Quote:
Originally Posted by SeaGoddess
That's past tense... Not good. :laugh:
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SeaGoddess
That's past tense... Not good. :laugh:
It's not going to well for Ferrari... :( :mad:
Following the KERS cooling incident yesterday in testing at the Bahrain International Circuit, problems continued again today with Felipe Massa back behind the wheel of the F60 challenger.
The Brazilian began the day working on general set-up solutions but on his fourth lap of the day was forced back to the pits with a gearbox issue.
Massa was able to get back on track ahead of the lunch break and completed 31 laps.
An electrical problem halted the F60 again later in the day, but despite these problems, Massa was able to complete 105 laps overall, with a best time of 1:32.917s.
The Brazilian concludes the test programme on Thursday.
Sakhir - 18/02/2009
1 . T.
Glock - Toyota TF109 - 1:32.492 (+ 0.000 ) - 132 laps
2 . F. Massa - Ferrari F60 - 1:32.917 (+ 0.425 ) - 105 laps
3 . N. Heidfeld - BMW Sauber F1.09 - 1:32.993 (+ 0.501 ) - 82 laps.
Errrrrrr.... :(
Not good........ :(:(:(Quote:
Originally Posted by Noxide
Team Source Confirms F1 Virgin Bid
A source close to the Brackley-based Formula One team has confirmed that Virgin Group is the late bidder hoping to buy the beleaguered outfit.
It has been rumoured that Virgin, headed by Sir Richard Branson, was the unnamed third party who stepped in and scuppered the progress of the Nick Fry and Ross Brawn-led management buyout.
"They have made a bid to purchase the team," the source, requesting to remain unidentified, was quoted as telling Reuters.
An official Honda spokeswoman declined to comment, and a spokeswoman for Virgin Group said the company is "constantly named in speculation and rumour."
Virgin has been involved with F1 before; with the Virgin Mobile brand at the Jordan team in 2002, while the Japanese Takuma Sato was driving. Virgin Atlantic Japan still sponsors Sato, who narrowly missed out on a Toro Rosso seat for 2009.
32-year-old Sato's manager Andrew Gilbert Scott said earlier this month that he is "looking ahead for the next opportunity" for his client to rejoin F1.
Branson is also believed to be friends with Adrian Reynard, a co-founder of Honda's former BAR guise.
The team's Brackley headquarters is even located at Reynard Park, but the Reuters source did not know if the 51-year-old Briton is involved with the Virgin bid
I would put money on this guy for the 2009 season.
He's been quick since his maiden win in Italy last year.
After a brief respite, the pre-season testing programme resumed today at Jerez in Spain with all but Toro Rosso Ferrari and Honda in action.
The day was notable not just for the debut of the new Force India Mercedes VJM02 package with Giancarlo Fisichella behind the wheel, but also because of the high number of mechanical failures and subsequent red flag periods.
With the majority of those in action coasting to a halt at one point or another, the teams requested an extension to the 5pm local time cut-off, only to be denied. In addition, a rain shower at 2.30pm local time also complicated matters a little for the eight teams present.
New Red Bull recruit Sebastian Vettel set the pace in the new RB4 package with a best time of 1:19.055s, but the German youngster lost time with a Renault engine failure. Still, Vettel managed a respectable 87 laps of the 4.428km Spanish test venue and was a massive 1.3 seconds clear of Felipe Massa in the Ferrari F60, who also lost time after taking to a gravel trap.
Kamui Kobayashi was in action for the Toyota team – who like Ferrari and BMW Sauber are readjusting to the cooler European climate after nearly two weeks in Bahrain - and the German-based team seem to be having a relatively strong build up to the new season with the new TF109. Kobayashi posted the third fastest time ahead of Williams Toyota driver Nico Rosberg who was another driver forced to a halt with a mechanical problem in the newly liveried FW31.
Robert Kubica was fifth fastest in his BMW Sauber ahead of Fisichella in the new Mercedes-powered VJM02.
The Italian veteran was however only able to complete 31 laps in the new machine, his fastest lap coming on his 22nd of the day.
Pedro de la Rosa completed the most laps of the day – 94 – but was forced to end his session a little prematurely when his McLaren Mercedes ground to a halt late in the session. The Spanish tester was seventh best on the day ahead of Nelson Piquet who also brought out the red flags late in the day as his Renault came to a halt on track.
Testing continues at Jerez on Monday.
Jerez - 01/03/2009
1 . S. Vettel - Red Bull Renault RB5 - 1:19.055 (+ 0.000 ) - 87 laps
2 . F. Massa - Ferrari F60 - 1:20.330 (+ 1.275 ) - 63 laps
3 . K. Kobayashi - Toyota TF109 - 1:20.699 (+ 1.644 ) - 79 laps
4 . N. Rosberg - Williams Toyota FW31 - 1:21.171 (+ 2.116 ) - 71 laps
5 . R. Kubica - BMW Sauber F1.09 - 1:21.292 (+ 2.237 ) - 47 laps
6 . G. Fisichella - Force India Mercedes VJM02 - 1:21.584 (+ 2.529 ) - 31 laps
7 . P. de la Rosa - McLaren Mercedes MP4-24 - 1:21.831 (+ 2.776 ) - 94 laps
8 . N. Piquet - Renault R29 - 1:22.011 (+ 2.956 ) - 52 laps.
Felipe Massa believes most Formula One drivers were barracking for him in the title showdown with Lewis Hamilton last year.
At the Interlagos finale, many drivers were quoted as supporting the Ferrari driver over McLaren's Hamilton, the eventual winner of the 2008 title by a single point.
"Yes, I think so," he said in an interview with The Guardian. "I was very happy. They were supporting me because I always respect everybody. I always respect my team and my competitors. I never had problems with anybody."
Massa was asked if Hamilton's approach is different. "Even when I had problems with somebody, afterwards it was fine," the Brazilian answered. "When I had a problem with Alonso I saw him face to face. He said sorry and it was fine.
"Not going into it too much, I was quite happy to see that the other drivers were supporting me," Massa explained.
Does Massa like his 2008 championship foe? "I think he's okay. In GP2 he was racing for my manager's team but, for sure, I don't have so much experience with him after he comes to F1," Massa said referring to Hamilton.
"Some people change. I don't know if he has changed a lot in his normal life. I don't have so much experience of him to say."
Testing Times from yesterday at Jerez...
Jerez - 03/03/2009
1 . T. Glock - Toyota TF109 - 1:19.814 (+ 0.000 ) - 142 laps
2 . F. Massa - Ferrari F60 - 1:20.238 (+ 0.424 ) - 135 laps
3 . F. Alonso - Renault R29 - 1:20.296 (+ 0.482 ) - 152 laps
4 . H. Kovalainen - McLaren Mercedes MP4-24 - 1:20.535 (+ 0.721 ) - 85 laps
5 . A. Sutil - Force India Mercedes VJM02 - 1:20.621 (+ 0.807 ) - 63 laps
6 . M. Webber - Red Bull Renault RB5 - 1:21.021 (+ 1.207 ) - 98 laps
7 . R. Kubica - BMW Sauber F1.09 - 1:21.069 (+ 1.255 ) - 98 laps
8 . N. Rosberg - Williams Toyota FW31 - 1:21.412 (+ 1.598 ) - 125 laps.
Where is Kimi? :blink: :o
Massa is testing at the moment.Quote:
Originally Posted by Lemmings
I think Kimi is back next week.