Ferrari driver Fernando Alonso in the hunt for 2011 title – Valencia pre-season tests, Formula 1
Valencia pre-season test session is underway and Fernando Alonso pumped up the rating by putting in the fastest lap with 1 minute and 13.614 seconds on Wednesday.
Fernando Alonso was in the hunt last season as well but his team’s pit stop strategy cost him the title by only four points. However, the championship contender is once again getting ready for a nail-biting contest.
Tuesday’s session clearly belonged to the Red Bull driver and defending champion Sebastian Vettel. However, on Wednesday Alonso put the fastest lap on the grid and also completed 108 laps.
About his new F150, he said, “At this stage it's difficult to feel the competitiveness of the car, because in the past there were lower fuel loads, so it was easier to compare, with the tyres.”
These long runs on the circuit will help Alonso get used to the movable rear wing, new Pirelli tyres and the KERS.
“These extra buttons on the steering wheel require some time [to get used to,]” he said.
The practice session started with once again Vettel putting in the fastest lap but not for long when in the afternoon session Alonso renewed the time which remained for the rest of the session.
The other championship contenders also had a mixed testing session. Mark Webber, who is said to have his last year in the car, only managed 17 laps before his car experienced an installation problem as he finished 14th.
“I didn’t get so long in the car today, so we will start the real work tomorrow,” said Webber.
Vettel was in second place but not for long. He only completed 43 laps but he managed to remain in second place in terms of fastest lap. He was fraction slower than Alonso.
The interesting factor about Wednesday’s testing was that the new rookie Scot Paul di Resta who managed to give the champions a good fight. He finished ahead of his teenage friend Lewis Hamilton and positioned himself in third place. Di Resta also
managed to complete 111 laps which were more than anyone else. Both used 2010 cars as McLaren’s car is due to launch on February 4, 2011.
In fifth was Group Lotus’ Robert Kubica in his new R31. In sixth was HRT’s Narain Karthikeyan. Following him was Nico Rosberg of Mercedes who only had nine laps on Tuesday. He did 69 laps and finished on 1 minute and 14.645 seconds.
Timo Glock was eighth after having a hydraulic failure. His run was cut short to 34 laps but he looked happy about that as he said that he was pleased to be on the track and care less about the failure.
Williams’ Rubens Barrichello came ninth with 50 laps before handing over the car to his teammate Pastor Maldonado who managed 11th place in the times sheet.
Tenth was Sergio Perez of BMW Sauber. He was also making his debut and completed 42 laps. Toro Rosso drivers Sebastian Buemi and Jaime Alguersuari secured 12th and 13th spots respectively.
Last on the list was T128’s driver Heikki Kovalainen. He managed 15 laps before his car faced a steering failure.
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