Ah, our first testing session has drawn to a close and we have a couple of days to rest and analyse what we've seen so far. It's always had to look at the times and draw anything conclusive, but it's plenty of fun looking. Meanwhile, here are some of the things we're talking about:
Virgin Racing had their launch... sort of. It was delayed and ultimately was just a few pictures and video, but there were plenty of thoughts on the new look car in the breakout thread. We featured the new car in the latest F1 Big Picture, and I must say the title is rather fabulous.
Autosport have prepared a good table of all the times from testing in Valencia, with the drivers from each day compared with all the others. It's a great way of sizing up the teammates at least, even if we can't really work out which team is ahead of all the others. That would appear to be Ferrari, but is it really?
It is Thursday Thoughts day today, and Journeyer has very kindly offered up a guest post with the question of the day on it. There'll be a post along later with the question in it, and to take part, all you have to do is write a post on your blog with your answer. If you don't have a blog, we'd be more than happy to host your answers via a guest post here. Get involved!
That should keep us going for a while. Thursdays are not normally good, but let's hope it goes smoothly enough, and I will see you in the comments.
It's all change at Circuit Ricardo Tormo today, not one single driver who was lapping the circuit on Tuesday is expected to take part in today's action. Michael Schumacher will return to the cockpit of the W01, Jenson Button get's his first taste of McLaren machinery while local hero Fernando Alonso will make himself comfortable at Ferrari.
Credit: F1Photos.org (creative commons)
Fernando Alonso takes to the track for his first test in the red and white Ferrari F10.
Other things to look out for are Vitaly Petrov making his debut with Renault and Nico Hulkenberg at the controls of the FW32. The fans eyes though will be firmly fixed on Fernando.
On track action begins at 10am CET (9am GMT).
Circuit Information
Track length: 4.051km
Corners: 14
Lap record (unofficial): 1:08.544 (Anthony Davidson, Honda, 2006)
The Circuit Ricardo Tormo circuit is located to the East of Spain, not far from Valencia.
Drivers and Teams Attending
We are expecting to see the following drivers and teams in action today:
Driver
Team
Chassis
Michael Schumacher
Mercedes Grand Prix
W01
Jenson Button
Vodafone McLaren Mercedes
MP4-25
Fernando Alonso
Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro
F10
Vitaly Petrov
Renault F1 Team
R30
Nico Hülkenberg
AT&T Williams
FW32
Pedro de la Rosa
BMW Sauber
C29
Jaime Alguersuari
Scuderia Toro Rosso
STR5
Credit: F1Photos.org (creative commons)
Jenson Button test the McLaren MP4-25 for the first time.
Following a frenetic first day of testing in Spain, Formula 1 teams continue to test at the Circuit Ricardo Tormo in Cheste, Valencia today. Monday brought all forms of excitement from the unveiling of the STR5 to the return of Michael Schumacher in a modern F1 cockpit. Additionally, Mercedes GP finally allowed fans and the media to see this years W01 chassis, while Robert Kubica began his new life as a Renault driver.
Lewis Hamilton arrives today to relieve Gary Paffett of his test driving duties, while Kamui Kobayashi will settle into the C29. Is it possible that Tuesday could be even more chaotic?
On track action begins at 10am CET (9am GMT).
Circuit Information
Track length: 4.051km
Corners: 14
Lap record (unofficial): 1:08.544 (Anthony Davidson, Honda, 2006)
The Circuit Ricardo Tormo circuit is located to the East of Spain, not far from Valencia.
Drivers and Teams Attending
We are expecting to see the following drivers and teams in action today:
F1 teams will today descend on the Spanish track Circuit Ricardo Tormo in Cheste, Valencia for what will be the first official Formula 1 test of 2010. From 1 February - 3 February, a number of teams will be running their new cars on track for the first time.
On track action begins at 10am CET (9am GMT).
Circuit Information
Track length: 4.051km
Corners: 14
Lap record (unofficial): 1:08.544 (Anthony Davidson, Honda, 2006)
The Circuit Ricardo Tormo circuit is located to the East of Spain, on the outskirts of Valencia.
Drivers and Teams Attending
We are expecting to see the following drivers and teams in action today:
With several F1 teams having launched their new cars, and a few more about to get their big unveiling, it's about time we saw some track action. This week, pre-season testing gets underway in Valencia and there are more dates scattered throughout the month.
Although testing can never be relied upon to give a good indication of who's fast and who isn't, we'll be studying each test to see if we can spot anything important. It wasn't lost on us that McLaren struggled last year, whilst Brawn's pre-season pace wasn't a mirage and lasted them the entire first half of the year.
Here on Sidepodcast, we intend to focus on testing in more detail than we ever have before, and in a similar fashion to last year's Young Driver Event. There will be a post for each day of testing, to note any major design developments, link to any tweets and pictures, and examine the times at the end of the day. I don't know about you, but I'm really looking forward to it!
Here, then, are the tests we're expecting pre-season, and you can see them in situ on the Sidepodcast Calendar.
Date
Location
1st - 3rd Feb
Valencia
10th - 13th Feb
Jerez
17th - 20th Feb
Jerez
25th - 28th Feb
Barcelona
There will also be some US F1 testing, although we're not sure exactly when or where, and it's not clear how much information will be coming out of that either. We'll be keeping the calendar up to date, as soon as we know.
It looks as though the first test will be a somewhat muted affair, with many of the new teams, plus Red Bull preferring to sit out and wait for Jerez. We'll try and keep each post updated with who is there and who is in the car, and if you spot anything, then let us know in the comments.
To ensure you don't miss out on any testing coverage this year, make sure you subscribe to the Sidepodcast Feed.
All Posts in The Series: 2010 F1 Pre-Season Testing
Credit: Alastair Staley / GP2 Series Media Service
Vitaly Petrov in the GP2 paddock.
Russia has its very first Formula 1 racing driver today, as Renault F1 officially confirmed Vitaly Petrov in their second seat for 2010. Petrov will partner Robert Kubica, who had already been announced last year.
Speculation over who would get the drive at Renault had gone into overdrive recently, and the signing was all but confirmed earlier today when Petrov was spotted in the Valencia paddock, wearing Renault team overalls. It has been rumoured that the deal includes substantial financial backing to help Renault cover the sponsorship deficit, left after ING pulled out of the sport in 2009.
Petrov, 25 and hailing from Vyborg in Russia, finished in second place in last year's GP2 championship. He's looking forward to certain aspects of F1:
I'm really looking forward to any wet races and the street circuits. That's because I started my racing career in Russia competing in rally sprints and ice racing so I feel comfortable in slippery conditions. Also, I won my first GP2 race on a wet track in Valencia when I started on slicks on a damp track. But first I need to see what an F1 car feels like in the rain.
He has modest aims for the upcoming season though:
To learn as much as possible from this successful team and from Robert during the year. I'm so proud to be here and want to do the best job I can.
Following the logic that photos of drivers in Valencia with Renault clothing on might be involved with the team, Ho Pin Tung and Jerome D'Ambrosio were spotted in similar outfits and hanging out together in the paddock. Although not confirmed as Renault test drivers, that is most likely as good an announcement as we'll get for now. Ho Pin Tung tested for the team during the Young Driver test in December, and both are managed by new team boss Eric Boullier.
Both Renault and Sauber are launching their 2010 cars on the same day - just before the first pre-season test gets underway in Valencia. We're interested in both cars, naturally, and both teams also have a surprise to offer in terms of the livery as well. Peter Sauber has managed to buy back his team from the clutches of BMW, so he will want to put his own mark on things, I'm sure.
Credit: BMW Sauber F1 Team
The new C29 chassis from BMW Sauber.
Sauber will have their two confirmed drivers at the launch, in the form of Kamui Kobayashi and Pedro de la Rosa. They make an odd pairing, so it will be interesting to see how they get on. Plus, de la Rosa will be making his return to a race seat, and will probably be pretty happy to get things going.
Credit: BMW Sauber F1 Team
The C29 full frontal.
We haven't had two teams launch on the same day this year, so it will be interesting to see who gets the majority of the headlines. We'll be watching the news with a keen eye, and looking out for pictures and any gems from Twitter to keep you updated.
Credit: BMW Sauber F1 Team
The business end of C29 with blanked out diffuser.
Renault are set to be one of two teams ready to launch their 2010 car today, on the eve of the first official pre-season test. Robert Kubica will be on hand to unveil the car and talk to the waiting media, and he's likely to be joined by his teammate. At the time of writing, the second driver had not been confirmed, but there are strong indications it will be Vitaly Petrov.
Credit: Renault F1
The 2010 Renault F1 livery in all its stunning yellow and black glory.
This will be the first event under the watchful eye of Eric Boullier, and the first real opportunity for Genii Capital to present their case to the assembled press. Already, the team are one step behind the others in terms of offering a live stream of proceedings, but we won't hold that against them... too much. The website is currently being redesigned, so it may come live after the launch.
So far, all the cars we have seen have been longer than anticipated, and featured a nose much pointier than last year. More importantly though, Renault are bound to turn up with a new livery. From the bright blue of the Mild Seven days, to the creme egg look during ING's reign, there are rumours that they might turn up with the traditional yellow and black Renault colours.
Credit: Renault F1
A head on look down the nose of the new Renault 'bumble-bee' challenger.
As ever, we'll be keeping our eye on any news, pictures and tweets that come through, and will keep the post updated throughout the day.
Before I get going on this, I want to encourage volunteers for the lead blogger over the coming weeks. We have five more Thursday Thoughts to come before the season gets underway, so if you fancy having a go at posing the question, then please sign up to the wiki. If you don't have a blog of your own, we'd be more than happy to host the guest post here. If you've already had a go at asking the question, you can sign up again, there's no limit to the number of attempts you can have.
What track or tracks not on the current F1 season calender do you want added? Also, what current tracks need to go? And finally, if this isn’t enough, how many Grands Prix should F1 have?
This is a fabulous question but I am going to have to skip the first bit. Mr C and myself have long since said there are too many races. For mostly selfish reasons, the more races are on a calendar, the more we moan. We relish the off season almost as much as, or even more than, when the action is underway. Therefore, I don't really want to add any tracks to the calendar, but when it comes to taking some off, now we're on to something.
I feel a bit harsh singling out Abu Dhabi to be chopped before it even gets a second chance to host a race, but that first Grand Prix was so dire, I can't bear to think of it on the calendar in the future. It's an obvious selection, along with Valencia - two brand new circuits that promised a lot but left little to remember. Valencia, in particular, is so dull and grey that the only thing I would miss if it was dropped is the lime green building that lines the circuit.
Whilst we're throwing tracks away, we might as well get rid of China. The Shanghai International Circuit is nowhere near as bad as some of the two already mentioned, but it does have two very long straights that are quite dull, and there seems to be no atmosphere at the circuit at all. There's also too much will they/won't they news floating around about the track, and we have enough of Bernie's decisions with circuits that are actually good.
I'm tempted to knock Singapore right off there, too, but I think if the organisation was a bit better, it does have potential. The first night racing circuit is still a good title to hold, even if the novelty has worn off a bit now. Plus, it wouldn't be fair for Renault to forget their Singapore mishaps too soon, would it?
Another circuit that used to come under fire is Hungary, and I can see why. Initially I wanted to give Hungary a reprise, because there are other tracks that are much worse. Giving it a little more thought, though, I'm not at all impressed with how the circuit treats Felipe Baby. In 2009, he suffered the terrifying accident that saw him out of the car for the rest of the year. The previous season, his engine gave up heartbreakingly close to the end of the race, after such a fight from him that deserved the win. Instead, Kovalainen became the 100th different winner, and got his name in the record books. So, no, Hungary has to go too.
That's three circuits I want to get rid of, which is starting to get the calendar down to a sensible size. It would be impossible to judge the new South Korea track without seeing it, but I'd be just as happy if it wasn't ready in time. I also think I would get rid of Malaysia because they only gave me half a race in 2009. It wasn't necessarily their fault, but I had to mess about with half points for the rest of the season, and I do hold a grudge. So, what does my new and improved calendar look like?
It's shorter, obviously. I've taken the liberty of removing any back-to-back nonsense, because fortnightly racing is a sensible way to go about things. I've also chopped out the summer break, because we want to keep Peter Windsor happy, and Mr C and I rarely holiday anyway. Finally, I have re-ordered the races by number of laps.
Date
Race
Laps
29th May
Bahrain
TBC
5th Jun
Belgium
44
19th Jun
Italy
53
3rd Jul
Japan
53
17th Jul
Australia
58
31st Jul
Turkey
58
14th Aug
Britain
60
28th Aug
Singapore
61
11th Sep
Spain
66
25th Sep
Germany
67
9th Oct
Canada
70
23rd Oct
Brazil
71
6th Nov
Monaco
78
That's the Sidepodcast Calendar. Short, and in an orderly fashion.
I wrote earlier this week about my desire to attend pre-season testing this year, partly as a way of seeing some F1 action, and partly as a way to prove to Mr C that track testing is still relevant and interesting. Four days later and things could be going better.
Credit: Force India F1
Adrian Sutil tests the Force India in 2009
We narrowed the choices down to the sole Valencia test, and the price and the location were pretty appealing. We already knew that Red Bull weren't going to be attending the circuit for the first test of the year, and that was a sticking point. It was almost acceptable to miss out on seeing the new Red Bull, despite it likely setting the 2010 aero standard. US F1 are almost certain to remain in the States for their first test, and new team Virgin Racing have also confirmed they would delay their first taste of track time until a later Jerez test.
This is all understandable, and no one could put money on the new teams being ready in time for the beginning of February, although they are going to have to get a wriggle on because the start of the season is not far behind. Roll on the next news announcements, and cue both Sauber and Force India stating they are not planning on attending the Valencia test either. For what reason?
"It's to optimise the time in the wind tunnel as much as possible"
It seems as though on track testing is just no longer as valuable to teams as days spent in the factory, hours spent in the wind tunnel, and computing minutes spent on CFD analysis. Christian Horner proves this point for at least one of the absentee teams: "It's to optimise the time in the wind tunnel as much as possible."
From the real life experience of track time, the future now seems to be sitting behind a wall of screens. As big enthusiasts for shunning the real world, I don't suppose I can fault the logic behind these decisions. The real question, though, is what are they doing? The regulation changes for the 2009 season were so massive that I would have forgiven teams for turning round and saying: "Hold up, we need a year out for this." But the majority were raring to go as soon as the track time was presented to them. 12 months later, and you can't coax them out onto the tarmac.
Is it an attempt at keeping secrets? Surely teams are aware by now that it is almost an impossible task. Or perhaps they have learnt from the double diffuser debacle that there is the possibility of springing a surprise.
Perhaps it is simply that the track at Valencia is not particularly useful and they would rather wait until Barcelona - they can certainly reuse data collected at Circuit de Catalunya during the season, whereas maybe the Ricardo Tomo track is less useful to them. What would happen if Bahrain got their way and became one of the pre-season preferred testing tracks instead? Would the teams be more or less keen to head out there and stock up on some numbers?
It's certainly something you'd want to experience
We've seen a distinct lack of interest in testing recently, but does that mean fans are missing out? I know when we attended Silverstone for mid-season testing in 2008 it was full of excited fans, a really good day out, and although different to a GP atmosphere, it's certainly something you'd want to experience. Now it's all pre-season, more clinical, and less teams are bothered. It seems like everyone from fans to drivers to mechanics are missing out.
That being said, it wouldn't surprise me if the trend for testing is over. With cost cutting the first bullet point on everyone's agenda at the moment, extra track time, flights, cargo, fuel and tyres can't be an appealing option. If the fans aren't bothered about going, the teams would prefer to stay in the warmth of the factory, then perhaps testing really is dead. Could we get by without it altogether?
Either way, I'm going to have to admit that Mr C might be right. It looks like we're just going to have to settle for a regular old holiday. Where's the nearest wind tunnel?
