team. I
have followed the Formula 1 World Championship closely since my retirement at the end of the 2001 season, but it was when I was at this year's Brazilian Grand Prix as a guest of the team that I really felt I would like to get a chance to drive a Formula 1 car again. I have recently spent some time in Team McLaren Mercedes' simulator in Woking and to get the possibility to drive the MP4-21 is something I'm really looking forward to.
I would like to thank Ron and Norbert for making this happen. This test is
a chance for me to see how much Formula 1 cars have advanced and experience first hand what they are like to drive today as well as providing the team with some feedback on various aspects of the car's performance.
Mika will take over the testing duties from Pedro de la Rosa

It will be interesting to see the times he sets tomorrow!

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Post by gkaytaz » Thu Nov 30, 2006 1:00 am

Ed wrote:
Mika will take over the testing duties from Pedro de la Rosa

It will be interesting to see the times he sets tomorrow!
Yeah, it's been quite a while since he drove a real F1 car (to the extent of our knowledge). He spent some time in the simulator yes, but will that be enough to clock competitive times?

Another thing: Why do they let him test if there are no further tests planned? I mean why bother? Mika might have signed a contract to be part of the McL family again but I strongly doubt that it covers testing too :)
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Post by Ed » Thu Nov 30, 2006 1:11 am

Ron Dennis said:
A driver of Mika's calibre and experience can only bring added value to our testing programme and his feedback after Thursday's running will be valuable to the team in our preparations for the 2007 season. However at this stage there are no plans for Mika to conduct further tests for the team.
I think Mika will provide some good feedback and the publicity will be good too!

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Post by gkaytaz » Thu Nov 30, 2006 3:19 am

Ed wrote:Ron Dennis said:
A driver of Mika's calibre and experience can only bring added value to our testing programme and his feedback after Thursday's running will be valuable to the team in our preparations for the 2007 season. However at this stage there are no plans for Mika to conduct further tests for the team.
I think Mika will provide some good feedback and the publicity will be good too!
If he proves to be useful, and I think he will, we'll hear him run more tests in the near future. His input will bring McLaren further up in the food chain.
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MIKKA TESTS !

Post by Julian Mayo » Thu Nov 30, 2006 12:12 pm

Just what is Denis up to ? Mikka Hakkinen will test the new McLaren today, Thursday !
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Re: MIKKA TESTS !

Post by gkaytaz » Thu Nov 30, 2006 4:36 pm

Julian Mayo wrote:Just what is Denis up to ? Mikka Hakkinen will test the new McLaren today, Thursday !
He has his own agenda, which shall remain a mystery to us all :) Nevertheless Hakkinen will be a useful addition.
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Post by Ed » Thu Nov 30, 2006 6:53 pm

Day three has commenced with a few driver changes! Most notably is Mika Hakkinen in the McLaren who takes Pedro de la Rosa's place.
Also Mark Gene takes over from Felipe Massa, Timo Glock takes from Nick Heidfeld, Michael Ammermuller from Mark Webber and the 2 Toyota drivers (Ralf and Jarno) take over from Panis and Kobayashi and finally Narain Karthikeyan takes over from Alexander Wurz.

Yesterday's session ended with Massa fastest with a 1:16.406 with Nick Heidfeld in second with a 1:17.159 and Luca Badoer in 3rd.
de la Rosa, Panis, Hamilton, Barrichello and Webber make the top 8.

For lap by lap times, click here (in pdf)

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Post by Ed » Thu Nov 30, 2006 6:57 pm

Just under an hour into the session and Luca Badoer is fastest with a 1:17.241, Heikki Kovalainen is second with a 1:17.344 and Rubens Barrichello is 3rd with a 1:18.797.

This is the first time a Renault laps under 1:18 during this test.

Mika Hakkinen has done 6 laps without setting a competitve time yet.

It is cold with air temperature at 5 degrees while track temperature is under 4 degrees!

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Post by Ed » Thu Nov 30, 2006 7:20 pm

Luca Badoer has just put in a 1:16.626!
Heikki Kovalainen in second has set a 1:17.283.
Marc Gene is up in 3rd with a 1:17.746

Mike Hakkinen has completed 11 laps with a best time of 1:41.839!

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