planetf1.com

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I must go this year to one of the practices in Bcn. I keep thinking about it and then there's always something turns up (normally work) that makes me call it off. We'll see..

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PF1 Pick 10 Competition Podiums:
2011 Silverstone 1st
2012 Spa 1st
2012 Interlagos 3rd

I would love to go to Jerez one day

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Given the rule for 2013 that DRS may only be used in practice and qualifying in the designated race-areas, do you think that will be policed in testing as well?

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DISCLAIMER #1: You're probably going to ignore the above post.
DISCLAIMER #2: My posts often tend to deter any users from posting again on a thread. I'm a thread-killer.

I would prefer Jerez also, but I can try and link some work trip to Bcn around testing days whereas Jerez I can't really find a decent excuse for going there other than the practice itself and I don't think that would quite cut it.

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PF1 Pick 10 Competition Podiums:
2011 Silverstone 1st
2012 Spa 1st
2012 Interlagos 3rd

Looks like next year they will have two DRS zones at every race, where they can afford (i.e. not Monaco).
The FIA will restrict DRS in practice and qualifying, possibly including testing unless teams seek more straight-line data.

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I wouldn't have thought it'll be restricted in testing. There are pretty much no rules during tests other than 'dont crash into each other'.

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Sauber first to pass 2013 FIA crash tests

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Anyone else think they should go for the green and black livery? It'd stand out

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"You are the universe expressing itself as a Human for a little while..."

I think green black would be good, alas though they aren't the most out going teams when it comes to liveries

Oh I dunno, this year's livery was pretty 'out there'... :S

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"You are the universe expressing itself as a Human for a little while..."

Jerez is a fantastic circuit I went there for MotoGP in April. Almost everywhere has a good hillside view to watch from, and if sit in the 'bowl' towards the end of the circuit (just before the F1 chicane) then you get a lot of viewing time. However, there are no roofs anywhere around the circuit, so when it rains there is almost no escape. We hid under some trees for a while, but in the end you just have to accept if you need to go anywhere you're getting wet! I couldn't recommend it highly enough otherwise though.

Oh, and good ol' Sauber getting in there nice and early!

IMHO the teams can test whatever they want as long as it passes the crash-tests... i'm pretty sure there are no load-tests or anything else so they could probably run scary stuff at the winter-test and also FP1-3 ... however - i must admit it would be unwise to test stuff that will never make it through the tests

I'm curious, how do you guys manage your stays there. Are you staying in a hotel for those days or you have friends that live there? I'm very interested in heading out there for testing this year myself but trying to gather some more information.

37 days to go!

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I usually lurk, but YES I WOULD LOVE TO SEE THAT SCHEME! I love Sauber. And I want Sauber-BMW come back to F1 someday...

I'm planning on going for the last test, February 28th - March 3rd. Which of the track offers a better experience? It's my first time going to these tracks and my first testing attendance. Any advice and information is welcomed.

It would fit in with Monster Energy sponsorship (if they moved from Merc).

As for DRS, if I was a team principal, I would want to run some test stints with DRS unrestricted to see where performance lies in say balance and downforce and some restricted to the zones. In the case of Jerez we wouldn't know exactly where the FIA would place them on a race weekend, but for Catalunya we'd have a better idea.

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"We can not drive slower, just to make the races more exciting." Alain Prost

Just friggin get rid of DRS altogether and let the drivers overtake normally.

I guess you forget things over time but i do remember a period of time when seeing an overtake was a rare experience, who remembers the Trulli train? Qualify the car further up the grid then it should be then in the race keep faster cars behind you until the pitstops, i'm for cars being able to overtake rather than watching a procession.

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PFI Pick 10 Competition

Current Standing: 16th

I remember that, but that was due to refueling i suppose? More races are being fought in the pits than on the track.

I remember that too . It was almost impossible for a car to overtake other than by making up enough time to come out in front after re-fuelling pit stops.

The Trulli train was a particular nightmare for anyone supporting another driver... To be fair, Trulli was an excellent qualifier, putting the car way above where it should be on the grid - but in the race he just held up the faster cars/drivers that were chasing the lead driver.

Admittedly, the rare overtake was far more special than nowadays - but even so, I prefer DRS enabling cars to overtake far more easily. Hopefully the race officials have now worked out the optimum DRS zones for great racing.

No it was because of the loss of front downforce when following another car through a corner, it was reckoned at the time that a F1 car needed to be over 2 seconds a lap faster than the car in front to be able to overtake it, thus at least 95% of the change of positions in the race occurred during the pitstops.

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PFI Pick 10 Competition

Current Standing: 16th

Ah, was it because of the additional barge boards on the bodywork that forced the cars to switch to a simpler bodywork from 2009 onwards?

Alonso to miss first test

http://en.espnf1.com/ferrari/motorsport ... 99200.html

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Is anyone going to Barcelona for testing?

Attending to the 2 set of tests in Barcelona, if anyone has some knowledge for the schedules, places to be close to the cars, good spot for taking pictures, or anything, please share with us

I'm not sure that made things any better, some increased overtaking in 2009 was by KERS cars against none KERS cars

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PFI Pick 10 Competition

Current Standing: 16th

I'll be going to the final test in Barca.. Hotel near the track and flights were just under £250 for two people although probably gone up as I booked it three weeks ago. Tickets are apparently only ~€10 a day.. anyone been before and has tips?

Re: DRS

The thing about overtaking, for me, is that it should be treated like any commodity: The more of it there is the less value each unit has. I'd much rather see someone lining up an overtake for 10 or 15 laps before pulling it off than them just rocking up and DRSing past the other driver like two trucks on the A303.

Anyway... can't wait for testing, particularly in terms of seeing what Sky have to offer with their increased testing coverage.

Jerez de La Frontera - 5th - 8th February

testing starts on tuesday, so any links to timing would be appreciated.

weather looks fair for the next few days with a high temps between 16°C and 20°C tuesday to friday...
http://local.msn.com/worldweather.aspx? ... &src=vista

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I think it'll end up being a twitter job. You might find places like f1times and f1fanatic have something though.

Sky are doing a 15 minute nightly 'show' for each testing day, then some time in feb (15th?) the F1 show is back for a special testing show. I assume they will have some juicy shots of the cars and will pull out their 3D renders to show stuff off.

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Autosport had a live commentary thing last year I think ???

Edit: text commentary.

BBC did commentary for each day of testing last year, should be the same for this year

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Support: Kimi Raikkonen, Lewis Hamilton, Jenson Button, Heikki Kovalainen
Respect: Alonso, Schumacher, Newey
Not so keen on: Vettel, Di Resta, whoever decides to red flag when it rains in F1

As for live timings don't Williams usually cover it on their site? I'm sure they did last year.

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Jenson Button Fan.

well remembered yes

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Ahh good point, they did!

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Don't think it's been posted above, but those who are going/considering going to Barcelona, the tickets for testing are available to buy. Now, to spend €70 on a guided tour day test ticket or just the normal testing ticket..?

I'm going to the First BCN test, I got hotel in Central Barcelona and I'm going to get up really early and get the train up there, but I'll probably go to the 1st and 3rd test days.

Its €15 a day for tickets, that gets you to zones I, F, N, H and the main grandstand.

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Yeah I'm sure DRS won't be restricted in testing, but seeing as it will be during the season, running around using it all the time would seem to a both a pointless and counter-productive exercise. Much better to use it as it will be used in the 'real stuff' and gather meaningful data.