Barcelona Testing, Day 2, 15 April 2008

Tuesday 15 April 2008, 09:21:00 | RF1 Paddock Pass

Fernando Alonso . Barcelona . Testing

Day two here in Barcelona and it's another crisp morning, just like yesterday.

I expect warm and sunny conditions throughout the day, just as forecast. It is certainly a lot warmer than the last time we were here in February. Back then RF1PP wore a winter jacket for the whole week. What a difference a couple of months makes - it will be shirt-sleeve order today and ideal conditions for Formula 1 testing.

Fernando is back in the R28 today to begin the first of two days testing with the team. It's always special when Fernando is in Spain and early this morning there was already a crowd gathering around the Renault trucks, waiting for a glimpse of Fernando. He didn't disappoint and signed every autograph! After that he popped into the garage, still in his civvies, for a quick seat fitting before taking his breakfast in the motorhome.

Nelson's programme went well yesterday, although the spin into the Turn 9 gravel cost some valuable track time in the afternoon. Still, 91 laps is well over a race distance and the team were reasonably satisfied with the data we had collected. As I said yesterday, we should not expect instant results and the team are working through the programme step-by-step. Nelson is here again today, as the back-up driver should he be needed. He will also sit in on the meetings and compare notes with Fernando.

The programme today will see some more performance development work as the team try to understand the impact of all the modifications and upgrades. Although Nelson tried a lot of the parts yesterday, it will be good for Fernando to try the car so that we can have another opinion on where the car stands. Plus, as you will see, there are some significant aerodynamic changes breaking cover today, most noticeably to the engine cover, which I reckon makes the R28 look much more aggressive. Somebody said that they thought the updates had made the car look ugly, but as the old racing cliché goes, "a quick car is a beautiful car," We'll see what it does for the car's performance later today.

I'm told that four teams will be trying out slick tyres today, although Renault will not be one of them. I will let you know who those teams are as and when I find out. But for now the test is coming to life, installation laps have been completed and the shrill note of V8 engines fills the air. I will add some more photos as the day unfolds...

Fernando's preparation area, complete with helmets, HANS device, and gloves.

A closer look at the modifications to the rear of the R28

Fernando in the car about to go out.

Another angle of the updated R28.

Warm and sunny conditions in Barcelona.

Comments

Red Bull style

a noticeable difference...
Good Luck Fernando & Renault Boys

Good morning! Wow new blog and pictures already
Yes weather looks good on the webcams:
http://www.circuitcat.com/webcam1/index. ...

http://www.circuitcat.com/webcam2/index. ...

live-timing:
http://www.motor21.com/noticia.asp?dt=31 ...
http://www.f1today.nl/live-update/2008/0 ...

Nice to hear from Fernando too, and nice of him to take the time for the autographs. I always envy the people who are able to be there...
so i wish you good luck for the day and some good results too!

the outlook of the rear of R28 seems like the one we have seen in red bull!! Do anyone know the effect of this?? I guess it may cause some problem with side wind!!

Wow..this is very encoraging upgrade...i like what i saw today..definitely the car looks more fast now..

Go RF1 & FA...

Thank you RF1PP for the post, and for the pics!

@chiholeo, I think this kind of engine cover helps stabilizing the rear of car under braking.

Good..FA doing 1:21 low...fantastic !!

Thanks for the update.
Hope more improvement of the car.

It looks like a more agressive ice cream- tasty! Like it and hope the new bits work! Good luck RF1 Team!

Holding thumbs for RF1, today is a very important day and seems to have started well. Does anyone have comparable times from winter testing??

OMG a RBR copy. its getting sad.
@9, yes I agree its strating to look like an fruty tuty ice cream.

Fernando's first timed lap:1.21.425

Massa just did a 1:20.92 (from motor21.com)

The car indeed looks more aggressive and as we know, Fernando and Nelson drive with the knife between their teeht. The other teams better watch out!
Good luck today and lots of useful data.

HAAA yes its ugly but who cares if it works and is competitive which is the most important. Interesting to see what Alonso will say about it later today.

@manu

Dont be sad yet...the team must make the car faster...as long the design works...why not copy

Tiempos de las 10:10
1.- Hamilton- 1:20.661 - 8 vueltas
2.- Alonso- 1:20.855 - 19 vueltas
3.- Massa - 1:20.913 - 9 vueltas
4.- Heidfeld - 1:21.538 -13 vueltas
5.- Barrichello- 1:21.732 -15 vueltas
6.- Glock - 1:21.741- 9 vueltas
7.- Rosberg - 1:22.039 - 8 vueltas
8.- Couthard - 1:22.253 - 7 vueltas
9.- Fisichella - 1:22.979 - 8 vueltas

lol ooops sorry for the double...

More pictures!
http://i26.tinypic.com/vymikh.jpg

http://i32.tinypic.com/wpied.jpg

Now that looks healthy. GO FA!

Thanks for photos,car view is solid not nice but solid(this can help our main sponsor ING,we can now clearly see ING and lion)this new aerodynamic changes must bring something better,let's see now.
@Blackmaddona-thanks,GOOOOOOOOOOO ALONSO and RF1

It looks fantastic.
FA, go go go!!

Thank you for the pics BM. A lot of new bits today: engine cover, from top to bottom, a different nose... and probably also things we cannot see or unoticed thus far!

Hi everyone...
I see new positioning for exhausts!

Ye and a few changes on side pod wings and rear wing.

The car certainly looks more 'clean' from sides..

Hey our spanish friends are calling it the great white shark- the car looks mean!Lol

Hallo Leute, spricht hier jemand deutsch ???

Tiempos de las 11:05
1.- Massa - 1:20.326 - 32 vueltas
2.- Hamilton - 1:20.452 -18 vueltas
3.- Alonso - 1:20.632- 30 vueltas
4.- Fisichella - 1:21.072 - 17 vueltas
5.- Heidfeld - 1:21.391 - 23 vueltas
6.- Rosberg - 1:21.465 - 15 vueltas
7.- Barrichello -1:21.732 - 19 vueltas
8.- Glock - 1:21.741- 22 vueltas
9.- Coulthard - 1:22.253 - 7 vueltas

Not sure how to read these times, it seems fisi is very quick in the FI?

@renault-racer english for the blog, but yes, some of us do
I sent you a 'friend request' if you accept it we can switch to german in private.
@SB it looks a bit like a shark
I was wondering if that wing could be quite sensible to cross winds?

1.20.3 was the best time massa set in winter testing...ofcourse a Q2 run...we can keep that as our bar...i think we are doing quite good keeping in mind the new updates have run for just 30 laps!

@31 do you recall what times the R28's were doing, in particular FA?

@renault-racer, ja ich spreche deutsch!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Fernando is really doing great today and let`s hope to hear some statements this evening.

Fernando has just switched to the 'old' frontwing. It would be really interesting to know what they are testing in particular, too bad its such a 'secret'

@RF1PP: Thank you for the new pics !!

27 Feb: 01:21.454 Alonso best
22 Feb: 01:20.508 Massa best

@renault-racer- ich auch!

is RENAULT come back ? R28 is very fast now ı think updates are useful and R28 is more and more fast isnt it ??? can we catch bmw-mclaren-ferrarş??????

1.- G. Fisichella-1:19.721-28 vueltas
2.- F. Massa-1:20.326-40 vueltas
3.- L. Hamilton-1:20.452-29 vueltas
4.- F. Alonso-1:20.632-43 vueltas
5.- N. Heidfeld-1:21.391-28 vueltas
6.- N. Rosberg-1:21.465-18 vueltas
7.- R. Barrichello-1:21.732-28 vueltas
8.- T. Glock-1:21.741-28 vueltas
9.- D. Coulthard-1:22.253-7 vueltas

It's just one opinion, but to the naked eye the surface of the frontwing r28 is the smallest of the entire stock of cars.
Ford is aware of this?
It is a problem of optics?

sry not ford, renault
google translations LOL

@renault-racer: ich auch.

looks like good times for our team. my hope are with you!

Fisico did the lap on slicks.

It seems we have a secret german society here! Well come out of your holes

@mnovakov on motor21 they say that Fisi was on soft tyres, not slicks. I think the track condition is playing a role here.

OK, sorry, I assumed that force india cannot go that fast without slicks, but obviously wrong

Spielen wir jetzt - wer spricht alles deutsch? Vielleicht könnte man ja einen Diskussionsteil für deutschsprachige eröffnen....

Thanks Dilittante. It certainly shows much improvement. I think they will be faster this afternoon and inder 1:20

LOL once again good old Fisico is 1 sec faster than Alonso.

It certainly looks like the Great White Shark! The times look much quicker and I agree.. a fast car is a beautiful car! Goooo Nando!

Dear RF1, can you tell us which teams try slick tyres?

will renault try slick tyres?????? RF1PP????????

Here are the times so far in Barcelona.

1 FIS 1:19.721 33
2 MAS 1:20.326 44
3 HAM 1:20.452 36
4 ALO 1:20.632 53
5 ROS 1:21.033 24
6 HEI 1:21.391 33
7 BAR 1:21.726 35
8 GLO 1:21.731 35
9 COU 1:22.253 7

Fernando has enjoyed a good morning. He's done 53 laps – the most of anybody and at the moment is not too far off the McLarens and Ferraris.

I have done some investigating and it seems that four teams plan to run with slick tyres at some point today. They are: Williams, Toyota, Honda, and Force India. Judging by Fisichella’s position at the top of the times, I think it would be safe to say that this was set on slicks, just like Massa’s blistering time of yesterday was.

Ferando made his time in the morning, we also don't know what they have been testing (except for the obvious) and about the fuel load.
I'm curious to get an update from @RF1 about the impressions the team has until now- and what Fernando will say! I hope we will get a feedback around lunch time

@RF1PP you have been faster, sorry thanks for the input.

i think the new car looks now as if it has a purpose and i think the car looks hugely better and also i wasnt sure but i think renault ran a slightly less extended engin cover or whatever it is last time more like some of the other teams not sure but whatever. Any way lets hope the improvements work. Question for RF1PP will there be some feedback from alonso like there was from nelson today?

thanks a lot RF1 PP*

mind when we were told there would be some updates to the car i thought they would be small little updates that would be hard to notice however some of these updates are hugely obvious and lets hope this is the car the R28 was supposed to be lol

For sure there will be an update from Fernando this afternoon. And I will give you some more detailed feedback after the lunch break.

It is nice to hear Renault enjoied a good morning session.
When will Renault be running the slick tyres?

kool thanks

Thank you very much RF1PP for keeping up with us here
I wonder if Fernando will make it up to 100 laps today, he is really working hard here...um maybe he would go for some chocolate after an exhausting day.lol.

Hi RF1PP. Can you confirm whether Fernando's car is fitted with the i-dumper today?

Question for RF1PP- I know its nothing to do with our team but whats up with the Toro Rossos? They have still not been spotted on track- they forgot their lego set or what?
Look forward to the updates!

Yes Renault not far away(ferrari and mclaren)and we are ahead BMW all day,thats good.This is really good day for RF1,keep that guys.

RF1PP: could you kindly confirm if Renault has used all updated new pieces?.

That's a beautiful new engine cover but one small problem - THE LION LOGO MUST BE A LOT BIGGER!

NP says: "I thought the car was very good today and we have another three days of testing and there's margin to improve. I think I'm optimistic that we can put both cars in the top ten in qualifying."

Really, I have good feeling about the new car......I hope a good times today. really the team is working very hard to obtain a good results.

GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO RENAULT!!!

Reading the testing times at this time of year is always impossible, but throwing slicks into the mix just makes it ridiculous. Guess we'll see properly in 10 days or so!

As for the new engine cover etc, roll on 2009 when that sort of thing will disappear again. Its ugly - but if it helps with airflow etc then it has to be that way.

can anyone give me any link about live timing but in eglish please !!!

I'm still wondering...how would the car react to side winds with that?

http://images.gpupdate.net/large/97056.j ...

Wind today: Winds SSE at 5 to 10 mph

Forecast for tomorrow: Winds S at 10 to 15 mph

Will that make a difference?

I think your right dray. Testing analysis is never easy and with slicks and 2009 bodywork doing the rounds, it really is anybody's guess. The good news is that Ferrari, McLaren and BMW are not runnin slicks today, so we should have a better picture of where we stand relative to them.

Aupa Nano !!!!!!!!!!! go Renault Team!!!!!!!!!

@ 63 - STR are busy assembling their new Red Bull car, check out http://www.formula1.com/gallery/testing/ ... here - there's one pic at the bottom of the page.

Our shark fin engine cover looks even more radical than RBR's, I'm loving it! Wow! That's total madness!

Updated RBR looks really thin, small, is it Newey's obsession with shrinking the car or wot? Will poor Mark be able to sit in it?

@alpha I can't find an english link but you can use the following.
http://www.motor21.com/noticia.asp?dt=31 ... Then if you want translation of spanish, cut and paste and go to http://world.altavista.com/trfor translation. It works very well

thanks Alfonso

Ferrari's rear view mirror location is getting worse...are they sure drivers will able to see anything from those locations?

Even Red bull brought those mirors inside (bec of DC's crash with Massa and Button)and Toyota's are moving out again!

shark magic alonso is back

Ferrari mirrors
http://f1.gpupdate.net/en/photolarge.php ...

1.- G. Fisichella-1:19.721-45 vueltas
2.- F. Massa-1:20.326-60 vueltas
3.- L. Hamilton-1:20.452-53 vueltas
4.- F. ALONSO-1:20.632-72 vueltas
5.- N. Rosberg-1:20.800-48 vueltas
6.- N. Heidfeld-1:21.391-55 vueltas
7.- D. Coulthard-1:21.474-24 vueltas
8.- R. Barrichello-1:21.711-42 vueltas
9.- T. Glock-1:21.731-49 vueltas

@58
:0( Lunchbreak! Same here!

I asked if I could take my laptop in to watch testing but my manager just grinned at me! Never mind the soil from the plant in the canteen, makes delicious coffee apparently!!
(Only happened once!!!) ;0)

Wishing you guys all the best
GO Fernando!!

72 laps!! OMG shark alonso is working hard

WOU ( GUAU ) THAT R28 !!!!!

These could be the update we can see so far since yesterday....

1) New front wing-->0.05s
2) Update suspension-->0.2s
3) Front rim cover-->0.05
4) New engine cover-->0.2
5) New mass damper-->0.3
6) Update engine-->0.3

So..base on laymen observation...that would be my fantasy improve time per lap..

Anything else we missed RF1PP..??

I'm looking forward to see more update this afternoon & tomorrow...

Go RF1 & FA....we are back in the game guyss !!

Alonso Thaks for you and Reanault Team !!!!!!!!!

Hello everyone! Boy, u guys gave me quite alot to read before 7 in the morning here! From what I've seen so far, we're doing quite well here so lets hope this continues on!

@Rebecca wouldn't you walk 100 miles to get Fernando some chocolate? I would...

He's working hard like always, such a dedicated guy, a team can't ask for more.
To be fair though- Nelson for sure doing the same.

@ Blackmadonna
Thanks for that :0)) ..yes!

He's the best F1 driver I know of-thats for sure!

Have to go now :0(
Good Luck!!

Yes F1Angle...the team really determine to win this year...n if they got spot on with the update...they could be on right behind FERRARI...which could be very scary for all the 3 top teams...because they all know what FA can pull off if R28 work to his favour...i'm smiling all day today guys...and will enjoy more this afternoon..

@RF1PP-can we expect some new parts and tomorrow(few radical changes like today)?

Well done work car r28 Renault Team ! Alonso go !

Wow.. Seems like we're all having a really positive day. And big thanks to RF1pp for the stellar photos and reporting!!!! Testing blogs have never been this good.. Woo hoo!!

All this talk of sharks. Reminds me of the shark livery that the team ran at was it France in 06...As long as we have more bite this time round...

*goes and hums theme tune to Jaws..*

90 posts as well. And its only lunch!!! Blimey we have all been busy.

well i've just logged had a look at the times so far, i am very impressed with the times so far looking good, wouldn't it just be amazing if Fernando could finish on the podium at him home gp, or is that being to opamistic, but wouldn't that be fantastic though

GO RENAULT
GO FERNANDO

i have complete faith in all of you, I know that you will give Fernando the best car you can for his home gp GO RENAULT GO.

really glad of all these good news.
Go Renault Go

So we are just coming to the end of the lunch break and RF1PP has been scurrying around trying to find you answers. So what is the verdict? Well, the updates to the car are certainly bringing some performance gains, which is excellent news, and both Fernando and Nelson are happy with the changes.

But, the age-old testing problem remains that times set in testing count for nothing. We are still in the dark as to what the other teams are doing and so it is impossible to say how much of an improvement we have. It will be at the Spanish Grand Prix, at this very track, that the answers will come. Sorry to disappoint you with sitting on the fence once again. When I speak with Fernando this evening I will report back – best to get it from the man in the cockpit.

i feel silly now, i was writting @94 the same time as RF1 put there post in.

there's me going on about podium, but like RF1 have just said we don't know what the other teams are doing, so the times are not necceseraly realisist times, very good point RF1.

all hard work by the team at factory have been paid with this giant leap forward...they must be very very happy back at factory today..

Congratulation to all RF1 members...

Just been reading some interviews. Nelson appears quietly confident, but cautious. He believes that the new updates will get BOTH cars in to Q3 at the Spanish GP.

And reading one of the latest interviews with Bob Bell it appears positive too. In that the team are taking the right steps to get back to the front.

Made me smile about the 'J' damper introduction that McLaren, Ferrari, Red Bull and BMW are already meant to be running. Hhhhmmm.. Given what happened to us the last time round. I'll start taking bets now as to how quick it gets banned as soon as it becomes an integral part of our car. (going off previous experiences...)

Thanks RF1PP...we know the car improved significantly..just need to confirm wether the team can break history by improve over 1s...

@ Rf1.. You're not sitting on the fence. We all understand that times count for nothing in testing. But it sounds like we're taking a step in the right direction in improving the car's performance. All any of us can ask for is that our team gets the maximum out of each day and gets the data that we need to make informed decisions about what works, what doesn't work, what can be improved, what should be ditched... etc.. To be able to do that we need to make sure we get the maximum out of each day. And it sounds on the basis of today and quite a lot of yesterday (with the exception of the spin) that we're getting that )

Look forward to hearing more.

Paddock Pass thak , and Renault Teams and Alonso and Nelsinho and Testers , thak photos , go Alonso Lucky !!!!!

14:14 hour Alonso goes to Slopes !!!!!!!!

It will be something amasmi221 if he can get a podium at his home gp, which we all want very much. So far, times look promising, but like RF1PP said, we don't know what the others are doing right now and I agree with what RF1PP said about the testing times count for nothing. If they can perform those times (and maybe better) next week, then for sure we will have ourselves a great Spainsh GP to look forward to!

I am proud of Alonso and Renault !!!!!

I'm very much looking forward to hear Fer give his impressions, if the drivers are happy with the changes its definitely a good sign.

5 Laps after Alonso returns to Pits - Boxes-

I hope that we can fight at least for the 3rd position, i believe in your work boys, go fernando , go nelson and GO TEAM

good luck for this afternoon.

@ amasmi... Don't worry. All of us would love to see Fernando occupying an position on the podium in just over a week and abit from now. Should be a great race.

Alonso you wnt - love -a lot in Spain !!!!! go Renault Team go and Nelsinho go !!!

any time sheet updates?

Oo...FA stoped at turn 3..what happened RF1PP?

hmmm good work mates at Renault F1
and today after watching alonso driving car i feel we have done some improvement this week and also tests look positive and i feel that all our prays are being listened by god and we are on track to be front runners.

wooo am loving his driving!!!

14:45 Alonso Stop has been stopped r28 , Red Flag on Track , uf

For : RF1 Paddock Pass : Why stop r28 ??

"15:00 is spoken in box of Renault of a shutdown due to an electrical problem, after Fernando left the garage for a new turn of laps. At the time of the shutdown he was improving the times. He has been in his return 78."

Sorry babelfish...

Aw man, what went wrong here?

R28 return with old engine cover...could be they are testing mass damper RF1PP?

FA still no outing yet since the car return to renault pitbox 3:00pm...

Logic says that they are testing the old ingine cover so they can compare it to the new

The engine stopped while Fernando was in the middle of Turn 3. The team has not determined what the problem is yet. But they are currently changing the engine and Fernando should be back on the track later this afternooon.

new engine proof improved but seems like there are reliability to check...

Ahhh changing the engine- such bad luck- i hope he can continue soon, thank you RF1.

yea balck madonna its such a bad luck that we were struck with an engine problem.
bad karma is always there

must be a lot of work in the garage now...goodwork RF1

RF1 Paddock Pass , Good Alonso will re-run afternoon , go Renault Team !!!!!!!!

well..not as bad because it happened during testing..very important to be able to find problems during test rather than during GP weekend.....more bad karma

at least they can correct the problem ontime & still not effecting GP points..

RF1PP, how many engines does the team have for this week testing?

and it happened after a good amount of laps so no big worries although not enough for two races

they suspect the shutdown was due to broken engine...sure they will fix it in time...

Everything aims at that the shutdown of Fernando Alonso is had due to a motor breakage. Renault anticipates to leave towards the end of the day.

Edited by BabelFish

Sorry for duplicated message

no worry bro..

seems like time stalled without FA action on the track after the shutdown....

will see something similar like yesterday i guess...less progress for the afternoon session...

Fernando is back on track- finally- but blowing some smoke, hopefully only some burned oil

FA back on track

I have to keep reminding myself that I have only one week to go before the Spanish GP. I hope Fernando and Nelson don't dissapoint me or the weather out in Spain! COME ON GUYS YOU CAN DO IT!

If i understand BabelFish correctly, the reason for FA's earlier shutdown was due to a spin and not engine breakage??
Finalmente la parada de Renault ha sido por un trompo que ha hecho Fernando Alonso, y no por una rotura de motor como se especulaba antes.

RF1PP confirmed an engine problem with message @120 i have not yet heard anything different.
@Supa you are not one week ahead? Its on 27th....

Glad FA now out earlier...he could now concentrate on the test after good study of what happened since this morning..

Oh boy! Bad luck for Fernando! Hey Supa, glad to see u here!

up until 16:50pm...suprisingly FA was 2nd doing most laps of 84 rounds compare to FM 93 rounds..

What could be the laps no without the broken engine...

I wonder what would happen with this new engine cover when there are some strong side cross winds??

@manu i have been asking that too, today there have been no strong winds (according to the weather data)

Test Update: 17:11
Driver team Car Gap Laps #

1. R. Barrichello Honda RA108 1:19.374 49 pit
2. G. Fisichella Force India VJM-01 1:19.721 +0.347 62 pit
3. F. Massa Ferrari F2008 1:20.283 +0.909 94 pit
4. D. Coulthard Red Bull Racing RB4 1:20.392 +1.018 55 pit
5. L. Hamilton McLaren MP4-23 1:20.452 +1.078 82 pit
6. F. Alonso Renault R28 1:20.632 +1.258 85 pit
7. N. Rosberg Williams FW30 1:20.800 +1.426 80 pit
8. N. Heidfeld BMW Sauber F1.08 1:21.160 +1.786 77 pit
9. T. Glock Toyota TF108 1:21.567 +2.193 84 pit

@142..

with enough downforce generated from the aero...i believe that side cross winds would not influence the car direction very much...

like they said..the F1 car can run upside down on the straight once the car downforce take effect...

only my personal opinion..

Hi all,
to be honest, I don't believe Flavio's words about a podium in Barcelona but I think some points are realistic for Fernando. I hope it will be an interesting race, nobody knows what can happen

Honda and Force India are on slicks, i wonder if the Renault team is going to try that too? Just being curious...

@BM

RF1 will not be one of the team today as RF1PP mentioned..could be tomorrow or last day...

@147 No Renault is not going to test slicks for the moment. They are focused on the aero package. Most probably they will start doing so by half season. Till then it's work work work tryin' to develop the car.
Lookin' at the times sheets I'm not sure what to believe. It's clear that the team did not want to beat the clock but to understand the new components but I wish we would have some more info about the package if it's what they wanted to be. I hope we will be able to see the light at the end of the tunnel and that the sun will shine again on us. Good luck team ! Renault F1 team rulz !

I just saw Fernando did 119 laps today! BM- you got the choc for him? He'll need it after that marathon!

The laptimes at the end of the session:

1 BAR 1'18.928 79
2 FIS 1'19.721 79
3 MAS 1'20.283 113
4 COU 1'20.392 89
5 HAM 1'20.452 96
6 ALO 1'20.616 119
7 ROS 1'20.800 103
8 GLO 1'20.870 112
9 HEI 1'20.981 98

@SB if i would be there he would get it, i swear..119 laps!
Imagine, without the forced break, he would have made a new record maybe...

it looks good, renault gave up on the old style engine cover, i was one that really wanted it to be changed, stability can give us 1 sec guys, but unfortunately, the gap is much more bigger

great effort from the team

p.s. im not an aerodynamiscist, sorry that i will 'suggest things' but if you change a bit the side of the car, i dont know exactly the word in english, but i mean the side, where it writes ING, but the thing that is down

this one looks old style, if aerodynamiscists can do a different shape there, you can may earn 0.4 sec hopefully, XD

@153 0.x s don't come as easy as you or me or anyone else would want to.
I would be very happy to see the team gain 0.2-0.5 more then the competition. Maybe the press release will be more clarifying regarding today test schedule.

Looks like we've had a productive day testing. )

GO RENAULT TEAM!!!!! This it is the way, to prove piece for piece, those of the tires slikcs for tomorrow EXELENTE I WORK BOYS!!! PUXA NANOOOO!!!!

@blackmadonna ONE MORE FULL WEEK I go Thursday to the race! hehe I'll still have my fingers crossed though I always do!

I like the engine cover. Good old Red Bull. It would be better to have other teams using Renault`s innovations rather than the other way round, but if it makes the car competitive then that is great. Remember the mass damper fiasco and how the team fought back, we need more of the same now. Grit your teeth boys, I`m at the Belgian GP again this year and by then i expect you to be able to give me reason to wear my team shirt with more pride than usual. All the best. Oliver

Well done to Fernando and RF1 Team. Lots of laps completed today with valuable data generated. So glad to see the very encouraging test times, and hard work put in by all the team today. Lets' not forget the hard work undertaken back in Enstone at the factory. I realise these results are test times but after Bahrain, I am so pleased to see R28 take a big step forward. Keep it up everyone, looking forward to GP Spain.

So far so good, aye?

In the few words Fernando has said until now, he sounds quite satisfied- maybe we will hear more from El Laguero tonight, i will watch out for that.

I want to see pictures of Fernando- I think its the best way to judge how happy or not he really is!