2011Testing-Barcelona-Circuit de Catalunya- 8th - 12th March

[raymondu999]

Anyone know what color Webbo did his 22.5 on?

[marcush.]

button not far away with his last run ..so again no clear picture yet.

[Hangaku]

No idea. Speaking of Webbo, here's his most recent laps in reverse order:

1:31.598 (49)
1:32.192 (48)
1:30.376 (47)
1:30.033 (46)
1:30.116 (45)
1:29.837 (44)
1:29.775 (43)
1:29.458 (42)
1:28.831 (41)
1:28.909 (40)

This must be the tyre drop-off that we're hearing so much about.

I imagine then, that with these tyres being fast, but good for about 10 laps, are we going to see lots of late pit stops in the races, for some easy pickings? I suspect racing might be somewhat conservative at the start of the races, and get a bit wild and lary towards the end. Woohoo!

[Hangaku]

button not far away with his last run ..so again no clear picture yet.

Indeed. According to BBC:

McLaren say there was also an exhaust problem with the car this morning...

Which does make sense considering the times during the longer runs this morning and the times during the longer run this afternoon. Looks like Macca are simulating qualifying laps right now.

[marcush.]

forget 10 lap sprints only to grab a set of new tyres...how can you claim back those 35 or more seconds lst in the pits? thats 3.5sec per lap plus the risk of a mishap in the pits ,and dropping back behind other opponents losing you more time etc etc.

[Hangaku]

forget 10 lap sprints only to grab a set of new tyres...how can you claim back those 35 or more seconds lst in the pits? thats 3.5sec per lap plus the risk of a mishap in the pits ,and dropping back behind other opponents losing you more time etc etc.

Don't rule anything out man. If we're seeing these tyres destroying themselves after 15 hard laps in cooler conditions, then 30 laps (assuming at least 2 pit stops) in the blazing sun is going to be interesting indeed. Either way, it's going to be a load of fun to watch.

[raymondu999]

I think teams will have to enter each race weekend having already spent a lot of time on the supercomputers figuring out what's the optimum race strategy. They can't run flat out and lose time all the time in the pits, they can't keep saving the tyres as that might cost them the pit timing, and so on and so forth.

@Hangaku - I'm not so sure the heat would hamper them. For all we know the heat could even help them with preserving tyres. Overheating/Blistering tyres does not equal degradation/wear

[Just_a_fan]

If we're seeing these tyres destroying themselves after 15 hard laps in cooler conditions, then 30 laps (assuming at least 2 pit stops) in the blazing sun is going to be interesting indeed. Either way, it's going to be a load of fun to watch.

Pirelli have stated that the problem is the cool temps at the tests. In effect the tyres want to be hotter than they currently. Pirelli reckon that tyre life will improve with increasing temps. They're a bit annoyed to not be testing in Bahrain for this reason.

[raymondu999]

Well wouldn't most of the season be in European summer anyways?

[marcush.]

please forgive my words but I fear we will see a tyre conserving battle in the first 10 or so races until some kobayashi gambles on a last gasp tyre change..

Virgin´s speed is pathetic ...they are so slow thát´s almost 112% isn´t it?

[Richard]

Well wouldn't most of the season be in European summer anyways?

Barcelona currently 10C air with clouds, hence very cold track.

Summer air temp at most EU tracks is 25-30C with sun on the tarmac. OK, Silverstone & Belgium might be a bit cooler around 20 to 25, and more cloud cover.

Current air temp in Bahrain is 25C, overcast on Sat/Sun - perfect match for EU in the summer.

[Dragonfly]

@marcush.
I share your fears.
Problem is IMO that the teams have become very cautious and irresolute constantly looking what the rest are doing and sticking to the same approach which guarantees them more or less comparable end results. This is based on last year's strategies, especially during the first few races.

[WhiteBlue]

Webber's last stint was relatively slow:

70 1:32.800
71 1:29.265 -3.535
72 1:27.880 -1.385
73 1:28.787 +0.907
74 1:28.064 -0.723
75 1:28.160 +0.096
76 1:28.326 +0.166
77 1:28.589 +0.263
78 1:30.317 +1.728
79 1:28.824 -1.493
80 1:28.916 +0.092
81 1:29.299 +0.383
82 1:30.402 +1.103
83 1:30.416 +0.014
84 ----

Not much degradation. Heidfeld reckons that RB are still sandbagging.

[speedsense]

Webber's last stint was relatively slow:

70 1:32.800
71 1:29.265 -3.535
72 1:27.880 -1.385
73 1:28.787 +0.907
74 1:28.064 -0.723
75 1:28.160 +0.096
76 1:28.326 +0.166
77 1:28.589 +0.263
78 1:30.317 +1.728
79 1:28.824 -1.493
80 1:28.916 +0.092
81 1:29.299 +0.383
82 1:30.402 +1.103
83 1:30.416 +0.014
84 ----

Not much degradation. Heidfeld reckons that RB are still sandbagging.

Compare that to Button's last stint...the Mclaren seems even better at managing tires, the times are close, they "may" have similar tires-fuel, but who knows. But I haven't witness the tires lasting like this yet. Is the Mclaren easier on tires than Red Bull OR could just be Button?
55 1:30.178 +7.268
56 1:29.491 -0.687
57 ----
58 1:29.491
59 1:30.184 +0.693
60 1:29.276 -0.908
61 1:29.211 -0.065
62 1:29.261 +0.05
63 1:29.303 +0.042
64 1:30.139 +0.836
65 1:29.751 -0.388
66 ----
67 1:29.751
68 1:30.378 +0.627
69 1:29.227 -1.151
70 1:29.261 +0.034
71 1:28.860 -0.401
72 1:28.779 -0.081
73 1:29.005 +0.226

[gray41]

perez goes quicker than webber