RB bullish in Barcaposted in F119 | 02 | 2011
RED BULL'S Sebastian Vettel again showed he will be the man to beat this season when he topped the timesheets on the second day of Formula One testing at Barcelona.
The German clocked a fastest time of 1min 23.315secs to finish 0.204s ahead of the Toro Rosso of Jaime Alguersuari. But it was a day which ended in frustration for Scot Paul di Resta.
The 24-year-old from Bathgate had clocked a 1:25.194s earlier in the day to lie third in his Mercedes-powered Force India VJM04, but with 90 minutes of the session remaining, he slewed into the gravel trap at Turn 1.
Di Resta's wheels locked-up as he approached the corner; it's not yet known whether the accident was a re-appearance of the brake issues which hampered his progress last week in Jerez. The car also suffered a suspension failure during the Jerez test which again pitched him into the gravel at high speed.
"Of course it's not ideal, but if these things are to happen, it's better they happen in test sessions rather than at race weekends," Di Resta, who completed 80 laps of the 2.9-mile Circuit de Catalunya track before his off, explained afterwards.
"It was a disappointing and frustrating way to finish the day. Up until then, the car had gone really well and we were successfully working our way through the test programmes we'd set ourselves.
"Our pace was good in the morning and we were building up to finishing the day even faster, because I know there's a lot more to come from the car. But we'll go away now, identify and address the problems, and be back out again tomorrow."
Di Resta, who was then forced to sit out the remaining 90 minutes of the test, could only watch as the track condition improved and he dropped down the timesheets as others went quicker. He finished the day ninth-quickest of the 14 drivers.
Double world champ Fernando Alonso was third-fastest in his Ferrari, 0.663secs behind Vettel, with Brazilian Rubens Barrichello fourth in his Williams. England's Jenson Button was eighth in his McLaren, just 0.271s ahead than Di Resta.
Meanwhile, concerns continued to grow that the opening grand prix of the season, scheduled for Bahrain on March 13, will be cancelled due to the increasing political turmoil and violence in the island state.
The likelihood of the race being cancelled grew today after the UK Foreign Office issued a warning advising against "all but essential travel to Bahrain."
F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone is expected to make a decision about the Bahrain Grand Prix in the next few days. If the race is cancelled, the season will begin with the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne on March 27.
Full report/interview with Paul di Resta, plus photos from Barcelona today, to follow shortly.
Formula One Test, Barcelona, Spain; Day 2 of 4 — Times:
1. Vettel, Red Bull-Renault — 1m23.315s 104
2. Alguersuari, Toro Rosso-Ferrari — 1m23.519s +0.204 (97 laps)
3. Alonso, Ferrari — 1m23.978s +0.663 (90)
4. Barrichello, Williams-Cosworth — 1m24.008s +0.693 (118)
5. Heidfeld, Renault — 1m24.242s +0.927 (41)
6. Kobayashi, Sauber-Ferrari — 1m24.243s +0.928 (125)
7. Rosberg, Mercedes — 1m24.730s +1.415 (131)
8. Button, McLaren-Mercedes — 1m24.923s +1.608 (54)
9. Di Resta, Force India-Mercedes — 1m25.194s +1.879 (80)
10. Kovalainen, Lotus-Renault – 1m26.421s +3.106 (58)
11. Petrov, Renault — 1m26.884s +3.569 (61)
12. Liuzzi, HRT-Coswrorth — 1m27.044s +3.729 (70)
13. Glock, Virgin-Cosworth — 1m27.242s +3.927 (66)
14. Teixeira, Lotus-Renault — 1m31.584s +8.269 (26)
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Jim McGill