Jerez First Test Round Up – Ferrari On Top?

The second Formula One test session of the season finished yesterday in Jerez, with weather playing a large part throughout the four test days hampering many of the teams dry weather set up and tyre testing strategy.

Looking at the overall lap times it would pretty easy to concluded that Ferrari in particular was completely off the pace at Jerez and in no way showed the dominant performance indicated during the first Test held at the Ricardo Tormo circuit just outside Valencia.

Jerez First Test Overall Fastest Lap times by Driver

However, fast lap times are only part of the story, after all we are not privy to every Teams goals for each and every test outing. Looking at the total number of laps driven a different picture emerges.

Jerez First Test Total Laps Per Team

Ferrari’s total of 449 laps, approximately 1,976 km was over 200 km more than the next closest team AT&T Williams, truly confirming the new Ferrari F10′s overall reliability. During the week Ferrari spent a lot of time concentrating on comparing the difference in the various compounds available with the new Bridgstone tires and during the last day Felipe Massa put on a mammoth 160 laps on the car, that is almost three times farther than the average Grand Prix with no major problems.

After the end of testing Felipe Massa commented:

“We’ve never driven 700 kilometres in just one 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.

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.”

I’d say Felipe is somewhat understating the new cars performance.

Tagged as: 2010 Jerez Test Day 4, AT, Felipe Massa, Ferrari F10, Jerez Test, Valencia Test