2010 Formula 1 - Valencia, Spain Test Feb 1-3

[gm2]

i'm not enough of an F1 geek, which is why i asked.  but in a vacuum i'd think that fitness levels have to be pretty darn close; outside some four-wheel-specific stuff like the neck, overall I would have argued that the GP guys have to be in better shape.

[EvilSteve]

I don't think any of us are really qualified to say either way but based on interviews and comments from car drivers going to F1, there's a big concern around neck strength even for people who have been racing non-F1 open wheel racing for some time. I'm not suggesting that GP riders are any less fit than F1 drivers, I'm saying that the discipline (and F1) specific stuff doesn't just happen overnight. I'm sure Rossi could go the distance in an F1 race (even though it's twice as long) but can he maintain laps that are a tenth slower than everyone else throughout race distance when he hasn't had discipline specific training? Rossi is incredible and I wouldn't be super surprised if he did well in F1 but I would have to see it to believe because I think it's enough different to GP that the last tenth (or more) that he'd need to be winning/competitive would be really hard to get without a lot of sustained effort.

Combined times:
Pos   Driver      Team      Best      Laps   1st      2nd      3rd
1.   Alonso      Ferrari   1:11.470   127   -      -      1:11.470
2.   Massa      Ferrari   1:11.722   226   1:12.574   1:11.722   -
3.   Kobayashi      Sauber   1:12.056   96   -      1:12.056   -
4.   de la Rosa      Sauber   1:12.094   154   1:12.784   -      1:12.094
5.   Hamilton      McLaren   1:12.256   108   -      1:12.256   -
6.   Kubica      Renault   1:12.426   188   1:15.000   1:12.426   -
7.   M.Schumacher   Mercedes   1:12.438   122   1:12.947   -      1:12.438
8.   Alguersuari      Toro Rosso   1:12.576   97   -      -      1:12.576
9.   Rosberg      Mercedes   1:12.899   158   1:13.543   1:12.899   -
10.   Button      McLaren   1:12.951   82   -      -      1:12.951
11.   Petrov      Renault   1:13.097   75   -      -      1:13.097
12.   Barrichello      Williams   1:13.377   177   1:14.449   1:13.377   -
13.   Hulkenberg      Williams   1:13.669   126   -      -      1:13.669
14.   Buemi      Toro Rosso   1:13.823   125   1:14.762   1:13.823   -
15.   Paffett      McLaren   1:13.846   86   1:13.846   -      -

Not exactly sure why we need to call Michael Schumacher "M.Schumacher" given that we're not lumbered with the "other" Schumacher right now (thank goodness).

[superjohn]

It would be interesting to see a breakdown of Rossi's test laps. He's put in enough to make up a race, so I'd like to see when he was fast and how consistent he was.

[EvilSteve]

I had a poke around but couldn't find any extensive list of lap times for the Barcelona test. I'll keep looking and see if I can find it but it would certainly be interesting. Did he do a race simulation or just X number of laps in the day because there's a big difference (as I'm sure you know).

Another thought occurs to me; with all the restrictions on testing, it'd be pretty hard for him to get up to speed on some tracks. He won't have 3 days for testing.

[Dannyboy]

Right now, I would put Rossi in the same category as Jarno Trulli.  Good on a fast lap but would probably end up heading a train.

[derby]

Right now, I would put Rossi in the same category as Jarno Trulli.  Good on a fast lap but would probably end up heading a train.

what an amazing conclusion from a sampling of one lap... at least we've seen trulli over many, many race distances.

[Raux]

i had read a long time ago about the fitness level of the F1 guys. the LOWEST resting heart rate of any athlete. pure muscle, etc.

these are supposed to the most, pound-for-pound, in shape athletes in the world.

[zooom]

the interesting thought to me...is over race distance how Rossi would do with pit stop strategy and whatnot....granted his crew over the radio would greatly help in this regard...but still...it seems pit stops in F1 can kill you or give you the edge to win...

[Dannyboy]

what an amazing conclusion from a sampling of one lap... at least we've seen trulli over many, many race distances.

Yep, you got me.  I pulled that out of my ass after one lap. 

[EvilSteve]

Rossi says F1 move 'difficult' to envisage

And aren't fuel stops meant to be going away?

I'm sure in the next couple of years we could probably just ship the NASCAR CoT template over to the F1 teams and save them the trouble of making their own.

[derby]

And aren't fuel stops meant to be going away?

not the stops, just the refueling.

[EvilSteve]

So retarded, I wish they'd just stick to something for a few years so that the teams and the fans could get used to it. The teams affected the most by all these changes are exactly the teams the changes are meant to help, it's all a load of BS.

[derby]

So retarded, I wish they'd just stick to something for a few years so that the teams and the fans could get used to it. The teams affected the most by all these changes are exactly the teams the changes are meant to help, it's all a load of BS.

well... no refueling has less chance of going wrong than no tire changes... that was just silly.

"hey, no tire changes and let's penalize anybody that has to take tires..."

real safe, guys... 

last season, steve matchett commented that, if he was still a mechanic*, he'd be happy to see the end of refueling. speaking as a spectactor, it'll detract from the excitement of the pitstop.

*steve was the rear-jackman during this:

Benetton on fire in the pitstop

btw, this youtube comment was funny:

"The ignited colours of Benetton!"

[EvilSteve]

Yeah, I heard Matchett say that and I can't disagree with the guy but I'm a spectator, I like fuel stops. It's my least favorite passing method but in some cases it's the only way a pass gets done. Wait for everyone to start pregnant doging that it's harder to pass on pit stops now because they're faster and all basically the same (no fuel strategy). It's all the manufactured crap that they keep bringing in that's messing up the racing, it's getting really old.

Normally, regulations that are brought in to achieve something, achieve the exact opposite.

[derby]

It's all the manufactured crap that they keep bringing in that's messing up the racing, it's getting really old.

Normally, regulations that are brought in to achieve something, achieve the exact opposite.

example:

http://www.crash.net/british+superbikes/news/156502/1/bsb_announces_radical_rule_changes.html