Otay, I’ll try to not whip up the frenzy of the Winter Olympics too much, as one respected news source notes; “it is a little early to reach any startling conclusions about the season ahead.” Especially since not all of the teams have unveiled their 2008 challengers. Nevertheless, here’s a quick recap of the just concluded testing at Jerez. (Jan. 14-16) Suffice it to say, the “Usual Suspects,” i.e.; Ferrari, McLaren, Renault and BMW Sauber were all towards the top of the time sheets, while Honda didn’t take part in the test, along with a token appearance by its little sister Super Aguri…
Ferrari
The Prancing Horse showed up with two of its new F2008 models for defending World Champion Kimi Raikkonen and Felipe Massa. The Iceman was quickest on Day 1, albeit the running was hampered by inclement weather…
BMW Sauber
The team got down to testing with the new F1.08, with the honours of the chassis’s maiden drive going to Robert Kubica in Valencia, Spain, where Kubica said everything felt good on the new cars installation laps.
“Quick Nick” Heidfeld had given a few demonstration laps at BMW Welt, the companies futuristic looking delivery center, before running an F1.07 on Tuesday. Heidfeld tested the new F1.08 on Thursday…
Renault
Although Fernando Alonso topped the time sheets on Day 2 of testing at Jerez, Alonso along with Nelson Piquet Jr. were running last year’s R27 chassis…
Williams
Williams showed up at the test with an interim FW29B for team leader Nico Rosberg, who claimed the fourth quickest time on Day 2 testing, while new boy Kazuki Nakajima was barely ahead of Giancarlo Fisichella’s interim Force India chassis…
Toyota
Toyota had a mixed bag at testing, with a TF107 and TF108 on hand. Jarno Trulli gave the new TF108 its shakedown test, while Timo Glock slithered off track aboard last year’s TF107. Glock then recorded the third day’s fastest time aboard the TF108…
Red Bull
The team began testing with last year’s RB3 chassis, before F1’s “Grey beard” David Coulthard debuted the RB4 on Wednesday. The team has basically run mid-pack during this first test session…
Scuderia Toro Rosso
Running a brace of updated Toro Rosso STR-02’s; Team Sebastian looked competent in testing with both cars running in lock-step behind the quicker Renault, Ferrari, McLaren and Williams…
Super Aguri
Super Best Friends sent test driver James Rossiter to Jerez to run an SA07 on Day 1, but was hampered by the tracks inclement weather. Anthony “ANT” Davidson had a miserable time on Day 3, able to only run 10 laps due to overheating problems, along with the team’s replacement parts being unable to arrive in time for testing. First the aeroplane delivering these was diverted and then the road was closed as a team member tried to retrieve them…
Force India
Somehow in the midst of all of the “Big” car launches, Force India’s unveiling of its interim chassis in new team livery went largely unnoticed, although there is a “launch” webcast available on Youtube. The team began with Luzzi driving in the rain, while Fishy-fella has since taken over the testing duties, running towards the tail end of the grid…
McLaren
McLaren showed up with two new MP/4-23’s and the new chassis didn’t disappoint, as tester Pedro de la Rosa finished second behind Ferdi the Putz on Day 2, while new recruit Heikki Kovalainen ran up front…
