[Iceman]

Originally Posted by Mark

http://carlaunch.mclaren.com/

You Have made my day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[pinkmichk]

the MP4-25 is a stunning car really love it so much better than last years car lets just hope it is fast on track

[James]

New Mac looks good, I watched that broadcast today.

During the questions a journalist asked Jenson B how he felt about getting paid less than Lewis - it was a bit of an awkward moment lol.

[pinkmichk]

i tried watching but the site kept freezing on me so i hardly saw any but thankfully follow people like jake humprey who were there and tweeting bout it and pics too

[Iceman]

New renault is the exact same as the old Jordan car.......hmm does anyone lese think Eddie has a few secret shares in there....

[James]

Renault F1 car looks a lot better now they have dropped / been dropped by Ing Bank.

[Mark]

Originally Posted by James

Renault F1 car looks a lot better now they have dropped / been dropped by Ing Bank.

The sides still look a little bulky

http://www.gurneyflap.com/Resources/R11.jpg

[James]

Not F1 but best looking racing car in the world IMO. Peugeot 908 HDI sports prototype... http://www.ultimatecarpage.com/pic/3...HDi-FAP_3.html

[Iceman]

Originally Posted by James

Not F1 but best looking racing car in the world IMO. Peugeot 908 HDI sports prototype... http://www.ultimatecarpage.com/pic/3...HDi-FAP_3.html

Taxi for James........think he's drunk

[James]

Lewis Hamilton ended his first day's preparation for the 2010 Formula 1 season with his McLaren lagging behind Felipe Massa's Ferrari.

The Brazilian topped the times for the second day running at the major test at Valencia's Ricardo Tormo circuit.

Hamilton was third fastest behind the Sauber of Japanese Kamui Kobayashi and 0.534 seconds adrift of Massa.

A McLaren spokesman told BBC Sport that Hamilton had said he was happy with the car and testing was going well.

The 25-year-old, world champion in 2008, is due to speak to the media later on Tuesday.

Headline lap times from testing are not necessarily an accurate indication of the pace of the cars, as fuel loads, tyres and track condition can have a dramatic effect on performance.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/moto...ne/8493706.stm

and new points system...

Formula 1 will have a new points system for the 2010 after an agreement between the governing body (FIA) and the teams.

The new system will see places rewarded in a 25-18-15-12-10-8-6-4-2-1 sequence.

F1 bosses believe a seven-point gap between first and second place, rather than the current two-point separation, will promote a 'race-to-win' attitude.

New tyre rules mean drivers must start races on the same tyres they set their grid time in, while 'double diffusers' will be banned from 2011.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/moto...ne/8493082.stm

[Iceman]

Points system is so much better now......tyres will be the crucial thing racing now......im thinking 3 tyre changes per race.....

[James]

Downside of the qualifying tyres thing is I can see it leading to not very interesting qualifying with drivers wanting to preserve tyres for the race.

[Iceman]

Originally Posted by James

Downside of the qualifying tyres thing is I can see it leading to not very interesting qualifying with drivers wanting to preserve tyres for the race.

Yeah.....I'd propose maybe 3 points for pole, 2 points for second and 1 point for third in qualifying would make them fight for it......

also maybe 3 points for fastest lap in race.....

[Iceman]

Just looking at a picture of all the cars again....im really liking all of them with the exception of the renault.....

also adam carroll might sign next week for campos meta.....Ireland be represented again

[Iceman]

Fernando Alonso (ESP) Ferrari F10. Formula One Testing, Day Three, Valencia, Spain, Wednesday 3 February 2010. Fans flock into the grandstands to see Fernando Alonso (ESP) test the Ferrari for the first time. Formula One Testing, Day Three, Valencia, Spain, Wednesday 3 February 2010. Michael Schumacher (GER) Mercedes GP MGP W01. Formula One Testing, Day Three, Valencia, Spain, Wednesday 3 February 2010. Jaime Alguersuari (ESP) Scuderia Toro Rosso STR5. Formula One Testing, Day Three, Valencia, Spain, Wednesday 3 February 2010. Jenson Button (GBR) McLaren MP4/25. Formula One Testing, Day Three, Valencia, Spain, Wednesday 3 February 2010.

If the crowd of thousands that descended on the Valencia track on Wednesday made the trip to the Spanish circuit to watch local hero Fernando Alonso in action in a Ferrari for the first time, then they’ll leave well satisfied.

Not only did Alonso cover 127 laps over the course of the day, but he also topped the timesheets. Clocking a best time of 1m 11.470s, he finished over six tenths of a second ahead of the BMW Sauber of fellow Spaniard Pedro de la Rosa, as this week’s three-day test drew to a close.

Alonso focused on finding the best set-up in the F10 and assessing its handling with various fuel loads. De la Rosa, meanwhile, focused on tyre and set-up work in the C29 and completed 80 laps.

"We are quite satisfied with the first test,” explained BMW Sauber’s technical director, Willy Rampf. “As well as being reliable, it was important to see that the car responded to changes in the way we expected. The drivers' comments on the car basically were in line with that, which also helps the team to work in the right direction."

Mercedes GP took up the third-fastest slot, as Michael Schumacher completed his first full day behind the wheel of the MGP W01. Schumacher spent the morning working on set-up and balance, before switching to long runs in the afternoon. Although a hydraulic problem on the car brought the German’s day to a close one hour early, he covered a total of 82 laps.

"I'm very happy to have been back in a Formula One car this week,” he said. “We had a short run on Monday and then almost a full day today which has been good. The experience has been very positive and the car is running smoothly with just a small hydraulic leak which stopped us slightly early. The main focus is on reliability and doing as many laps as we can so we're not too worried about looking at the lap times right now.

“It's a new challenge and a new experience for me this year but knowing (team principal) Ross (Brawn) so well and working with him again has made it very easy and I feel at home in the team already. I'm feeling fresh and motivated and very positive about the season ahead. I can't wait to be back in the car to continue the programme in Jerez next week."

Just over a tenth slower than Schumacher was Jaime Alguersuari in the Toro Rosso. Alguersuari, who was enjoying his first taste of the STR5 after taking over the cockpit from team mate Sebastien Buemi, completed 97 laps.

“It felt good to complete my first-ever Formula one test session, as last season I was never able to do any testing,” said the Spaniard. “I was able to concentrate on understanding the car, without having to think about it in terms of a race weekend. Personally, I felt much stronger in the car, as I have been training hard in the three months since I last drove in Abu Dhabi. Today was a positive experience and I’m looking forward now to next week in Jerez. It’s too early to say much about the car’s performance, but it felt competitive.”

Also in their 2010 cockpit for the first time was Jenson Button in McLaren’s new MP4-25. Button covered 82 laps as he made his way to fifth in the times. Although his best was a full 1.5 seconds down on Alonso’s quickest time, the British team were well satisfied with how the day progressed, as Button ran a series of longer runs to find the right balance and set-up.

Sixth fastest was Formula One racing’s first-ever Russian driver, Vitaly Petrov, who made his debut for Renault and completed 75 laps in the French team’s R30.

“I really enjoyed my first day in the car and everything went well,” said the 25 year-old. “The car is very impressive compared with a GP2 car and I enjoyed experiencing the power and braking performance. After about 30 laps I was starting to feel comfortable and understanding the limits of the car. It was also my first chance to work with my engineers and so far everything is going really well so I'm happy with the day."

Wednesday’s final runner was fellow newcomer Nico Hulkenberg, who finished in seventh for Williams. Hulkenberg enjoyed a busy session, covering 126 laps.

“We worked on putting as much mileage as we could on the FW32 and achieved over 500 kilometres at the end of the day, bringing us to a test total of 1,213.5 kms,” said Williams’ technical director, Sam Michael. “We spent the three days working on set-up and long runs; the main systems on the car are proving reliable and are cooling sufficiently. There are the inevitable minor teething problems to resolve between now and Jerez, but it's been good to get out on track and start work with our new engine partner, Cosworth.”

The teams will be back in action from 10 February as next week’s four-day session gets underway at the Spanish circuit of Jerez.

Unofficial Wednesday test times from Valencia:
1. Fernando Alonso, Ferrari, 1:11.470, 127 Laps
2. Pedro de la Rosa, BMW Sauber, 1:12.094, 80 Laps
3. Michael Schumacher, Mercedes GP, 1:12.438, 82 Laps
4. Jaime Alguersuari, Toro Rosso, 1:12.576, 97 Laps
5. Jenson Button, McLaren, 1:12.951, 82 Laps
6. Vitaly Petrov, Renault, 1:13.097, 75 Laps
7. Nico Hulkenberg, Williams, 1:13.669, 126 Laps

[pinkmichk]

is anyone a nascar fan? i discovered it last night and stayed up watching online nelson piquet jnr was driving one of the cars cos obviously his chances of driving in F1 again are pretty much nil not sure i understand all the nascar rules/race terms so if anyone could enlighten me? he drove marginally better in the nascar than F1
and i thought F1 crashes were bad some of the wreaks last night made massa crash look like a stroll in the park

[Iceman]

I used to when Setanta showed it......don't think they have the rights to it anymore.....i do like it though.....(Not as much as F1)

[pinkmichk]

i watched by the wonder of justin tv online but i think sky sports were gonna be doing a hour highlight today?
i really cant wait for the season to start (well seasons cos am gonna be trackside for rounds 2 and 3 touring car)

[Iceman]

Im just pumped for F1.....well Schumacher....

1 moth exactly!!!!!

[James]

I have watched NASCAR a little, but I prefer Indy car racing over there which is more like F1.

[Iceman]

Heard Adam Carooll is getting a drive for Campos Meta!!!

Also Ralf Schumacher signed for one of the stand in teams.....

[pinkmichk]

james dont say that i can only just about keep up with what i follow now
1 month excellent means first race falls on a weekend when i dont have daughter at home so can watch in peace

[Iceman]

hehe!!!

just checked it's Stefan GP that are signing Ralf.....

[James]

Carroll is good, yeah. He was in British F3 at the same time as Piquet Jr, incidentally, and was competitive with him in that championship, but didn't have the money of Piquet.

Paul di Resta has got a test/reserve drive at Force India. He's a Scottish guy who has been racing in German touring cars recently. Good driver, cousin of Dario Franchitti. McLaren wanted him to have a race-seat last season (at Force India).

[Iceman]

Yeah Carroll is the reigning A1 champion.....maybe the last ever A1 champion by the looks of things...