A detailed recap of 2011 Formula 1 pre-season test session in Valencia
The Valencia test session is concluded and teams have taken some useful readings on Pirelli tyres and the new FIA rules.
Robert Kubica on final day put the fastest lap of the grid to wrap things up in Valencia.
All teams had enough time to check the Pirelli tyres and fuel load combination. With some teams facing problems with new cars and some with Pirelli tyres, it was altogether a learning season for every team.
With top three cars for 2011 championship halting on each day starting with Mercedes hydraulic failure on day one, Red Bull installation problem on day two and Ferrari’s oil leak resulting in fire on day three.
HRT, Force India, Virgin Racing and McLaren used their 2010 cars for Valencia test session with a strategy of giving their drivers some mileage and testing the Pirelli tyres with old machines first.
Some teams did have concerns with the Pirelli tyres as it degrades early and will induce more pit-stops in the races.
Day One
On day one, the defending champion Sebastian Vettel put the fastest lap on the grid with 1 minute and 13.769 seconds and completed 93 laps on his new RB7. It seemed that he was on track for back-to-back titles but he himself said, “It was good today and
I felt comfortable in the car, I enjoyed it but it was day one for most of us and there’s a long way to go with testing ahead of the season.”
His main rivals Fernando Alonso and Michael Schumacher were not able to give him a fight as Alonso finished 5th and the seven-time champion Schumacher was in 9th place.
Schumacher only completed 15 laps after taking over from teammate Nico Rosberg who himself only completed 9 laps. This short spell was due to a Hydraulic malfunction.
Day Two
Day two was won by Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso who put the fastest time of 1 minute and 13.307 seconds fractions ahead of Vettel.
The noticeable thing of day two was Paul di Resta who not only finished third, ahead of Hamilton, but also was able to drive for 111 laps, more than any other driver.
Mark Webber took over from Vettel in the afternoon session but only put up 17 laps when his car faced some installation problem.
Team Lotus who drove their 2010 car on day one took their new T128 to the test on day two. Heikki Kovalainen first took the car to the circuit but was only able to put 15 laps before a steering failure occurred.
Day two also saw all the championship contenders charging up and putting some fight for the first five spots.
Day Three
Day three was owned by Robert Kubica who not only put the fastest lap of the day but also for the session. He did a fastest time of 1 minute and 13.144 seconds also completing 95 laps.
Massa was faced with a tragedy on day three. He took the new F150 from Fernando Alonso, who had driven the car on the first two days with 206 laps, and in the day session, an oil leak started fire in Massa’s car. He managed 80 laps and finished 5th on
the final day.
The teams will have two more opportunities to test their cars and the new rubber of Pirelli before the main event kicks off.
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