Ferrari team boss Stefano Domenicali says the Italian team is not getting carried away with its dominant performance at the first pre-season test in Valencia this week.

Felipe Massa was quickest on the first two days of the test, before new signing Fernando Alonso clocked the best time of the week on his single day in the car on Wednesday – some 0.6s faster than the best effort by a non-Ferrari (Kamui Kobayashi’s Sauber on Tuesday).

Domenicali, however, is remaining cautious about the team’s form – pointing out that the potentially huge differences in fuel loads, combined with the fact that Red Bull has yet to launch its new car, mean it is much too early to draw firm conclusions from the headline times.

“We know very well that the testing lap times, especially this year, have to be handled with care,” he told Ferrari’s official website.

“Using an Italian expression from football, we’re still in ‘August football’.

“We can’t forget where we were in terms of performance at the last grand prix last year.

“There is still a lot of work to do to close the gap and there are still many problems we have to solve.

“And then we don’t know the petrol loads the other cars had on board, so it’s impossible to get a clear idea of the relative strengths on the track.

“Maybe someone also wants to play hide and seek and some still have to present their cars.”

Domenicali suggested the scale of the challenge Ferrari faces in attempting to rebound from its lacklustre 2009 campaign means it is unlikely to return to its absolute peak overnight.

“There are no miracles in Formula 1,” he said.

“If you want to be fast you have to work hard for months and months and then you’ll meet your competitors, who have as much capacity and are as motivated as you.

“We can’t take anything for granted and we shouldn’t delude ourselves by [early] indications, which could be completely misleading.

“We can’t work like in football where two good or bad results are enough to [take you] from riches to rags or vice versa.”

Having identified improved reliability at the start of the season as a key goal for 2010, Domenicali said the F10’s performance on this front was the most pleasing aspect of this week’s test.

“If there is one thing we’re really satisfied with then it’s the reliability the car has shown,” he said.

“The more than 1,400 kilometres (870 miles) driven are a very good start, and we need to ensure that the intense work at the test stand and in terms of simulations over the weeks before the debut on the track will bear fruit.

“In Valencia we also started to get to know the new Bridgestone tyres’ behaviour also related to the petrol load.

“But the data is still absolutely relative: this track is not particularly demanding on the tyres and the temperatures weren’t the ones we’ll have for example during the season’s first three races.”

He added that Massa and Alonso were thrilled with the outcome of the test and have already pinpointed some areas where the F10 could be further improved.

“They were both very happy with how things went, especially regarding the car’s reliability,” he said.

“They are both extremely motivated and have a great desire to drive; it would have been frustrating if we hadn’t started on the right track here.

Yesterday, the Virgin Racing team launched their first challenger in the VR-01.

See below for more pictures and information about the VR-01.

Designer Nick Wirth has created the VR-01 entirely using Computational Fluid Dynamics computer modelling. This is not a new technology for F1 – but relying on it instead of a wind tunnel to create a new car is a novel approach.

Wirth believes CFD is the best way for teams to develop F1 cars under F1’s new resource restrictions:

Today is a very proud day for everyone involved with Virgin Racing, however on this occasion, where the car is the star, I want to pay tribute to all the amazing people at Wirth Research who deserve so much of the credit for the VR-01. Putting together an F1 team, assembling an engineering group and designing a new car from scratch is an epic task in the timeframe we have been working to.

I have been fortunate to have worked with the very best designers in F1 and I am well aware of exactly what it takes to be successful in this sport. When you see what the existing teams have achieved using the conventional but proven design approach, it is unsurprising that there is a great deal of scepticism about our all-CFD approach. But we are competing in a sport that is undergoing significant change having come face to face with today’s harsh economic realities. Under resource restriction, convention will become too costly and necessity really will be the mother of invention. I have absolute belief in the digital design process and the opportunity to put the all-CFD approach to the test at the highest level – to demonstrate that this could be the way for the future of F1 – is very, very exciting.
Nick Wirth

The team, originally named Manor Motorsport, are using Cosworth’s CA2010 V8 engines this year.

Team principal John Booth said:

Not only do we have a great bunch of people at Virgin Racing, we also have a great-looking car. We are delighted with our fantastic new livery which provides a fitting integration of our racing brand with our important commercial partnerships. All in all, we have a lot to look forward to as we progress towards our racing debut in Bahrain next month.
John Booth

He also explained why the car was not ready in time for the test at Valencia this week:

The first stage in our on-track evaluation programme is our two-day shakedown at Silverstone on Thursday and Friday this week, where we will conduct systematic testing and confidence-building of all car parts and on-car systems. It was always intended that we would miss the first all-team test in Valencia this week and very early on we targeted the second Jerez test in two weeks’ time for our public testing debut. It is a testament to our methodical approach and the sheer hard work of the team that we are heading to Spain a week earlier than planned to take part in the first Jerez test next week.
John Booth

Virgin chairman Sir Richard Branson added:

I’m sure we will be measured by how fast the car is on the track in Jerez next week, but I hope that doesn’t overshadow the far bigger achievement of pulling an entire racing team together and taking a brave step that defies convention. In many ways this is an exploration, but given the absolute self-belief we have seen, I can’t help but feel very excited about what we can go on to achieve in the years ahead.

For now though I’m looking forward to seeing the VR-01 on –track in testing in the coming weeks as we prepare for Virgin Racing’s very first grand prix.
Richard Branson

Fernando Alonso's first time in the brand new Ferrari F10 saw the spaniard top the time sheets in Valencia as Massa did on both Monday and Tuesday.

The double world champion took over from Felipe Massa and set a best time of one minute 11.470 seconds - more than half a second clear of the field.

Pedro de la Rosa's Sauber was second, ahead of Michael Schumacher's Mercedes, which was 0.968secs off the pace.

McLaren's Jenson Button ended the day 1.481secs slower than Alonso.

The Englishman said he had spent a lot of time in the garage during the morning sorting out a problem with his seating position in the car.

He added that he was happy with the McLaren's reliability but that it was "too early" to judge the relative pace of the front-running cars.

Winter testing times are notoriously unreliable indicators of form because fuel loads, tyres and track conditions can make a significant difference to performance.

Alonso, whose appearance at the test brought a crowd of 30,000 spectators, said he was "very, very cautious" about judging the pace of the car from his first day's running.

"It was a very good day," he said, "because I found the car very easy to drive because Felipe was running two days and I've been taking this information from him and it was a help. Let's wait.

On the second day of Formula 1 testing in Valencia, Felipe Massa puts in another sterling performance to mantain Ferrari's pace in the last two days testing.

The Brazilian, now fully back in the swing of Formula 1 after his injury lay-off, completed a full 124 laps with a best time of 1m11.722s, 0.8s quicker than his Monday effort.

Massa set the time halfway through the sunny but cool day, on his 15th lap of the session, and remained in front until the end.

In a repeat of yesterday's result, it was a Sauber that occupied second place again.

This time Kamui Kobayashi was at the wheel, the Japanese driver taking over from Pedro de la Rosa and lapping within 0.3s of Massa.

Testing times from Valencia (Tuesday 2 February)

Video of the first test session for the Formula 1 2010 season

The F1 Commission has agreed on a second new points system for F1, amending the proposal they made in December.

A win will still be worth 25 points and the value of a second place finish has been slightly reduced – but the value of other lower-placed finished has been increased.

The Commission has also decided to make drivers who qualify in the top ten start the race on the same tyre as they qualified on, which they hope will “introduce a further element of strategy” and “improve the show”.

Revised points system

The revised F1 points system increases the points difference between winning and finishing second from five to seven, which the FIA hopes will “further encourage the ‘race to win’”:

1st – 25 points
2nd – 18 points
3rd – 15 points
4th – 12 points
5th – 10 points
6th – 8 points
7th – 6 points
8th – 4 points
9th – 2 points
10th – 1 point

However, as discussed here earlier, it also offers more points for drivers who finish lower down the running order, increasing the likelikood that championship leaders will be able to collect lower placed finishes to guarantee themselves the title instead of pushing for wins.

Read more on that and see how the new points system would have changed the 2009 championship here: Teams considering an even more generous points system for 2010

The ‘top ten tyre’ rule

With refuelling banned this year, the requirement for the top ten qualifiers to start the race on the fuel load they qualified on was to be removed. However the Commission has decided to continue handicapping the top ten qualifiers by making them start the race on the tyres they qualified:

Cars having participated in Q3 must start the race on the same set of tyres with which their grid time was set.
F1 Commission statement

Presumably an exception will be made in the event of rain during qualifying or the race.

Disappointingly, this means we will not get to see ‘pure’ qualifying in 2010, as the quickest drivers will be compromised by tyre choice.

As I’ve already said here, I think this is needless meddling with the rules which will at best have a minimal effect on the quality of racing in 2010.

More on that here: Stop the needless rules changes

2011 double diffuser ban

Double diffusers will be banned in 2011 if the Commission’s proposal is accepted.

This will cut the amount of downforce the cars can generate and reduce cornering speeds. Whether it will help cars follow more closely – and thereby increase overtaking – is a subject of much debate.

Double diffusers

• Adrian Newey says banning double diffusers won’t help overtaking
• A change for the better: double diffusers likely to be banned in 2011

Other changes

There will be a further reduction in the number of tyres a team may use at each weekend, with 11 sets of four now available instead of 14.

This is good news for Bridgestone, who will now have to supply far fewer tyres in 2010 than they were expecting. It may even be interpreted as an attempt to get them to reverse their decision to leave the sport at the end of this year by reducing their costs.

More on that here: Bridgestone to make surprise F1 exit

“Improving the show”

The F1 Commission’s proposal will now go before the World Motor Sports Council where they are very likely to be accepted. However it remains to be seen whether Jean Todt will be satisfied they have done enough to “improve the show” as he urged them to. Their statement adds:

Further measures for 2010 are also being examined.
F1 Commission statement

You can read the full statement here.

Do you think F1 needs to “improve the show”? Will these changes help? Have your say below.

Felipe Massa says he already prefers the behaviour of the new Ferrari F10 to last year's difficult F60, having topped the testing times at Valencia today (Monday) as the 2010 season preparations kicked off following the end of the testing ban.

Ferrari endured a miserable 2009 season, and shelved development on last season's car early in the summer to pour resources into the new F60 instead.

On the basis of his performance today, Massa reckons that strategy is paying off.

"I think it was a very positive day – the car behaved very well," he said.

"We managed to start and finish our programme like expected, even some more laps than expected.

"So I think everything went very well on the first day and the car behaved in a good direction in terms of I felt [it is an] easier car to drive compared to last year.

"Last year it was always difficult to find the direction and find the balance.

"This year, it was just one day, but at least in the first day it was quite positive and quite easy to find the direction on the set-up and the balance of the car.

"Also with the tyres I didn’t feel any problem to work on these tyres so I think everything went in a very good direction for the first day.

"But it’s not enough. There’s still a lot of work to do to improve the car before the first race, which is the most important thing."

Today's test was Massa's first run in a contemporary F1 car since he suffered terrible head injuries in a crash at the Hungaroring last year – and he said he was overjoyed to be back.

"I’m happy to be back after such a long time watching the races on the television and some times at the track," he said.

"I’m very good on the physical point of view.

"I did 100 laps but I could have done much more and I’m 100% ready to come back to racing."

He said topping the times was particularly pleasing given that it was his first test with other drivers since his accident.

"It’s always nice to be first in any occasion. Even if you are joking with your mum, it is nice to be first!" Massa joked.

"I think after the difficult time I had it is always nice to go on the track competitively.

Interesting news as Ferrari reservce driver Giancarlo Fisichella has signed up to contest the Le Mans Series in 2010.

The 37-year-old is a veteran of 231 grands prix since 1996, but he will be Ferrari's reserve driver this season.

However, the Automobile Club de l'Ouest's Le Mans Series said on Monday that Fisichella will contest "the whole season" of the endurance sports car calendar in 2010.

A full entry list will be published within days, but it emerges that he will drive a Ferrari F430 with AF Corse in the LMGT2 category.

Two Le Mans Series races clash with F1 rounds in 2010: May 9's 1000km of Spa (Spanish GP), and the 1000km of Silverstone (Italian GP) in September.

Two pieces of good and exciting new for Ferrari fans today. First of all, Felipe Massa was fastest in his first test in a competitive showing, which underlies his FULL recovery. Secondly, the F10 has pace and looked good in Valencia.



Felipe Massa announced his return to Formula 1 by setting the fastest time on the first day of 2010 testing.

The Ferrari driver ended today's Valencia session 0.2s ahead of second-placed Pedro de la Rosa's Sauber, while Michael Schumacher immediately showed his pace by taking third place for Mercedes.

Although Massa had been given several outings in 2007 and 2008 Ferraris to prove his fitness following his horrific accident in Hungary last year, today's first test for the new F10 was his first fully-fledged F1 appearance since the crash.

He was fastest for the majority of the day, although de la Rosa briefly edged ahead for the newly-independent Sauber team in the middle of the afternoon.

Massa returned to the top in the final 15 minutes, though, lapping in 1m12.574s to beat the Spaniard by 0.210s.

The main talking point of the day is likely to be Schumacher's performance.

His team-mate Nico Rosberg was given the honour of taking Mercedes' new car out first, with the seven times champion taking over for the last hour and a half.

Within 18 laps Schumacher had beaten Rosberg's time, and he ended the day one place and 0.6s ahead of the younger German.
There was a brief shock when Schumacher appeared at the top of the timing screens with a lap a full 4s faster than the competition - but this was swiftly disallowed as he had missed part of the course.

McLaren test driver Gary Paffett was fifth, followed by Rubens Barrichello - who caused the day's sole red flag when his Williams stopped on track in the closing stages, causing the session to be extended by 10 minutes.

Toro Rosso's Sebastien Buemi and Renault's Robert Kubica brought up the tail of the field.


Monday's test times from Valencia:

1  MASSA       Ferrari      1m12.574s (102)
2  DE LA ROSA  Sauber       1m12.784s (74)
3  SCHUMACHER  Mercedes     1m12.944s (40)
4  ROSBERG     Mercedes     1m13.543s (39)
5  PAFFETT     McLaren      1m13.846s (86)
6  BARRICHELLO Williams     1m14.449s (75)
7  BUEMI       Toro Rosso   1m14.762s (18)
8  KUBICA      Renault      1m15.000s (68)

Formula 1 teams' preparations for the new season have begun in earnest on Monday as the new cars hit the track for the first time in testing.

Six new cars are running at the Valencia track in Spain at the start of a three-day test.

Three of the sport's big four teams have their new cars on track - McLaren, Mercedes and Ferrari - along with Williams, Renault and Sauber.

BBC Sport will be rounding up the news as it happens in Spain

"A lunchtime snap-shot sees Felipe Massa continue to lead the pack, as he has all morning, with a fastest lap of 1:13.088 ahead of Pedro de la Rosa's Sauber (1.13.247) and Nico Rosberg's Mercedes (1:13.543).