|
Ferrari has
wrapped up four days of testing in Spain where both
Felipe Massa and Fernando Alonso have put many more
kilometres on the new F10 which has proved reliable
throughout both the official test sessions held so far
this year.
Yesterday saw
the fourth day and final day of testing at the Circuito
Permanente de Velocidad" in Jerez in Andalusia. The day
began with bad weather, as intermittent drizzle and high
humidity levels made for a wet track but by late morning the
situation improved and the ten drivers present at the track
could finally use the slicks. It was again Massa behind the
wheel as the Scuderia push ahead the F10’s development. The
Brazilian driver started working on the car’s behaviour on
the wet, followed by an endurance test on the dry, which was
positively concluded before the lunch break. In the
afternoon Massa dedicated himself to comparing the three
different types of slicks the teams have at their disposal
here in Jerez. In the end he drove 160 laps, the fastest in
a time of 1.21.485, the seventh fastest time of the day,
almost two seconds slower than the 1.19.684 driven by
McLaren’s Hamilton, although it’s questionable how valid
these lap times here at the tests are.
Again the F10
confirmed its overall reliability: over 700 kilometres on
one day and the only inconveniences, apart from some exits
into the gravel without any consequences, were the typical
problems during the initial development phase of a new
single-seater. "We’ve never driven 700 kilometres in just
one day,” Massa said at the end of the day. "Physically I
feel well, I actually thought that I might be more tired
than I am. I’m pleased by the work we’ve done today, because
we could test the car under all conditions. I’m happy for
myself and the team: we concluded the foreseen programme and
there is lots of data to analyse over the upcoming days, so
we can prepare ourselves the best possible way for the next
test session, without any particular problems. The only stop
I had doesn’t worry me at all, because we know what caused
it. I think we’re heading in the right direction, but we’re
aware of the fact that there’s still lots of work ahead of
us."
Naturally Massa
was asked if after a week of tests he feels as if he could
win the title: "For sure we can say that we’ve got a
reliable car, but it’s much too early for the rest, although
I really hope so. The one who does the best work, day after
day on the track and at home, wins the title. I’m not the
most important thing here. What counts is that we know that
we’ve got a fast and constant car.” The media also wanted to
talk about the article published in a Spanish magazine some
days ago, asking Massa what he thinks about the ongoing
discussion: “Look, I can only say that Fernando and I had a
laugh! Let’s not loose time with these things.”
The third test
official group session of the season takes place from 17 to
20 February, again at this track. The Scuderia’s programme
will see Massa entrusted with driving duties for the first
two days, then Alonso for the final two.
Test details:
Circuit: Circuito Permanente de Velocidad, Jerez de la
Frontera – 4.428 km; Driver: Felipe Massa; Car: Ferrari F10;
Weather: air temperature 8/11 °C, track temperature 10/12
°C. Overcast, light rain at the start of the morning, with a
wet track, then dry.
|
