Pre-Season Testing - 2006

[Ed]

First official day of testing at Valencia (the second day this week for Williams).

Under mainly wet conditions, Rubens Barrichello set the fastest time of the day ahead of Anthony Davidson and Michael Schumacher.

5 teams were present with 8 drivers setting lap times. MotoGP Champion Valentino Rossi testing for Ferrari spun on his installation lap.

Rubens Barrichello's time was a 1:19.359 but as the track was damp it isn't comparable to the times usually set on this track.
Michael Schumacher alternated between the F2004 V8 and the new 248 F1. He completed the most number of laps with 87.

In addition to Rossi, Rosberg spun twice and also stopped on the track with a suspected engine problem. Kimi Raikkonen also stopped on the track. The team describing it as a "planned" stop while conducting fuel system checks.

Testing continues tomorrow with Renault, Toyota and BMW Sauber joining the test.

Full Report and Times

[Ed]

Testing continued at Valencia.

Under sunny conditions, Fernando Alonso in the Renault V8 set the fastest time of the day just over a tenth faster than Jenson Button in the Honda V8 while Michael Schumacer in the Ferrari V8 was over half a second behind in 3rd place.

8 teams were present with 15 drivers setting lap times. MotoGP Champion Valentino Rossi driving the F2004 managed 52 laps and set the 9th fastest lap time.

Fernando Alonso's time was a 1:11.219 which is the fastest time so far in a V8 powered car on this track.
McLaren test driver Gary Paffett covered the most number of laps with 116.

Fernando Alonso stopped on the track in the morning with an electrical problem. Both Williams' drivers present suffered problems as well while David Coulthard in the Red Bull had his running cut short due to an engine change.
Several drivers went off during the test without damaging their cars.

Juan Pablo Montoya replaced Kimi Raikkonen a day earlier than scheduled as Kimi was suffering from a bad cold.

Testing continues tomorrow.

For reference, the fastest time set at Valencia in 2005 was a 1:09.005 set by Kimi Raikkonen in the McLaren MP4-20

Best Lap Times and lap records at Testing Tracks

Full Report and Times

[BlinkyBill]

Fernando Alonso's time was a 1:11.219 which is the fastest time so far in a V8 powered car on this track.

For reference, the fastest time set at Valencia in 2005 was a 1:09.005 set by Kimi Raikkonen in the McLaren MP4-20

I here the sounding of warning bell! Thats a very quick time by FA . . .

Thinking JB must have been slip streaming the renault to get their P2.

[Ed]

As promised, here are a few photos of the different keel designs by the teams. The cars are 2005 spec (Chinese GP)

Renault's V Keel



McLaren's Zero Keel



Toyota's Zero Keel (introduced on the TF105 B)



Williams Single Keel



Honda's Single Keel



and Sauber's Single Keel



Note that for 2006, Williams and BMW Sauber have also adopted the Zero keel design

[Ed]

Testing continued at Valencia on Thurday.

Under sunny conditions, Fernando Alonso in the Renault V8 once again set the fastest time of the day just a fraction ahead of Jenson Button in the Honda V8 while Felipe Massa in the Ferrari F2004 V8 was 3rd fastest.

8 teams were present with 16 drivers setting lap times. MotoGP Champion Valentino Rossi driving the F2004 managed 54 laps and set the 12th fastest lap time. He spun 4 times during the test.

Fernando Alonso's time was a 1:10.904 which is the fastest time so far in a V8 powered car on this track.
Honda test driver Anthony Davidson covered the most number of laps with 128.

There numerous red flags during the day due to mechanical failures and drivers going off the track.

Testing continues tomorrow with 5 teams as Ferrari, Honda and Red Bull have concluded their testing here.

For reference, the fastest time set at Valencia in 2005 was a 1:09.005 set by Kimi Raikkonen in the McLaren MP4-20

Best Lap Times and lap records at Testing Tracks

Full Report and Times

[BlinkyBill]

As promised, here are a few photos of the different keel designs by the teams. The cars are 2005 spec (Chinese GP)

Ed, thats awesome. Thanks for digging that up.

[Graham Ross]

Those shots explain what all the buzz is about. One can't really tell without the front wing removed. No wonder

[Graham Ross]

McLaren McLaren you are making me really angry

When are you going to produce a car that is reliable from the first race

It looks like if Honda are bluffing as they were last year Alonso will again have a huge lead and no one will catch him

Montoya isn't happy if he is publicly saying he is open to offers

And Williams, what is this about the gearbox

The start of the season isn't looking too good for me then it is all catchup

[JayVee]

As promised, here are a few photos of the different keel designs by the teams. The cars are 2005 spec (Chinese GP)

So that is what keels are

So much for the "old fashioned twin keel" huh Julian

And even though the times speak for themselves, Alonso The Cute ROCKS

[Kapel]

Have we heard abt the Honda BBQ happening yet in the tests???

Mclaren , Ferrari ,Williams joining the BBQ it seems

Alonso is just 2 secs ofthe pace of last V10
Werent they talking of some 4-5 sec deficit???

[Ed]

Honda have had a number of engine failures with the V8 but not as much as some of the other teams.
On Thursday Button on a long run had one.

The gap between the fastest V8 and fastest V10 is just under 3 seconds at Valencia but that may not be entirely due to the engine as the aero regs have also been tightened and the engines actually have a minimum weight requirement for 2006.

At the current pace of development the teams may get to last year's lap times at some of the tracks this year!

[Julian Mayo]

Honda have had a number of engine failures with the V8 but not as much as some of the other teams.
On Thursday Button on a long run had one.

The gap between the fastest V8 and fastest V10 is just under 3 seconds at Valencia but that may not be entirely due to the engine as the aero regs have also been tightened and the engines actually have a minimum weight.

At the current pace of development the teams may get to last year's lap times at some of the tracks this year!

I will wager a rouble or two, and a sheckel to boot, that the times are bettered on 2 tracks this season

[Ed]

The gap between the fastest V8 and fastest V10 is just under 3 seconds at Valencia but that may not be entirely due to the engine as the aero regs have also been tightened and the engines actually have a minimum weight requirement for 2006.

Apologies,

The gap was just under 2 seconds on Thursday and on Friday it dropped down to 1.5 seconds!

[Ed]

Final day of 'dry' testing at Valencia.

Fernando Alonso improved on the lap record for a V8 car he set on Thursday. On Friday he set a best time of 1:10.552 ahead of Renault's test driver Heikki Kovalainen and Nico Rosberg.

5 teams were present with 10 drivers setting lap times.

The 2 Renaults covered a massive amount of laps with Kovalainen covering 163 laps while Alonso covered 144.

There were only 3 red flags incidents today. Juan Pablo Montoya suffered an engine failure while BMW Sauber test driver Robert Kubica had two problems with the interim Sauber C24B.

BMW Sauber will remain at the track for a wet tyre test tomorrow (Saturday).

For reference, the fastest time set at Valencia in 2005 was a 1:09.005 set by Kimi Raikkonen in the McLaren MP4-20

Best Lap Times and lap records at Testing Tracks

Full Report and Times

Next tests: Fiorano from Monday (Ferrari) and Jerez from Tuesday (all teams except Ferrari and Red Bull)

Next test at Valencia: 14 - 17 February

[JayVee]

Alonso Fast and Reliable

Be prepared