- Login or Register
No account yet? Sign up
The Formula One teams completed the second of 3 pre-season tests at Barcelona, with Friday the last of 4 day running on Circuit de Catalunya. Pirelli enjoyed seeing all compounds in action over the four days, but teams noticed high degradation on all tyres.
Like I said... a 5 second drop over 10 laps.GrizzleBoy wrote:Speaking of him, he just did a 1:22.869 on mediums, then boxed.
Compared to his 1:22.726 on hards. Wonder how much he's got left to show in the mediums.
Fernando's latest run on hards so far:
1:23.974 (59)
1:24.660 (60)
1:27.409 (61)
1:27.012 (62)
1:27.386 (63)
1:27.280 (64)
1:27.453 (65)
1:28.114 (67)
1:28.107 (68)
Well, it's a lot closer to 4, in this case, but still, seems fairly consistent with the trend, I guess.Maelstrom wrote:Like I said... a 5 second drop over 10 laps.GrizzleBoy wrote:Speaking of him, he just did a 1:22.869 on mediums, then boxed.
Compared to his 1:22.726 on hards. Wonder how much he's got left to show in the mediums.
Fernando's latest run on hards so far:
1:23.974 (59)
1:24.660 (60)
1:27.409 (61)
1:27.012 (62)
1:27.386 (63)
1:27.280 (64)
1:27.453 (65)
1:28.114 (67)
1:28.107 (68)
@autosport
Alonso goes green in the first two sectors but his lap unravels in the third and a 1m24.094s is comfortably slower than his today best.
i guess there was a pit stop at lap 82.Maelstrom wrote:Wow is anybody seeing Perez's latest stint. Not very fast at all... but very consistent and long run. Over 20 laps now... must be on a heavy fuel load.
Is there any way of getting splits? Just mildly interested in how much the improvements in the first two sectors were.diemaster wrote:@autosport
Alonso goes green in the first two sectors but his lap unravels in the third and a 1m24.094s is comfortably slower than his today best.
Code: Select all
16:02 Join us for Live coverage of the third and penultimate day from 08.00 GMT tomorrow.
16:01 We'll also have our first Trackside View from Barcelona, and the latest technical analysis from Craig Scarborough.
16:01 We're off to hear from the teams and drivers in the paddock, so stick with AUTOSPORT for all the reaction later this evening.
16:00 That is indeed it for today then. Sergio Perez puts McLaren on top ahead of Sebastian Vettel, Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton - one second covering the quartet.
15:59 The MR02 is already being loaded up and whisked off, but the delay is a good time for a (possibly final) recap of today's lap count:
Perez 97
Vettel 84
Raikkonen (43)
Hamilton (121)
Alonso (76)
Bottas (98)
Ricciardo (70)
Di Resta (62)
Hulkenberg (88)
Chilton (67)
Pic (102)
15:56 Just four minutes remaining on the clock, so that could well be day two finished.
15:56 Red flag, and it's for Marussia - Max Chilton is stopped between Turns 12 and 13.
15:54 Pic is also in triple figures (102), with Perez just four laps off - he's on 96.
15:54 Hamilton, the day's busiest driver, passes the 120-lap mark.
15:51 Alonso goes green in the first two sectors but his lap unravels in the third and a 1m24.094s is comfortably slower than his today best.
15:50 Heading into the final 10 minutes of the afternoon and we have everyone but Vettel, Bottas and Pic on track.
15:47 Just before that, Perez ran through the pitlane to do a practice start, slowing and warming the McLaren's tyres on the way down, then roaring away.
15:46 And sure enough, the world champion rejoins.
15:46 Sounds like Vettel's car is already back to full health.
15:46 Lots of engine noise from the Red Bull garage below.
15:41 Another improvement for Chilton as he does a 1m25.115s.
15:36 Just a quick run for Hamilton, who now brings the Mercedes back into the pits.
15:36 Perez comes through with a 1m28.8s on hards.
15:35 The Mercedes is running medium tyres, while Alonso is out on hards for Ferrari and lapping in 1m27s.
15:35 Quickest man on track is Hamilton, who just got within a tenth of his best time of Wednesday so far.
15:30 Chilton improves to 1m25.486s, putting Marussia ahead of Caterham.
15:25 While the Red Bull is unloaded, Perez, Raikkonen, Alonso, Bottas, Ricciardo and Pic immediately take to the track.
15:23 The green flag comes out as soon as the truck pulls up at Red Bull.
15:21 The recovery truck does an impressive u-turn for a truck and heads back up the pits straight.
15:21 Something just happened in the middle of the pitlane that made some fans cheer. We have no idea what.
15:19 The Red Bull is now on the back of the recovery truck.
15:17 Infiniti's title sponsorship has promped some colour changes for Red Bull. But the secrecy blanket is still blue. The trucks are now purple, and the car is moderately purple.
15:16 Three course cars, a truck, a smaller truck and people with Red Bull blankets are on the scene.
15:15 The Red Bull had just made a race-style pitstop, but pulled to a halt just after the pit exit.
15:14 Red flag, and looks like it might be Vettel who has stopped.
15:11 Raikkonen is lapping in 1m28.1s on medium tyres Vettel in high 1m29s and low 1m30s on hards.
15:08 This seems to be a race simulation of sorts for Vettel, but it has been punctuated by long spells in the garage.
15:08 A Red Bull crew member shows the champion 'L35' on the pit board then changes it to 'L36'.
15:08 Vettel comes back past on hard tyres, lapping in 1m29.6s.
15:04 Hamilton's Mercedes looks much more nimble than Perez's McLaren on this run, but looking at the length of their stint, that is much more to do with fuel load and the age of tyres than car quality.
15:01 And hopefully along the way it provided an opportunity for someone to take a picture that can illustrate any Perez-compared-to-Hamilton-at-McLaren piece we ever want to run.
15:00 The Mercedes safely made it past the McLaren.
14:59 Hamilton catches Perez on track and lines up a pass into the first corner.
14:59 Vettel has rejoined too and starts off with a 1m28.3s. Hamilton's first lap was a 1m25s.
14:56 The top four now out on track as Hamilton sets off on an out-lap. Raikkonen is the quickest man in action, does high 1m24s.
14:53 Running on medium tyres again, Raikkonen does a 1m23.8s on his second lap.
14:53 Alonso comes in, pauses in the Ferrari pitbox briefly before taking off in a spectacular roar of engine revs. He then stops and is pulled back in.
14:51 Perez's times now drifting upwards, as he does a 1m31s after a 1m30s.
14:50 Straight on the pace again for Raikkonen as he kicks off with a 1m23.158s.
14:50 Alonso's rear rain light appears to be dropping off the Ferrari, reports our trackside team.
14:47 Raikkonen rejoins as he and Lotus try to make up for lost time.
14:47 Perez's times go up by a tenth on each lap. Alonso is edging slightly closer to him and lapping a second and a bit faster.
14:46 Out at trackside, Sam Tremayne reports that on their last runs Chilton went around the outside of Hulkenberg at Turn 3, in a move that looked good even at a slow pace.
14:44 Alonso's laps are now in the mid-1m28s bracket.
14:44 Perez's first time is a 1m29.7s.
14:43 Loud engine revving from Red Bull downstairs but no sign of Vettel coming back out yet. Christian Horner strides purposefully into the garage.
14:43 The Mexican is using hard tyres for this outing and is now starting his first flying lap.
14:41 Perez goes for another run in the McLaren.
14:38 Alonso is lapping consistently in 1m24s on hard tyres, before going up to a high 1m25s on his fourth lap. He's using hard tyres.
14:36 Chilton makes a quick pitstop and rejoins.
14:35 Raikkonen's times went up from that initial 1m22s to 1m24s, then a mid-1m25s and now a low 1m26s.
14:35 Perez also comes in, leaving Raikkonen, Alonso and Chilton on track.
14:34 Hamilton pits to end that run for Mercedes.
14:32 Alonso leaves the Ferrari pit and rejoins.
14:32 Chilton sets off for Marussia.
14:32 Raikkonen quickly catches and passes Hamilton on the pits straight.
14:30 Raikkonen does his first flying lap of the day and goes straight to third on a 1m22.697s, using medium tyres.
14:27 Hamilton is still going on the same set of mediums, now lapping in 1m29.3s.
14:21 Raikkonen returns to the pits for standard checks after that first lap.
14:21 Current pacesetter Perez brings the McLaren back out.
14:20 And straight back out again.
14:19 Alonso now comes into the pits.
14:19 Raikkonen rejoins. He has yet to set a time today due to requiring a gearbox change.
14:19 Alonso continues on hards in 1m28s.
14:18 Hamilton is out on medium tyres for Mercedes, and his initial 1m25s laps have now gone up to mid 1m27s.
14:14 Vettel pits, does a racing-style pitstop onto another set of hard tyres, then switches the engine off and is wheeled back in with cooling fans on the brakes.
14:07 Lotus (@Lotus_F1Team): "Box bolted on, engine fired up and making lots of noise. Checking sensors, temps etc"
14:07 The Finnish fans opposite the Lotus pit are about to smile as the team tweets that Raikkonen's car will finally reappear soon:
14:06 Alonso, also on hards, is doing mid 1m25s.
14:06 AUTOSPORT Live returns to life after a brief internet disconnection. Vettel is now out on hard tyres and lapping in mid-1m31s.
13:53 A second slower that time for Vettel as he laps in 1m31.857s.
13:51 Vettel crosses the line in 1m30.780s on the third lap of this stint.
13:48 An RB9 tearing down the main straight gives Chilton the perfect excuse for a practice start on the pitlane exit. It's all very smooth and he joins Vettel, Hamilton, Alonso, Bottas, Ricciardo and Hulkenberg on circuit.
13:45 @clubforce: "First run of the afternoon session for @pauldirestaf1 - it's going to be a longer one on hard tyres."
13:44 More pit stop practice for Red Bull. Vettel exchanges softs for softs and is back on his way.
13:40 Vettel and Hamilton have just headed out, while di Resta is also out on track.
13:39 And after going clear, Perez comes into the pits next time round. For reference, the fastest time on softs during last year's test(s) at Barcelona was a 1m22,312s.
13:38 That lap, set on softs, included outright bests in the first and final sectors.
13:37 Sergio Perez launches himself to the top of the timesheets with a 1m21.818s.
13:34 @Lotus_F1Team: "New gearbox and rear assembly nearly on, could be back out for last couple of hours if everything goes to plan."
13:30 Vettel, di Resta, Pic and Hulkenberg all head out in quick succession.
13:27 Perez improves to second fastest on a 1m22.586s in the McLaren.
13:24 Hamilton, Perez, Hulkenberg and Chilton are now out.
13:23 Vettel came out for just a shakedown lap, then returned behind the secrecy screens.
13:19 Hamilton re-emerges in the Mercedes, and the noise below our feet suggests Vettel will soon hit the track in the Red Bull too.
13:18 That will please the owner of the German flag that has appeared in the grandstand today.
13:18 Hulkenberg brings the Sauber out.
13:17 The Caterham backs off by five seconds on the next lap.
13:16 Pic's first flying lap is his best of the day, with a 0.7s improvement to 1m26.243s.
13:14 Bottas brings the Williams back in, but not before Pic took the Caterham out.
13:12 Bottas comes round in 1m26.6s on his next lap.
13:11 The temperature info screen isn't available in the press room right now, but the day is warming up and might make tyre data more reliable. It was hovering around 3 degrees when the test began this morning.
13:10 Bottas is lapping consistently in mid-1m25s on a set of hard Pirellis.
13:10 Perez also now pits.
13:09 Bottas is keeping the McLaren company. The other cars have come in.
13:09 Perez is running hard tyres on the McLaren. He started off with a 1m23.2s laps, then a 1m23.4s and now a 1m25.4s.
13:05 Current pacesetter Vettel is also on track again.
13:04 Thanks for all your questions to AUTSPORT F1 editor Edd Straw this morning. He's now heading trackside for the afternoon but might be able to slip a few more answers in.
13:03 Perez sets off in the McLaren. He ended the morning in third place.
13:02 The E21 requires a gearbox change and with only limited spares available it is taking time. The Finn only managed four shakedown laps this morning.
13:02 Latest news from Lotus is that it could be some time before Raikkonen comes back out again.
13:01 Hulkenberg is first out in the Sauber.
13:00 The green flag comes out, some engines hum and we're back underway for the afternoon at Barcelona.
12:03 AUTOSPORT Live is now taking a pause for a break that may or may not involve lunch. Back at 1pm GMT for the afternoon's action.
12:02 Only four laps and no times at all from Raikkonen. His big hope for Wednesday was more mileage after Tuesday's disruptive data issue, but a gearbox problem has kept Lotus in the garage for most of the morning.
12:01 Top lap count for the four-hour session belongs to Hamilton on 64. Bottas did 53, Pic 51, Ricciardo 46, Vettel 43, di Resta 41, Hulkenberg 39, Perez 35 and Alonso 28.
12:00 There's the chequered flag to signal the end of the morning running.
11:59 Hamilton and his McLaren replacement Perez are next up, followed by Alonso, Bottas, Ricciardo and di Resta.
11:58 It's looking like a repeat of yesterday's morning session at the top of the timesheets, with Vettel again going for lunch with a half-second margin over the field.
11:56 Di Resta keeps trimming a few fractions off his time, now getting down to 1m23.971s.
11:55 As does Pic.
11:55 Ricciardo now joins them.
11:55 The lunchbreak at Barcelona is now only five minutes away, and already things are getting quieter on track with just di Resta and Chilton out there.
11:54 "If we allowed all the technology available to F1 (ground effect, double diffusers, blown diffusers, flexible skirts etc) would we now, in Edd's opinion, be in a position where a human being could not withstand the forces of driving it on the limit? Any guesses at a time round Barcelona qually for such a piece of kit?" asks James Limburn
Edd Straw: "The idea of an unrestricted formula is an enticing one. I'm going to hand you over to Adrian Newey to answer that!"
11:51 Adrian Sutil is already at Barcelona preparing for his F1 testing comeback with Force India tomorrow.
11:46 Then the Mercedes heads straight back out again.
11:45 No flying laps from Hamilton that time. He returns to the pits.
11:45 Another slight improvement from Hulkenberg as he does a 1m24.636s.
11:44 Di Resta, Ricciardo and Hulkenberg had all been lapping at a similar mid-1m24s pace. The Force India now pits.
11:44 Hamilton is now back out on track again in the Mercedes.
11:43 RIcciardo also improves, lapping in 1m23.718s in the Toro Rosso.
11:42 His former team-mate Hulkenberg then does the same in the Sauber, clocking a 1m24.797s.
11:42 Di Resta has improved his time to a 1m24.007s.
11:39 On the Banner Watch front, Pedro de la Rosa and Robert Kubica fans are still out in force. The Pole won't be joining DTM, it was confirmed earlier today, after Mercedes announced a six-car line-up.
11:34 Hamilton is still out on his hard tyre run. His pace has tailed off, but only slightly - he's now circulating in the 1m27s.
11:33 @WilliamsF1Team: "53 laps and we've completed our aero programme so that's it for our morning running as we are stopping for the lunch break. The boys are now straight into prep work for the afternoon session where we'll be doing tyre runs and set-up work with #BOTTAS. His first impression is that we've got a good car. He's happy!"
(We'll be finding out his full reaction this evening).
11:29 Hamilton is still out and has found a bit of consistency in the 1m26s bracket. Chilton the only other man on track.
11:24 Hamilton's lap included a new outright best in sector three. Despite topping the sector one speed trap, he surrendered around three tenths to Vettel in the opening split.
11:23 That didn't last long. Hamilton, still running on hards, reclaims second with a 1m22.726s.
11:21 Sergio Perez vaults from seventh to second. His own soft tyre run produces a 1m22.743s, which moves him to within six tenths of Vettel.
11:19 Bottas, also on softs, improves his own time but stays fifth. A 1m23.561s now for the Finn.
11:17 Vettel's main gains then came in the middle sector, where he set a new outright best. It was a soft tyre run, and after one effort he heads back in.
11:16 Vettel edges further clear with a 1m22.197s.
11:13 He's racking up the lap count too - he's now on 40 for the day and is about to up that further after heading out. Charles Pic is the only other man out on track.
11:13 Vettel again goes faster than anyone else has managed with a lap in the low 1m22s. Hamilton and Alonso remain the only men within one second of the reigning champion.
11:08 How many races do you think Hamilton will win this coming season, if any? @jimbobwinny
Edd Straw: "It's going to be a difficult year. He's got the ability to make the most of an opportunity if one presents himself, but his own prediction of not winning a race this year could prove accurate.
"A reasonable forecast right now would probably be either no wins or one win, but let's see how the Mercedes looks as testing advances and more parts are added to the car."
11:02 Some teams alternate the drivers over the four test days test, whereas others give each driver two days in a row. It seems to me that giving a driver two full days is better than the on again off again approach. What is your opinion? Rick
Edd Straw: "It depends what the team's programme is and probably makes little difference overall.
"Giving a driver back-to-back days perhaps helps with momentum, but the day-on, day-off strategy allows a driver to spend a day in between following progress from the outside. There's probably no better or worse way to do it provided you give equal time and don't always condemn the same driver to doing the first day when the track is at its worst."
11:00 That time was set on mediums incidentally. On the hards, Vettel comes round in a 1m22.922s.
10:59 Hulkenberg's first flyer of the day is a 1m26.146s, enough to send him into eighth.
10:56 Hulkenberg incidentally is yet to set a time. Raikkonen is also in that boat following his morning gearbox change.
10:55 Vettel, on hards, heads back in after a very brief run in the 1m23s. Hamilton still out, as are Bottas, di Resta and Hulkenberg.
10:51 Alonso pits just as Vettel heads back out. We have the the day's two fastest men on track, joined by fourth-place man Valtteri Bottas.
10:45 Hamilton, on hards, then comes round in a 1m22.882s, closing to within seven tenths of Vettel.
10:45 The Ferrari man improves to a 1m23.247s on the medium compound, but stays third.
10:44 Green on the timesheets for both Alonso and Hamilton.
10:43 Vettel yesterday insisted that Red Bull had "plenty of stuff going on" in its own garage following the first day of testing at Barcelona. The RB9 is currently looking good out front.
10:41 Alonso and Hamilton head out for Ferrari and Mercedes respectively.
10:39 He improves again in the first sector of his next effort, but is slightly slower across the rest of the lap. His 1m22.708s is still faster than anyone else has been so far today.
10:38 Vettel vaults more than a second clear of the field after outright bests in all three sectors.
10:37 And a second from Kevin:
Why does the FIA (and stewards) wait until the first race to formulate a definite answer on the legality of designs? Wouldn't it be more clear and less open for discussion to issue official warnings to teams before the first race?
Edd Straw: "The FIA has told Williams and Caterham what it thinks - that the vanes are illegal. That is as good as a promise that if they were on the cars in Australia, they would report the matter for the stewards for deliberation.
"At this point, the teams would be able to make their own case, and it would be down to the stewards to make the final decision. Remember, last year the Red Bull was declared illegal by technical delegate Jo Bauer after qualifying at Hockenheim, but the stewards rejected this (albeit with some reservations). But don't make the mistake of thinking that the stewards and the technical team are necessarily of one mind or interchangeable. In this case, the technical team are the police and the stewards the judges - which fundamentally is a sensible system.
"Resolving these problems outside of race weekends does happen, usually behind closed doors, but it is not possible to make an official ruling based on test trim as cars are allowed to run underweight, covered in sensors or even with parts that might not be legal until next year."
10:28 As we hear from Edd, Bottas has just set a new personal best in the FW35 - a 1m24.458s sends him fourth.
10:28 Kevin from Belgium is next up in our "Ask Edd" section. It's a two-parter, so we've split it accordingly.
Year after year we see designs appearing during the pre-season tests which are subject to discussion. This year again with the Caterham and Williams vanes to conduct exhaust flows. Why are teams allowed to run "illegal" car designs during testing? Is this only to allow testing gear to be fitted to the car?
Edd Straw: "Only the safety regulations apply during testing. As of last year, teams had to pass all of the mandatory crash tests before running. To regulate testing is unnecessary because it is private practice, so it's for the same reasons as football teams don't have official referees supervising training.
"On a practical basis, bringing all of the testing and measuring equipment, not to mention scrutineers, would be costly. Also, you can be sure that teams would constantly try throwing dubious parts at the cars as test cases given that there would be no real consequences to failing scrutineering.
"If Williams and Caterham run the parts in Melbourne, they run the risk of exclusion. The FIA's representatives, such as Charlie Whiting, are able to offer informal advice to the teams about certain things on the cars, either off their own bat or when asked, however."
10:21 Some news from the Lotus camp, where Raikkonen has managed just four laps so far this morning:
@Lotus_F1Team: "We can officially deny any rumours that we're having an exceptionally long breakfast; we're changing gearbox. Running will be resumed soon."
10:18 Vettel, on mediums, backs off massively on his second flyer and then comes round in a 1m23.910s - still faster than anyone but Hamilton even if it nine tenths off his best.
10:18 Run complete, Perez heads into the pits.
10:16 Vettel can better that though - in fact he can better Hamilton too. Outright bests in all three sectors send him three tenths clear at the top.
10:15 Perez follows that up with two laps in the 1m25s.
10:13 Sergio Perez paints the timesheets green - personal bests in all three sectors take him to fourth and a 1m25.755s.
10:07 Aside from telling Edd Straw about omelettes, Jaime Alguersuari admits he is unlikely to race outside Formula 1 this season after failing to secure a return to the grand prix grid. Read the full story here.
10:02 Our first question for Edd Straw comes from Oliver Heycoop, who asks:
Do you think it was an advantage or disadvantage for Williams to debut the FW35 later, and in doing so having more time to develop it?
Edd Straw: "As a rule of thumb, sacrificing one-third of your pre-season running when it is at such a high premium is not a good thing. But as Williams technical director Mike Coughlan pointed out yesterday the decision hinged on the value of Jerez as a test venue.
"Coughlan claims that the car would definitely have been ready for the first test had it been at Barcelona and that the car has run reliably following exhaustive dyno work back at base.
"The fact that it was the only team to take this path suggests one of two things; either Williams was wrong to do it or Coughlan has made a bold decision that could look very wrong if the team struggles in 2013. Based on its current start, it doesn't appear to be a major handicap."
09:59 It's also just over two tenths of a second slower than Vettel went on the opening morning, which suggests the track is starting to rubber up nicely.
09:58 That time, set on hards, included new overall bests in all three sectors.
09:57 Vettel's spell at the top didn't last too long, as Hamilton moves back ahead with a 1m23.274s.
09:56 @InsideFerrari: "Let's practice some starts, but first..."lay rubber" on the pit-stop area...!"
09:53 Short runs over for Vettel and Alonso and they're both back into the pits. Hamilton and Pic are our two men on track.
09:52 Both he and Vettel are on mediums, incidentally.
09:52 Alonso also finds a chunk of time (around eight seconds) to vault into second.
09:51 We have a new leader - on his first flying lap of a new stint, Vettel lowers the benchmark to a 1m23.653s.
09:50 Talking of Hulkenberg, here's a photo of him from early this morning, still wearing a coat while putting his helmet on. We're not sure why we like it so much...perhaps just because it reminds us of our own formative karting days.
09:46 Ricciardo, on the hard compound, jumps from seventh to second with a 1m25.354s.
09:44 @OfficialSF1Team: "So far @NicoHulkenberg has been doing aero evaluation work, therefore no laptime yet."
09:42 Valtteri Bottas making use of a clear track as he lowers his own best to a 1m25.773s.
09:38 Hulkenberg, di Resta and Raikkonen incidentally are all still yet to set a time.
09:37 Which is a good time to run through the lap count so far today:
Hamilton 23
Perez 15
Bottas 26
Pic 15
Vettel 18
Chilton 16
Ricciardo 16
Alonso 11
Hulkenberg 15
di Resta 13
Raikkonen 4
09:35 And of course, just as we write that he comes in. After 90 minutes of busy action, we have a moment of rest.
09:35 Sebastian Vettel shaves a few tenths off his previous best. The RB9 is our only car out on track at the moment.
09:34 In the meantime, you can read Edd Straw's day one blog from Barcelona - or why F1's phoney war really ramps up at the Catalan track.
09:25 Have a question about testing? Curious to know which drivers or teams are genuinely upbeat rather than cautiously optimistic (or even worried)? Or why some teams run pitstops drills and others coat their cars in flow-vis?
We're opening up AUTOSPORT Live to all your questions this morning, with our F1 Editor Edd Straw poised and ready. Get sending to live@autosport.com.
09:18 Sebastian Vettel meanwhile sets his first flying lap of the day, some three seconds off Hamilton's benchmark.
09:17 Hamilton sends Mercedes back to the top of the timesheets with a 1m24.559s.
09:14 Fernando Alonso and Paul di Resta are both yet to reach double figures, but the man bringing up the bottom is Kimi Raikkonen on just four. To the Finn's frustration, a data issue also restricted his mileage yesterday.
09:12 Valtteri Bottas currently leads the way on the lap count, racking up 20 (and climbing). Lewis Hamilton and Charles Pic are next up with 15.
09:11 Just over one hour into the second morning, we're still yet to see flying laps from Vettel, Hulkenberg, di Resta or Raikkonen.
09:09 And on the FW35 front, our technical expert Craig Scarborough picked through the key details of Williams's 2013 challenger for AUTOSPORT. Subscribers can read his definitive analysis below.
Under the skin of the Williams FW35
09:07 Yesterday Edd Straw was kept busy with the latest rumblings over Williams's exhaust layout.
Williams was sure it's design was legal. Perhaps not, said the FIA.
09:03 Ever wondered what tyres drivers were on for their fastest laps? AUTOSPORT Live (with a helping hand from Pirelli) have been keeping tabs on the situation - check out our table at the bottom of yesterday's report.
08:53 And plenty of work for the Red Bull garage just below our station in the media centre. Vettel has already completed four practice pitstops this morning.
08:53 Plenty of flow-vis on Hamilton's Mercedes and Ricciardo's Toro Rosso this morning.
08:52 @clubforce: "Last checks on the VJM06 before @pauldirestaf1 starts the morning programme - first item on the menu is aero work."
08:46 A string of improvements for Max Chilton, who goes faster for three successive laps. His current best is a 1m32.681s.
08:44 Sergio Perez takes over from Lewis Hamilton at the top of the timesheets.
08:41 @WilliamsF1Team: "Another front wing for #BOTTAS - it's all about gathering data this morning - not pushing for times.
"Valtteri back in for further changes - old tyres and cold track not the easiest first run! But we've got some good data already"
08:37 And Hamilton improves again on his fifth flying lap - he's dipped down to a 1m27.563s on the medium tyre.
Temperatures have confused the picture slightly, but nearly every driver down the pitlane reported extremely high degradation yesterday. Rosberg, Vettel and Alonso were among those surprised by just how quickly the new compounds dropped off. Read it here.
08:33 Improvements for Pic, Ricciardo and Bottas now.
08:31 Hamilton improves by over a second and is well clear at the front. Vettel meanwhile is keeping the Red Bull boys busy as he twice comes in for practice pitstops.
08:28 Bottas and Ricciardo have also set flyers now, although that's not really the most accurate description given times are around 10s slower than yesterday.
08:28 Lewis Hamilton, in for Nico Rosberg today, sets the first time laps of the morning. He follows up a 1m31s effort with a 1m28.723s.
08:27 Installation laps are still the order of the day so far at Barcelona. Bottas, five laps to the good, has been the busiest driver of the morning.
08:26 And if you've ever wondered what a Vettel post-session media scrum looks like, here's a snap. Sam Tremayne somehow got himself to the front (or at least within listening distance).
08:24 Sebastian Vettel meanwhile insisted Red Bull is not wasting any time worrying about the progress of rival teams, particularly because it has "plenty of stuff going on" in its own garage.
08:21 If you missed it last night, there was plenty of other interesting reaction from the Barcelona paddock.
Fernando Alonso believes the F138 is capable of challenging for the 2013 world championship - which might sound a bit premature but for his pretty undeniable logic that if he almost won with last year's car, he stands an even better chance in the forthcoming campaign.
08:12 Scratch that, Vettel heads out in the RB9 and all 11 teams have now been out for at least one installation lap.
08:10 @InsideFerrari: "Goodmorning to all! @alo_oficial just completed an installation lap. The programme for the day will kick-off shortly."
08:09 Despite the cold, Vettel is the only man yet to go out this morning. Plenty of exploratory laps but no times set as of yet.
08:08 @Marussia_F1Team: "Our plan for this (cold) morning is aero evaluation & set-up work. Times won't be a factor, data will."
08:07 AUTOSPORT will be speaking to Bottas at the end of the day to hear his feedback on Williams's new car.
Yesterday Pastor Maldonado said progress with the new car was clear to see. You can read his views here.
08:01 And Bottas now joins the pair. The Finn is getting his first taste of the FW35 today.
08:01 We're green and we're already underway - Charles Pic and Max Chilton were out almost the second the pitlane opened.
08:00 We have a few changes in the driver line-ups today. Lewis Hamilton comes in for Nico Rosberg at Mercedes, Nico Hulkenberg replaces Esteban Gutierrez at Sauber and Valtteri Bottas swaps with Pastor Maldonado at Williams.
Pretty good if you ask me.GrizzleBoy wrote:Perez almost seems like he's just cruising around out there.
Hamilton's latest run so far:
1:28.042 (114)
1:28.705 (115)
1:28.516 (116)
1:28.979 (117)
1:28.940 (118)
1:29.023 (119)
1:29.118 (120)
Chilton red flags and probably ends the session.
"It's extreme. The degradation is very difficult. It's a big surprise," said Perez. "Normally in winter testing we see a lot of degradation, but never this much.
"We are going to have a race here so it's a bit of a worry. But we are still learning about the tyres and I think once we go racing I hope things will change.
"I hope it changes, because if we are in this situation in Melbourne we are going to see something like seven or 10 stops."
