Fernando Alonso has set the fastest time of the day in the second and final day of Pirelli testing, meaning Ferrari have been fastest on both days in which the new rubber was used. In the last time a Formula 1 car will be driven in 2010, Alonso set a fastest lap of a 1:40.529, sitting at the top of the timesheets for most of the day after completing 105 laps – almost two whole race distances.
The twice world champion said that the transition to Pirellis for next season should be ‘smooth’ due to similarities with the Bridgestone tyres which were used last season:
“Overall, I am quite happy with the behaviour of the tyres. They are not too different to the previous manufacturer [Bridgestone] so in a way I think it will be a very smooth transition with no big drama. For us, it was not a big change. There were a few set-up changes to the car to accommodate the tyres and try to understand the two types of tyres that Pirelli brought here. It was okay.”
Fernando Alonso
Mercedes GP seemed to be the only team which saved a set of tyres until the end of the day as Michael Schumacher popped up in second nearing the end of the two-day test at the Yas Marina circuit in Abu Dhabi, just over a second-and-a-half behind the fastest man. Schumi said he felt ‘positive’ about the new tyres:
“They have a very different combination. Whether [or not] you can say the front tyre is now stronger and that’s going to suit my style, what is very important is how next year’s car is going to suit these tyres. That’s very important. But for the first step, from what we have seen here, I feel positive about the tyres.”
Michael Schumacher
World champion Sebastian Vettel finished the test third after running for Red Bull on both Friday and Saturday, and said that the “tyres are already better than expected.” Rubens Barrichello and Robert Kubica were 5th and 6th, with the McLaren test driver duo of Gary Paffett and Oliver Turvey 7th and 8th respectively.
There was one red flag throughout the day’s testing, caused by the Hispania of Pastor Maldonado, who did very well to finish ahead of F1 veteran Timo Glock, over four seconds off the time set by Fernando Alonso.
Timesheet
| Car | Driver | Car | Best Lap | Gap | Laps | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 8 | Fernando Alonso | Ferrari | 01:40.529 | 105 | |
| 2 | 3 | Michael Schumacher | Mercedes | 01:40.685 | 0.156 | 74 |
| 3 | 5 | Sebastian Vettel | Red Bull-Renault | 01:40.825 | 0.296 | 66 |
| 4 | 9 | Rubens Barrichello | Williams-Cosworth | 01:41.294 | 0.765 | 100 |
| 5 | 11 | Robert Kubica | Renault | 01:41.614 | 1.085 | 91 |
| 6 | 51 | Gary Paffett | McLaren-Mercedes | 01:41.622 | 1.093 | 46 |
| 7 | 31 | Oliver Turvey | McLaren-Mercedes | 01:41.740 | 1.211 | 30 |
| 8 | 37 | Paul di Resta | Force India-Mercedes | 01:41.869 | 1.340 | 35 |
| 9 | 23 | Kamui Kobayashi | Sauber-Ferrari | 01:42.110 | 1.581 | 43 |
| 10 | 16 | Sebastien Buemi | Toro Rosso-Ferrari | 01:42.145 | 1.616 | 98 |
| 11 | 15 | Vitantonio Liuzzi | Force India-Mercedes | 01:42.416 | 1.887 | 47 |
| 12 | 61 | Sergio Perez | Sauber-Ferrari | 01:42.777 | 2.248 | 45 |
| 13 | 18 | Jarno Trulli | Lotus-Cosworth | 01:44.521 | 3.992 | 83 |
| 14 | 40 | Pastor Maldonado | HRT-Cosworth | 01:44.768 | 4.239 | 65 |
| 15 | 24 | Timo Glock | Virgin-Cosworth | 01:44.783 | 4.254 | 82 |
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Photo (C) Pirelli
It’s pointless me getting my hopes up for many reasons but Massa was the only person to lap quicker on the Pirelli’s than the Bridestone’s this week. Obviously it’s good to see Alonso still up there and Schumi looking quick but apparently he saved a set esp for his last run and a quick lap. It’s too hard to read into testing esp at this stage but it’s a good F1 fix and by then looks of things Pirelli have done a good job so far.
Absolutely Steph, very impressive with how quick these Pirellis are so soon into their F1 foray. From what I read into the times and quotes from drivers, they aren’t much different to the Bridgestones. Positive for Felipe though, even at this early stage.
Very interesting in different in opinion between the two Mercedes drivers as Nico think that the performance won’t change too much in the current tyre on the other hand Michael seems to be happy about it.
With the high fuel era and kers coming back I expect they’ll still be very understeery but I wonder if they feel much different for the drivers. Obviously, they’ll keep evolving but I find it fascinating that tyres so similar may (in theory) suddenly be much better for some drivers.