UpdateF1 >> Formula 1 News > More slick times at Jerez

Times tumble

Reporting on Formula One testing is an often confusing chore these days, and when the teams mix running on slick and grooved tyres – the former an evaluation for proposed 2009 regulations – the picture becomes muddier still. Add to this the problem with timing at these events – to cut a long story short, the teams are obliged to pay for this facility, and are unsurprisingly less than forthcoming in allowing access to journalists – and a certain amount of mixing and matching is necessary.

Today, the second day of the four day Jerez test, has proved no exception, with different sources giving different final times at the end of play, so it is worth remembering that all times are ‘unofficial’ and for information purposes only.

Rant over, and the day saw Lewis Hamilton return to action for Mclaren, and the title runner-up promptly took the top spot with a time of 1:19.371. Or if you read an alternative set of results, you’ll find David Coulthard top, in the Red Bull, on 1:19.421.

See what I mean? No doubt the team press releases will have different figures, too, but what is not in doubt is that the two Britons topped the times, and judging the pace most likely did so on slick tyres.

Ferrari took the next two places, with Felipe Massa slightly quicker than Kimi Raikkonen, the pair of them a few tenths slower than the fastest man, and Pedro de la Rosa brought the second – slick shod, as we believe the Ferrari’s were – Mclaren home in fifth position.

Nelson Piquet Jnr ran again for Renault to sixth position, while the Force India merry-go-round continued apace, with interesting results.

Today was Christian Klien’s turn to run alongside Giancarlo Fisichella in the smart-looking red and white machines, and the Austrian used slicks to set seventh best time of the day, just shy of Piquet and a couple of tenths ahead of Fisichella who wound up ninth.

Sebastian Vettel got the better of Sebastien Bourdais in the Toro Rosso fight today, the German eighth and the Frenchman 12th, while Robert Kubica emerged quicker of the BMW runners in tenth position as Nick Heidfeld pounded around in the second blue and white car to finish slowest of all.

Timo Glock continued his initiation at Toyota with another comfortable run to tenth, easily eclipsing Kamui Kobayashi who again drove the second Toyota, while Nico Rosberg returned to the track with Williams, and outpaced young Nico Hulkenberg by a few tenths.

Mark Webber blew an engine early in the session and hence had a short day, while quickest Honda runner today was Andreas Zuber (ostensibly in a Super Aguri), who went a bit quicker than Anthony Davidson (today also in a Super Aguri) who likewise outpaced Rubens Barrichello (apparently in a Honda).

In truth, then, a day of confusing running, muddled results, and a choice of fastest man, all of which means absolutely nothing in terms of next season. However, better that F1 cars are alive, and running, than idle and hidden away.

UpdateSport guarantee to bring you more utterly meaningless lap times tomorrow, on day three, when we believe Ralf Schumacher will make his debut for Force India. Rumours say he may well be partnered by Father Christmas, Lord Lucan has had a seat fitting at Honda, and Fernando Alonso may well return to Mclaren for 2008. Oh, and some guy called Michael is back for Ferrari, too……

Written: Wed, 05 Dec 2007 17:20:05