Testing News Wrap-Up

Ferrari: Accidents for Schumacher and Barrichello

After being clearly the fastest contenders during this week's Barcelona tests, Michael Schumacher and Rubens Barrichello both crashed their Ferrari F2001s heavily within an hour of each other at around lunchtime on Wednesday. Neither of the badly damaged cars could be repaired at the circuit, so Ferrari packed up and returned to base. Michael lost control between corners 11 and 12 at around 240km/h.

He said: "It was completely my fault. I got onto the grass and simply couldn't catch the car anymore." It was the same story at corner nine where Barrichello spun off. Both drivers escaped without injury. Just before his off, the Brazilian had set a time of 1:18.096, 0.45s faster than Michael who ended up on 1:18.552. Both were testing new tyres and Michael did a race distance on Tuesday, driving 102 laps for a fastest overall of 1:18.444.

On Thursday Michael flew to Mugello to take over testing work from Luca Badoer, who had been trying experimental parts with another F2001 and was now suffering with flu. Badoer did 41 laps for a best time of 1:22.870. Schumacher settled down to manage a 1.22.660 at Mugello while the factory checked over the damaged cars from Barcelona and found no mechanical defect.

Next Monday Barrichello will be running in Mugello and will be joined on Tuesday by Badoer if he is fit enough. On Wednesday both regular drivers will attend the launch of the new car and so the two test drivers will be at Mugello, while Schumacher and Barrichello take over again on Thursday. On Friday Schumacher will run in Mugello and Badoer in Fiorano, all with the F2001 as the testing schedule for the new car has not yet been finalised.

McLaren: Testing at Valencia

While most of the teams were at Barcelona, the McLaren-Mercedes squad continued its intensive programme of development work with the new MP4/17 at Valencia where David Coulthard started a programme on Tuesday, supported by Kimi Raikkonen in the MP4/16B test car.

Raikkonen concentrated on a Michelin tyre development programme with the test car while Coulthard carried out further engine and chassis development work in the MP4/17. By Wednesday night, and according to unconfirmed reports, Coulthard had got down to 1:11.58 in the new car - an unofficial track record - with Raikkonen, who was doing shorter runs in a modified MP4/16 with lighter fuel loads, down to 1:11.7.

Coulthard unfortunately had to pull out of the test with a heavy cold on Wednesday evening and Alexander Wurz went out to continue the test which ended on Thursday with wet weather testing on an artificially flooded track. "All the team's drivers and engineers are pleased with the performance of the new car so far," commented McLaren Managing Director Martin Whitmarsh. "We have been working hard assessing different set-ups and coming to grips with the Michelin tyre characteristics."

Williams: Schumacher Starts with FW24

After a few laps in the rain at Silverstone, the BMW Williams team sent the new FW24 down to Barcelona where Ralf Schumacher started a long test programme last Sunday with 59 trouble-free laps. With a best time of 1:19.238 he immediately matched the test times of the old FW23C which was driven that day by Antonio Pizzonia. Marc Gene did a 1:18.918 in the interim test car with the new BMW P82 engine and on Monday Schumacher was fastest on 1:19.280 after 53 laps.

Tuesday was reserved for pitstop practice which was interrupted by a broken gearbox. Juan Pablo Montoya was in the new car on Wednesday and Thursday, leaving Schumacher to complete tyre testing in the old FW23, producing a best of 1:19.266s while Montoya managed 1:20.344. His programme was reduced to 27 laps due to driveshaft problems and this car was taken over by Pizzonia on Thursday. Gene drove most of the time in the FW23C and was the fastest Williams driver on Thursday with 1:19.233, 0.4sec ahead of Montoya who did a 1:19.680.

Sauber: Going Well in Spain

The Sauber Petronas team started another three day test in Barcelona on Tuesday with two new C21s, the Swiss team again surprising everybody with their speed and reliability. On the first day Nick Heidfeld was the only driver to match the two Ferraris in the 1:18s bracket, posting a 1:18.798 after 89 laps, third fastest on the day. Felipe Massa, who was trying to get used to stopping in precisely the right place for his refuelling stop, ended up with 1:19.507 after 73 laps.

On Wednesday Heidfeld improved and was again third fastest on the day with 1:18.749, again suffering no technical problems. Massa covered 82 laps for a best of 1:20.379. On Thursday the team ran light fuel loads and managed a 1:17.891 which was close to what Kimi Raikkonen managed the previous week in the new McLaren.

"The car has much more grip than the C20 and it is so stable," said Heidfeld. "I am very optimistic for the season." The only problem was a scheduled driveshaft change on Thursday while Massa was delayed with a minor hydraulic problem, but nothing else. "Not even a screw fell off," said Peter Sauber.

Technical director Willy Rampf commented; "Nick had to do tyre testing for Bridgestone, whereas Massa was on a race distance during Wednesday and in qualifying trim on Thursday." In the race simulation Massa's times were very consistent. At the team's Hinwill base the third C21 has been completed. Sauber tests next in Valencia next week.

Jordan: Four Days in Barcelona

The Jordan-Honda squad started its four day Barcelona test with Takuma Sato and the 19-year old German Marcel Lasee starting the programme. Sato covered 43 laps with the new EJ12 carrying out systems checks and general set-up work, while Lasee ran the EJ11 for 71 laps. Commenting on his first drive in an Formula One car he said; "The power, brakes and downforce are just unbelievable and it was exciting to be driving on the same circuit on the same time as Michael and Ralf Schumacher."

Sato's best on the first day was 1:22.578 with Lasee just 0.6sec slower. On Wednesday Sato spent the day working on set-up and driver comfort in the EJ12 while also testing cooling and oil systems on the new car, his best time being 1:22.048. Lasee ran for 38 laps (best 1:20.531) before Giancarlo Fisichella took over the EJ11 in the afternoon, the Italian testing development brakes and front suspension geometry for a best of 1:20.109. Sato managed a 1:20.351 on Thursday with Giancarlo Fisichella on 1:21.091.

BAR Honda: Positive Third Test in Barcelona

The BAR-Honda team has returned to its base after a very positive third test with the 004 at the Circuit de Catalunya. Olivier Panis started the programme on Monday and Jacques Villeneuve took over on Tuesday, but the team encountered an (unspecified) mechanical problem and lost quite a bit of track time. During these two days Anthony Davidson was running a BAR 003 which Panis took over for tyre testing on Wednesday as Villeneuve was assessing aerodynamic options for the Australian GP.

Engineering Director Malcolm Oastler said; "We had a very busy programme in Barcelona, but this allowed us to increase our understanding of the new car and put plenty of miles on the chassis and engine. We expect to have the full Melbourne specification fitted to our car for a five day test from February 5-10 in Valencia."

Renault: Promising Start for R202

The new Renault R202 began testing this week at Barcelona following its launch in Paris on Sunday with Jenson Button getting down to a 1:20.073 on Tuesday, just 0.001 slower than Jarno Trulli managed while tyre testing with last year's B201 challenger. "Unfortunately an engine leak meant Jenson lost the morning while the unit was changed," said Technical Director Mike Gascoyne, "but he ran in the afternoon and made good progress with the set-up of the car."

On Wednesday Button managed a 1:20.831, concentrating on long runs and running the engine up to its maximum mileage before a scheduled change. Trulli continued his Michelin development work and got down to 1:20.671. Trulli did a 1:20.834 on Thursday while Fernando Alonso took over from Button in the B201 and posted a 1:21.440.

Jaguar: More Development Work

The Jaguar team carried out more chassis development and aerodynamic work following last week's intensive aerodynamic assessment at Lurcy Levis where Andrea Lotterer ran both an R2 and an R3. The team then went straight to Barcelona from last Friday until this Monday, progressively incorporating more aerodynamic and rear suspension modifications into the R3 and started testing again at Barcelona today (Friday) with Eddie Irvine and Pedro de la Rosa.

"We feel we are really making progress on the aerodynamic package," said a team spokesman, "and of course we have a brand new floor in the pipeline which will first be tested in the Silverstone shakedown prior to Melbourne."

Arrows: New A23 Ready to Test

Enrique Bernoldi is scheduled to shakedown the first of the new Arrows-Cosworth A23s at an undisclosed venue on Monday prior to the car being rushed down to Valencia where it will start serious tests on Wednesday. There is still no news as to who will partner Bernoldi, but an announcement is expected soon. The team is also working hard on the second A23 in preparation for the start of the season.

Minardi: Imola Shakedown Planned

If everything goes smoothly, Minardi will shake down its new Asiatech-engined car today (Friday) at Imola with both Alex Yoong and Mark Webber on hand, after which the car will go on to Valencia for serious tests. It will be painted black as the new livery will be disclosed in Kuala Lumpur where one of the cars will stop off on the way to Melbourne. John Walton, former team manager of Prost Grand Prix, has joined Minardi.

Toyota: Two-Car Test

The Toyota team started their test programme with two TF102s at Barcelona on Monday with Mika Salo managing 58 laps for a 1:20.782 best and Allan McNish covering 77 laps with a fastest of 1:21.271. On Tuesday Salo only managed a 1:21.358 after losing time with a gearbox-related problem which took the team some time to understand. McNish also managed only 1:21.684.

On Wednesday Salo carried out different brake comparisons in preparation for Melbourne, posting a 1:21.682 while McNish did a 1:22.890. "We did a reasonable number of laps today," said the Scot. "I did a few aerodynamic tests, which improved the car slightly and we will continue with that tomorrow." Salo managed a 1:20.245 on Thursday with McNish on 1:19.831.