Last day of 2011 pre-season Barcelona test session hampered by rain – Formula 1 news
The last day of the Barcelona test session has been struck by rain. The four teams participating have done some cautious laps but it is feared that most of the day will be washed away by rain as far as the forecast for the day tells.
This is not the first day that rain has wasted some test times as it has been the story of all the pre-season tests in 2011. The teams have had a little time on the dry and hard version of the Pirelli tyres as rain has struck almost all the days of
testing.
Pirelli, who are the sole supplier of 2011 tyres, have also shown concern over the pre-season testing as all the days have been done on damp, windy and wet conditions which hinder their dry compound development.
There was a pre-season test scheduled in Bahrain which was much anticipated by the Pirelli as it would have given an insight on the hard tyres which are to be used in the first three grands prix of the season. However, the Bahrain testing and Grand
Prix was called off due to the political instability, hence forcing the final test to be scheduled in wet Barcelona.
The first test dates given to Barcelona were from March 8 – 11, 2011. Later the test was re-scheduled from March 9 – 12 but the teams decided to follow independent four of the five days of test session.
Williams, Mercedes, Ferrari and Hispania Racing Team decided to take the test from March 9 – 12 while McLaren decided to do four days of testing on a Tuesday-Wednesday and Friday-Saturday schedule. The HRT car will not make the track on the final day,
which leaves four teams to test on Saturday.
Mercedes’ Michael Schumacher, Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso and Williams’ Pastor Maldonado have done some cautious laps in the morning session and are back in the pits.
McLaren’s Lewis Hamilton is still on the track in his new car, MP4-26. Nevertheless, the rainy conditions will at least give teams to test the Pirelli wet tyres and bag some mileage.
Tags: