2011 Formula 1 pre-season test session in Valencia: Vettel dominates day one
The testing of the new Formula 1 cars started in Valencia on Tuesday. The teams and drivers tried out different combinations and tested their cars to the limits before the season gets underway. The teams mainly concentrated on Pirelli tyres and the Kinetic
Energy Recovery System for their cars.
The testing on Tuesday was mainly occupied by the defending champion Sebastian Vettel. He started just where he left. He completed 93 laps with a fastest of 1 minute and 13.769 seconds and came first.
Vettel said, “It was good today and I felt comfortable in the car.” The reigning champion Vettel said about winning the title, “It is difficult to say at this stage, we haven't seen all the cars, particularly the McLaren car, it is not yet out on track.”
Red Bull launched their new RB7 prior to the testing session.
Second was Force India’s Reserve Nico Hulkenberg who completed 71 laps and was just a fraction slower than Vettel in their 2010 car, VJM03. He handed the car to Paul di Resta in the afternoon session who finished 4th with 28 laps.
McLaren used MP4-25, their 2010 car, and came third with driver Gary Paffett. Their car is due to launch on Friday.
Paffett explained the McLaren team’s strategy that they only tested the Pirelli tyres for the right load and grip.
Following him in fifth position was two-time champion Fernando Alonso in his new F150 and completed 98 laps without facing any troubles. He said that the biggest test was to get mileage and to know the car and system.
Sixth came BMW’s Kobayashi in the new C30 and completed 64 laps. In seventh was Virgin’s quickie Jerome d’Ambrosio who used 2010 car VR-01 while his teammate Timo Glock will test the car on Wednesday. Virgin’s new car MVR-02 will be tested in the Jerez testing.
Renault’s Vitaly Petrov came eighth in the new R31, launched on Monday, and completed 28 laps. He will hand over the car to Robert Kubica on Wednesday. Petrov said some concerns with KERS were there in the car and that this year drivers will be very busy
in the cockpit.
Ninth was seven times champion Michael Schumacher who took the car from young teammate Nico Rosberg who completed only nine laps before the hydraulics system failed. Schumacher himself only managed 15 laps in the new MGP-W02.
“The first tests are about focusing on reliability, which admittedly was not great today, and getting the KERS system functioning well,” said Mercedes team principal Ross Brawn after his car managed 24 laps collectively.
The tenth slot was occupied by Toro Rosso’s Jaime Alguersuari in the new STR6. Barrichello finished 11th in William’s new FW33 and managed to complete 77 laps. Barrichello will handover the car to debutant teammate Pastor
Maldonado on Wednesday. Barrichello also highlighted some concerns about KERS and said that other than that everything was working fine.
Using the old HRT car Narain Karthikeyan finished 12th, ahead of Mercedes’ Nico Rosberg.
The testing will continue on Wednesday and Team Lotus will join with their new car T128.
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