Massa and Ferrari fire early warning
1 February, 2010
Feb.1 (GMM) The F1 world – and a very crowded media centre – got its first look at the new Toro Rosso and Mercedes cars on Monday morning, as the winter testing ban ended and Valencia burst into life. Felipe Massa driving the Ferrari F10 ended up fastest at the end of the morning session.
The Ferrari-powered STR5, although not featuring the intellectual property of sister team Red Bull for the first time, seems an evolution of last year’s Adrian Newey-penned car as it was rolled out for the photographers behind the pits.
“It looks nice from the outside, and I know that its insides are also good,” said Jaime Alguersuari, as his teammate Sebastien Buemi gave the car its track debut.
“The basis is quite similar to last year’s car and I think we can have a good year, partly down to the fact that I am better prepared,” added the Spaniard.
Team boss Franz Tost revealed that the Faenza based team has bought a Bicester wind tunnel from Red Bull Technology.
Meanwhile, Mercedes’ MGP W01 is an evolution of the title-winning 2009 Brawn, but also clearly different, with an unique V-shape to the nose for better underneath air flow.
Gary Paffett headed the early timesheets in McLaren’s new MP4-25, before Felipe Massa set the best lap on the Ferrari F10′s track debut.
After two hours of running, the new Sauber (Pedro de la Rosa), Renault (Robert Kubica) and Williams (Rubens Barrichello) came next in the pecking order, followed by Buemi.
“Williams are not launching as such, when the car rolls out at 10am, that will be its debut,” said spokeswoman Claire Williams.
Rosberg’s first laps in the W01, watched on by his father and 1982 world champion Keke, were not representative of Mercedes’ likely form this year.
The 24-year-old German, who posed with the car in the morning with Michael Schumacher, has swapped the blue on his regular helmet colours for silver.
Morning times: Pos Driver Team Time Laps 1. Felipe Massa Ferrari 1m13.088s 32 2. Pedro de la Rosa BMW Sauber 1m13.247s 27 3. Nico Rosberg Mercedes 1m13.543s 39 4. Gary Paffett McLaren 1m14.018s 34 5. Rubens Barrichello Williams 1m14.449s 42 6. Robert Kubica Renault 1m15.298s 37 7. Sebatien Buemi Toro Rosso 1m19.279s 10
Related posts:
- Practice 1: Webber on top as Massa watches
- Practice 1: Webber makes his mark early
- Practice 3: Massa and Ferrari show their hand
- Practice 1: Rubens Barrichello sets the early pace
- Dreams do come true for Button and Brawn GP
