Just a mere 78 days after F1 bid farewell to the 2010 season, testing for the 2011 campaign got underway at Valencia.

With blue skies overhead, heralding a perfect day for testing, new Force India test driver Nico Hulkenberg was the first out on track followed by McLaren's Gary Paffett.

Both drivers were using last year's cars as their team's new challengers won't be launched until later in the morning.

Fernando Alonso therefore had the honour of being the first to display his team's new car as he took the track in Ferrari's F150.

His run was short-lived as the Spaniard suffered an apparent technical problem within the first hour. Alonso, though, was able to get his car, which had the rear covered in flow-paint, back to the garage.

Soon back on track, the double World Champion climbed to the top of the timesheets with a 1:15.371.

Defending World Champion Sebastian Vettel and Sauber's Kamui Kobayashi both hit the track in their 2011 challengers while Vitaly Petrov debuted Renault's new R31 before Rubens Barrichello ventured out in his FW33.

Jaime Alguersuari put Toro Rosso's STR6 through its first test while Narain Karthikeyan made his Formula One return with Hispania Racing - but in last year's machine.

The morning saw most of the teams focusing on short runs, barely more than installation laps as the drivers got a feel for their new cars.

One man, though, who wasn't left with a good feeling was Nico Rosberg.

The Mercedes GP driver was behind the wheel of Merc's new W02 for its maiden voyage when he became the first to bring out the red flags as he stopped out on track.

With the action back underway, Vettel improved from a 1:18 to a 1:15.559, slotting in behind Alonso as last year's antagonists went at it again.

Alonso responded by dropping his time to a 1:14.718 and extending his advantage over the reigning World Champ to 0.841s. He also completed the most number of laps during the morning, amassing 44.

Hulkenberg was third fastest on his Force India debut while Kobayashi had a promising start in his Sauber C30, finishing with the fourth best time ahead of Paffett and Jerome D'Ambrosio, who was using a modified version of last year's Virgin Racing car.

Unofficial Times (1pm)
01. Alonso Ferrari F150 1:14.718 44 laps
02. Vettel Red Bull Racing RB7 1:14.962 + 0.244 15 laps
03. Hulkenberg Force India VJM-03 1:15.615 + 0.897 29 laps
04. Kobayashi Sauber C30 1:15.831 + 1.113 38 laps
05. Paffett McLaren MP4-25 1:16.256 + 1.538 45 laps
06. D'Ambrosio Virgin Racing MVR-02 1:16.398 + 1.680 32 laps
07. Alguersuari Toro Rosso STR6 1:18.260 + 3.542 8 laps
08. Karthikeyan HRT F1 Team F111 1:18.650 + 3.932 22 laps
09. Barrichello Williams FW33 1:18.714 + 3.996 11 laps
10. Rosberg Mercedes GP W02 1:19.930 + 5.212 9 laps
11. Petrov Lotus Renault GP R31 1:20.633 + 5.915 6 laps

SOURCE

 

Granted, it's Paffett (rather than Hamilton or Button) in the McLaren, but it's nice to see Kobayashi up there and ahead of the McLarens. Hulkenberg seems strong, as well - is this a testament to the Ferrari engine? (Force India = Ferrari, no?)

Also, too bad the other Lotus team doesn't seem to have run ... and I'd love to see Senna's helmet sticking out of Petrov's Lotus, while I'm daydreaming.

 

Champion Vettel fastest as winter testing begins

World Champions Sebastian Vettel and Red Bull Racing have picked up where they left off in Abu Dhabi last November by topping the first pre-season test session of 2010 in Valencia. Behind the German, compatriot Nico Hülkenberg and Gary Paffett completed the top three for Force India and McLaren as local favourite Fernando Alonso finished fifth for Ferrari despite a late stoppage.

February marks a crucial month for Formula 1’s teams, with this week’s three days in Valencia kicking off a string of tests which will carry the circus to Bahrain - where the final test will take place in early March prior to the first race - via Jerez and Barcelona.

The term ‘winter testing’ seemed a fairly odd expression to use on Tuesday, with sunshine never failing to brighten up the Ricardo Tormo circuit as ambient temperatures reached highs of 15°C (59°F). All teams tested bar Team Lotus, which has elected to – under new regulations for 2011 – trade in its first day for a private run on the same track on Friday, with the rest of the field having, by then, left the venue.

New Force India reserve driver Nico Hülkenberg was first to leave the pits, closely followed by McLaren tester Gary Paffett, as the green light illuminated at 10am local time. However, proceedings were brought to a brief half just before midday when Nico Rosberg was forced to stop on the start/finish straight with hydraulic problems; the younger German then handed the Mercedes over to team-mate Michael Schumacher in the afternoon.

The crowds of local fans, albeit not as large as last year, were delighted to see the Ferrari of local hero Fernando Alonso hit the top of the timesheets although the former double Champion then saw Hülkenberg take the leading spot. By 3pm, it was the reigning title holder on P1 as Vettel led the way for Red Bull ahead of Hülkenberg, Paffett, Alonso and the Sauber of Kamui Kobayashi.

As Rosberg’s best morning time quickly sank to the bottom of the timesheets in the afternoon, Narain Karthikeyan ended the day 12th and the penultimate runner on his first appearance for Hispania Racing. Also on-track today were Vitaly Petrov for Renault, Rubens Barrichello in an interim 2010 Williams and 2011 debutants Paul di Resta for Force India and Jérôme d’Ambrosio for Marussia Virgin Racing.

In the final two minutes of the session, red flags flew once again as Alonso ground to a halt in the pit lane entrance; it is not yet known whether the cause is a technical problem or shortage of fuel.

SOURCE:http://www.gpupdate.net/en/f1-news/2...esting-begins/

 

Formula 1 test at Circuito Ricardo Tormo 1 February 2011
Pos. Driver Team Time Laps
1. Sebastian Vettel Red Bull 01:13.769 93
2. Nico Hulkenberg Force India F1 01:13.938 71
3. Gary Paffett McLaren 01:14.292 91
4. Paul di Resta Force India F1 01:14.461 28
5. Fernando Alonso Ferrari 01:14.553 97
6. Kamui Kobayashi Sauber 01:15.621 68
7. Jerome d` Ambrosio Virgin Racing 01:16.003 69
8. Vitaly Petrov Renault 01:16.351 28
9. Michael Schumacher Mercedes Grand Prix 01:16.450 15
10. Jaime Alguersuari Scuderia Toro Rosso 01:17.214 20
11. Rubens Barrichello Williams 01:17.335 78
12. Narain Karthikeyan HRT F1 Team 01:18.020 45
13. Nico Rosberg Mercedes Grand Prix 01:19.930 9