Pre-2007 Season Testing

[Ed]

For comparison purposes, the fastest time set at Valencia with an '06 spec car was a 1:08.543 (Anthony Davidson - Honda)

The '07 cars at this stage appear to be around 3 - 4 seconds slower.

[GhoGho]

I know its only testing, and shouldnt read too much into the times, but the RBR's times are a bit disappointing

[jacfan]

Yes it is just testing and without knowing what the teams are testing it is hard to judge what is happening on the test track. One lap times are only part of the story... race distance is what counts ultimately.

[jacfan]

I would not discount Renault but do have some reserves about Fisi and don't know anything about the new guy.

[JayVee]

I know its only testing, and shouldnt read too much into the times, but the RBR's times are a bit disappointing

I agree with you

[jacfan]

Nearly fainted then... for about two seconds I actually thought you were agreeing with me!!!

[JayVee]

Yes it is just testing and without knowing what the teams are testing it is hard to judge what is happening on the test track. One lap times are only part of the story... race distance is what counts ultimately.

This statement makes PERFECT sense

So I agree with you fully.

When a car is 2 or 3 seconds off the pace over a number of days then it would be cause for concern don't you think

[JayVee]

I would not discount Renault but do have some reserves about Fisi and don't know anything about the new guy.

Agree again

The new guy (Kovalainen) finished second in GP2 in 2005 in a close fight with Rosberg. He also won the Race of Champions!

Of course doesn't mean he will be good in F1 but I think he will be

[Ed]

On a side note, Dutchman Giedo van der Garde who was announced as Super Aguri's test driver and actually drove their car on Wednesday was today announced as SpykerF1 test driver! In addition to van der Garde, the SpykerF1 team named Malaysian Fairuz Fauzy and Spaniard Adrian Valles as the team's test drivers.

Looks like there will be a legal fight over van der Garde. Super Aguri have released this statement:

SUPER AGURI F1 TEAM has a valid contract with Giedo van der Garde to drive for the team in the position of Friday and Test Driver for the 2007 FIA Formula One™ World Championship. The contract was submitted by the SAF1 Team to the Contracts Recognition Board on 23rd January 2007.

[F1greyhound]

I would understand the hassle if the drivers name was MICHAEL S...

[Ed]

Final day of testing at Valencia saw Lewis Hamilton set the fastest time so far at this track for a 2007 spec car. Hamilton set a time of 1:11.119 with Kimi Raikkonen in second place with a 1:11.855.

Pedro de la Rosa in the second McLaren suffered an engine failure, the team said they were testing the limits of the engine and that it had covered over 1300 kms. The only other problem reported was an oil leak on Robert Kubica's car.

Here are the times according to the Valencia circuit:

1. Lewis Hamilton McLaren 1.11.119 112 laps
2. Kimi Raikkonen Ferrari 1.11.855 112 laps
3. Robert Kubica BMW Sauber 1.12.242 57 laps
4. Pedro M. de la Rosa McLaren 1.12.455 64 laps
5. Giancarlo Fisichella Renault F1 1.12.572 96 laps
6. Sebastián Vettel BMW Sauber 1.12.675 73 laps
7. Heikki Kovalainen Renault F1 1.12.679 98 laps
8. Mark Webber Red Bull 1.12.776 23 laps
9. Jenson Button Honda 1.12.995 89 laps

Next test will be in Jerez starting from the 6th of February where the majority of teams will attend.

In related news, the Honda F1 team announced that IndyCar series driver Marco Andretti will have a second test with the team at the upcoming test in Jerez. Andretti tested for Honda in December and has impressed the team.

[Ed]

In their Valencia test summary, Bridgestone Motorsport indicated that teams have been provided for the first time with 2 tyre specifications. (Medium and Soft). These specifications will be the ones planned for the opening round in Melbourne.

Bridgestone also indicated that the plan for the 2007 season is to offer 4 different compounds (Hard, Medium, Soft and Super Soft) with two to be taken to each Grand Prix event.

Here is the Q & A with Kees van de Grint, Bridgestone Motorsport Head of Track Engineering Operations:

Can you clarify how many specifications of tyre Bridgestone will be producing this year?
The current plan is to produce four specifications of dry weather tyre which will be known as: Hard, Medium, Soft and Super Soft. From these four specifications two will be chosen for use at each Grand Prix.

What were the aims of this week’s test and which tyres were tested at Valencia?
This week’s test was the only opportunity for the teams and drivers to conduct comparisons of the medium and soft Bridgestone specifications prior to their use at the Australian Grand Prix in March. It was also a good opportunity to ascertain what the potential lap time difference may be between those two specifications.

Did all the drivers manage to complete comparisons between the soft and medium tyres?
The majority of drivers this week did run on both specifications, giving them a feel for what to expect in Melbourne.

And what was the feedback?
We were pleased to see that the soft tyre performed as it should in comparison to the medium specification, providing more grip and a faster lap time. As you would expect from a softer tyre, there was also a little more graining and a higher rate of degradation on Thursday than with the medium specification but those drivers who ran today will have found that the drop off improved over the day as track conditions also improved. Just as importantly, however, it was good to see that the medium specification was providing a very consistent level of performance for the drivers.

What was the time difference between the medium and soft specifications?
First impressions suggest an average lap time difference of half a second between the medium and faster soft specification.

How are the teams adapting to the new tyres?
The teams have been adapting very well and it is clear that they have moved on significantly since November in terms of their knowledge and use of the tyres. They have become more confident and their understanding of the Bridgestone tyres has evolved enough for them to be concentrating more on fine tuning their cars to the tyres, not having to make big changes. From studying the lap times I think it is going to be very close this year. And now that many of the teams have launched their 2007 cars it has been interesting to see the differences in design approaches between them.

How is Bridgestone handling the practical side of supplying all the teams this year?
It’s a challenge we are enjoying and we have employed additional staff to fulfil the servicing requirements of all eleven teams this year. Bridgestone’s technical department in Japan has also seconded extra
engineering staff to our F1 facility in the UK.

[Ed]

4 official test are scheduled before the first race of the season:

6-8 February - Jerez circuit, Spain
12-14 February - Circuit de Catalunya, Spain
22-24 February - Bahrain International Circuit, Bahrain
27 February - 1 March - Bahrain International Circuit, Bahrain

[GhoGho]

1 . P. de la Rosa - McLaren Mercedes MP4-22 - 1:20.001 (+ 0.000 ) - 108 laps
2 . A. Wurz - Williams Toyota FW29 - 1:20.036 (+ 0.035 ) - 72 laps
3 . R. Kubica - BMW Sauber F1.07 - 1:20.159 (+ 0.158 ) - 46 laps
4 . L. Hamilton - McLaren Mercedes MP4-22 - 1:20.233 (+ 0.232 ) - 111 laps
5 . K. Raikkonen - Ferrari F2007 - 1:20.245 (+ 0.244 ) - 86 laps
6 . R. Schumacher - Toyota TF107 - 1:20.254 (+ 0.253 ) - 55 laps
7 . J. Button - Honda RA107 - 1:20.371 (+ 0.370 ) - 99 laps
8 . F. Montagny - Toyota TF107 - 1:20.409 (+ 0.408 ) - 46 laps
9 . N. Rosberg - Williams Toyota FW29 - 1:20.525 (+ 0.524 ) - 62 laps
10 . L. Badoer - Ferrari F2007 - 1:20.666 (+ 0.665 ) - 62 laps
11 . S. Vettel - BMW Sauber F1.07 - 1:20.715 (+ 0.714 ) - 51 laps
12 . D. Coulthard - Red Bull Renault RB3 - 1:21.021 (+ 1.020 ) - 48 laps
13 . N. Piquet - Renault R27 - 1:21.264 (+ 1.263 ) - 117 laps
14 . R. Zonta - Renault R27 - 1:21.392 (+ 1.391 ) - 67 laps
15 . M. Webber - Red Bull Renault RB3 - 1:21.858 (+ 1.857 ) - 27 laps
16 . C. Klien - Honda RA107 - 1:22.083 (+ 2.082 ) - 35 laps.

[Ed]

Thanks GhoGho for posting the times from the 1st day at Jerez. There are no times from the circuit and the times from the teams differ but most agree that de la Rosa was fastest.

Both BMW drivers (Kubica and Vettel) suffered hydraulic problems, Franck Montagny (Toyota test driver) had a transmission failure and Massa was replaced by Badoer as he was suffering from a fever.