Red Bull.
Jerez - 1st test
'Red Bull: Really nice pace. Stable, good under braking and early on the throtle. Looks like a nice evolution from last year.'
'Cars that looked better were the Lotus, followed by Toro Rosso & RedBull. '
'Impressions of today... Vettel/RB8 and Hamilton/MP4-27 combinations looked supreme today, as did Grosjean in the Lotus. Vettel did a few runs almost in tandem with Rosberg's EBD Merc, so can confirm now that RB are not blowing the exhausts, it's just the Renault engines own overrun (Lotus, Williams and Caterham sounded a lot similar today as well). It did sound different to the last 2 days though...'
Barcelona - 2nd test
McLaren Mercedes.
Jerez - 1st test
'Best looking car award goes to McLaren hands down.'
'Fun driver of the morning goes to Hamilton. Some nice slides and locks ;)'
'McLaren: Similar to red bull. Looked faster than the Merc.'
'McLaren didn't look so great, similar to Ferrari, maybe a bit better but also with different behaviours...'
'Alonso and Hamilton were the ones pushing harder. It´s hard to say why, but they always look like beeing in the limit'
Barcelona - 2nd test
@eddstrawF1, says that the McLaren is looking very strong down at Turn 1. 'On the power fractionally before Vettel and can be very aggressive on braking and turn in.' Both cars look very good though he reports.
Ferrari
Jerez - 1st test
'Ferrari: ok.... i couldn´t watch it as much as i wanted because it was in the garage most of the morning. They had a stint early in the morning (around 10:15 or so) and looked......... bad. I mean, Alonso looked like pushing hard but there was a lot of understeer in the car. As he made a few laps things got sorted. But then I watched two laps before leaving the circuit with more heat and suddenly it looked much better. Particularly i liked the way it went into the corners after the braking zone. as an Alonso fan I would love to say something more, but i just couldnt see the car enough.;)'
'Now Ferrari... they didn't look that much faster in Alonso's hands, but some of the more nervy moments seen with Massa had been ironed out by Alonso and whatever setup progress had been made. I think they're in trouble, most runs that they were running in close company with another car they were quickly caught, or Alonso would just slow to let them pass. Traction still no better, and cars like the Red Bull and McLaren were leaps ahead in getting out of corners.'
'Ferrari handling looked different on almost every run they did, most of times it looked a bit sluggish, but on other stints it looked well planted.'
'Alonso and Hamilton were the ones pushing harder. It´s hard to say why, but they always look like beeing in the limit.'
Barcelona - 2nd test
Alonso looks to be struggling a bit. I cant hear or see timing but his car is all kinds of unstable through turns 1/2/3. Snap oversteer too.
Mercedes AMG
Jerez - 1st test
'Mercedes: They seemed to be doing something with the old blown diffuser. Sound changed a lot from stint to stint. Didn´t impress even if it was last year´s car.'
Barcelona - 2nd test
Lotus F1 Team
'Renault: Clearly lacks grip in the back. I spotted some slides, blocks rear under braking, etc.'
'Cars that looked better were the Lotus, followed by Toro Rosso & RedBull.'
'Grosjean in particular was driving supremely, lap after lap achieving perfect lines, with hints of induced oversteer in the chicane to help turn-in.'
Barcelona - 2nd test
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Sahara Force India
Jerez - 1st test
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Barcelona - 2nd test
Sauber
Jerez - 1st test
'Sauber: Planted and fast. Looked pretty good in Perez´s hands. Better than the renault IMO.'
'Perez looked jittery still in places as he did yesterday, and Vergne in the STR was solid but unremarkable (as was Ricciardo). '
Barcelona - 2nd test
Toro Rosso
Jerez - 1st test
'Toro rosso: Felt nervous. Slower changing direction and prone to overstear. Seems to lack downforce'
'Perez looked jittery still in places as he did yesterday, and Vergne in the STR was solid but unremarkable (as was Ricciardo). '
Barcelona - 2nd test
Williams
Jerez - 1st test
'Williams: Similar to sauber, but when they pushed the car it began to slide more. I would say slower than the Sauber.'
'Senna in the Williams was another one nailing his lines, and looked a bit more comfortable than Pastor (could be setups, fuel loads etc.)'
Barcelona - 2nd test
Caterham
Jerez - 1st test
'Caterham looked good in VDG's hands, he had a few moments (and an off apparently when I was waiting to get in the paddock...) but mainly seemed confident and assured behind the wheel, especially for someone who has not sat in an F1 car for so long, and had such little prep from joining the team. The car definitely seems a bit step forward from last year's, today's times not really being a reflection of that due to other factors.'
'Caterham: Looked ok, but slow. Much better than last years, but clearly slower. Very undramatic.'
Barcelona - 2nd test
HRT
Jerez - 1st test
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Barcelona - 2nd test
Marussia
Jerez - 1st test
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Barcelona - 2nd test
Thanks to Atic Atac, DanardiF1, @jameypricephoto, @eddstrawf1 & muelte.
I'll continue to add to each team as more on track viewing is posted.
Edited by Brandz07, 22 February 2012 - 14:16.
