Barcelona second pre-season test Test day three
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The Marussia man almost improves next time round, but personal bests in the first two splits are undone by a slower third sector.
There's something we haven't seen in a while - a bit of green on the timesheets as Max Chilton improves to a 1m25.690s.
In other news, AUTOSPORT Live's lap chart has already become ridiculously complicated. This could take some deciphering tonight.
Not the smoothest of getaways from the Red Bull pitbox, but Mark Webber is not out on track.
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Jules Bianchi Force India F1 2013
@clubforce: "What better way for @Jules_Bianchi to wait for his turn in the car tomorrow? You guessed it, photoshoots."
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I have read in the past that by analysis of the audio output from an engine it is possible to determine many parameters that would "give the game away" especially if your team is running the same engine. How much of this analysis goes on and how realistic is the "phoney wars" label?
Barry Dench
Edd Straw: "Some teams do this kind of thing and it's valuable data to get an idea of where the rest are. However, that in itself relies on assumptions about what programme the cars are running, how hard drivers are really pushing etc.
"There's also the fact that knowing how far ahead or behind you are makes little odds as at this time of year, teams are trying to put every little bit of improvement they possibly can on the car! Analysis of the audio output of the engine, speed trap figures, trackside observations and the like can given an idea of where the car appears to be, but given the huge variables involved and the tightness of the competitive spread, it's only a guide."
Barry Dench
Edd Straw: "Some teams do this kind of thing and it's valuable data to get an idea of where the rest are. However, that in itself relies on assumptions about what programme the cars are running, how hard drivers are really pushing etc.
"There's also the fact that knowing how far ahead or behind you are makes little odds as at this time of year, teams are trying to put every little bit of improvement they possibly can on the car! Analysis of the audio output of the engine, speed trap figures, trackside observations and the like can given an idea of where the car appears to be, but given the huge variables involved and the tightness of the competitive spread, it's only a guide."
As we try and keep track of a growing number of large runs, conversation has turned to the use of 3D filming and how the final test at Barcelona could look.
20 laps in, Grosjean stops for a second time.
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Two similarly-themed questions for Edd concerning Marussia and Caterham.
Looking at the testing times I don't see much of an improvement from Marussia or Caterham. Do you expect they will be mixing it with the back of the midfield this year?
Chris Pratt
Edd Straw: "Based on current evidence, no. Testing suggests that the gap is still there and they will be fighting a private battle for 10th and 11th place overall."
Any opinion on whether the 107% rule while be a bigger challenge for Caterham and Marussia this year?
Michael Kohout
Edd Straw: "I'd be surprised. The back-of-the-grid teams always use the quicker tyre in Q1 anyway, which reduces the challenge, and there's no reason to think that they will be particularly close to the 107 per cent cutoff."
Looking at the testing times I don't see much of an improvement from Marussia or Caterham. Do you expect they will be mixing it with the back of the midfield this year?
Chris Pratt
Edd Straw: "Based on current evidence, no. Testing suggests that the gap is still there and they will be fighting a private battle for 10th and 11th place overall."
Any opinion on whether the 107% rule while be a bigger challenge for Caterham and Marussia this year?
Michael Kohout
Edd Straw: "I'd be surprised. The back-of-the-grid teams always use the quicker tyre in Q1 anyway, which reduces the challenge, and there's no reason to think that they will be particularly close to the 107 per cent cutoff."
Romain Grosjean Lotus F1 2013
One man we know is already on a long run is Romain Grosjean. The Lotus man is currently 13 laps into his stint (which has included one stop so far) and is circulating in the low 1m31s.
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Long runs are pretty much the order of the day all along the pitlane.
@OfficialSF1Team: "In the afternoon @NicoHulkenberg is mainly doing long-runs with high fuel loads."
@WilliamsF1Team: "#BOTTAS waits while the team make more set-up changes before he gets into some longer running."
@OfficialSF1Team: "In the afternoon @NicoHulkenberg is mainly doing long-runs with high fuel loads."
@WilliamsF1Team: "#BOTTAS waits while the team make more set-up changes before he gets into some longer running."
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Aaron has the privilege (of sorts) of opening this afternoon's chat with our F1 Editor Edd Straw.
How does Nico Rosberg really compare with Lewis Hamilton? Can we expect a good rivalry?
Edd Straw: "That's one of the questions that only this year can truly answer. Hamilton is a proven performer and even his rivals recognise that there's nobody faster over a single lap in F1.
"Rosberg has the advantage of having been in the team for three years already, but for all his qualities he hasn't been able to show that he's quite in the same class. He's fast and has shown he can win from the front, but right now you'd put him down as a very strong number two, albeit one quick enough to put some pressure on.
"For a more in-depth look at the challenge Rosberg faces, click here (subscribers only)."
How does Nico Rosberg really compare with Lewis Hamilton? Can we expect a good rivalry?
Edd Straw: "That's one of the questions that only this year can truly answer. Hamilton is a proven performer and even his rivals recognise that there's nobody faster over a single lap in F1.
"Rosberg has the advantage of having been in the team for three years already, but for all his qualities he hasn't been able to show that he's quite in the same class. He's fast and has shown he can win from the front, but right now you'd put him down as a very strong number two, albeit one quick enough to put some pressure on.
"For a more in-depth look at the challenge Rosberg faces, click here (subscribers only)."
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@Marussia_F1Team: "We are completing a pre-planned suspension change and Max will rejoin the track in around 20 mins to conduct set-up work & aero measurement."
Grosjean pits for the first time. A quick change onto hards and he's back underway.
We've had some great questions for "Ask the Edd" so far. When he's finished being angry at his computer screen, he'll start responding.
Grosjean, incidentally, has started this run on the medium compound. He has Bottas, Alonso and now Button for company.
Grosjean is indeed out, and we'll be keeping an eye on this given Lotus's earlier promise of attempting a full race simulation. He opens up with two mid 1m31s.
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@Lotus_F1Team: "Car nearly ready for next run, just have to re-gas the aircon and change the CD autochanger selection."
Adrian Sutil Force India F1 2013
Alonso is however fastest in all but one of the speed traps - the first, in which Adrian Sutil's recorded 282.0km/h tops the charts.
Plenty of interest in who is fastest in each sector. This morning's pacesetter Fernando Alonso found most of his gains in the middle sector, where he's fastest overall. Grosjean tops the first split, while Hulkenberg is fastest in the third.
Bottas jumps up into sixth overall with a 1m22.826s. His second effort is almost exactly one second slower.
Relatively short runs for Alonso and Vergne, who both pit. Rosberg, Bottas and Hulkenberg and now Sutil out on circuit.
Just after Vergne begins his 70th tour of the day he suddenly has company, in the shape of Fernando Alonso, Nico Rosberg and Nico Hulkenberg.
Interviews and paddock wanderings provisionally completed, Edd Straw is with us for the afternoon - which means "Ask the Edd" is back in business. If you have any questions about testing - be it current form, rules and regulations or expectations for the year ahead - send them in to live@autosport.com.
And as we ponder that, everyone heads into the pits. The silence doesn't last long though - moments after Grosjean boxes, Jean-Eric Vergne heads out for Toro Rosso.
Giedo van der Garde Caterham F1 2013
We're not sure how this works...van der Garde sets new bests in all three sectors but comes round in a 1m27s, just under one second off his actual best.
Bottas's first flyer of the day is a 1m25.719s, which sends him 10th overall. Van der Garde improves at the same time to a 1m26.329s.
A strong out-lap for Bottas that - green in sectors two and three and new bests through all three speed traps.
(Partly to use our new icons, it's worth pointing out the Finn has come in for Pastor Maldonado this afternoon).
(Partly to use our new icons, it's worth pointing out the Finn has come in for Pastor Maldonado this afternoon).
Van der Garde, Bottas and Grosjean all head out now.
Rosberg improves by all of 16 thousandths of a second. He stays fourth for now.
Sutil, Hulkenberg and Rosberg all out now.
Twitter
@Lotus_F1Team: "Plan for the afternoon; some aero work then a race distance simulation. You won't see any super quick times."
Or Sega Rally, as another corner of the media centre suggests.
Well, except for the now-open fruit machine convention (we're being serious) in the closed-off section of the media centre. If only they had the old Daytona USA arcade...
Rosberg adds just one more lap, a mid-1m25s, before he comes in and we're quiet once again.
Nico Rosberg F1 2013 Testing
Multi-tasking has never been an issue though. Nico Rosberg heads by for his fourth lap on mediums. His run so far is:
1m24.728s
1m23.930s
1m24.275s
1m24.574s
AUTOSPORT Live didn't manage to eat over the lunch break, but food has just arrived courtesy of TV man (and now slight hero) Will Buxton.
Rosberg puts a 1m24.728s on the board to start us off this afternoon.
And we're green. Nico Rosberg wastes to time and it straight out.
By: Matt Beer, Sam Tremayne
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