LIVE TEXT COMMENTARY (all times GMT)
606: DEBATE
Your thoughts on the Barcelona test
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By Mark Orlovac
Lotus on Twitter:](http://twitter.com/MyLotusRacing)"Lunchtime for Fairuz now - feeling good after a solid morning’s work. Fairuz has done over 31 laps… so far it’s been engine mapping and also fine tuning of engine…"BBC Sport’s Sarah Holt in Barcelona: "Di Grassi had done 31 laps before his off. He was lying in 10th place with a best of 1:27.057."1137: More testing woe for new F1 team Virgin. Lucas di Grassi crashes at turn nine, which is normally taken at 150mph. The team have had all sorts of problems so far this off-season with Timo Glock suffering a front-wing failure in the first test in Jerez while they were restricted to only 144 laps of running at the second four-day test at Jerez because of hydraulic issues.BBC Radio 5 live’s F1 team on Twitter:](http://twitter.com/5LiveF1)"We are hearing a rumour that USF1 may merge with a team, but not Stefan GP like everyone expects… "Rob, Plymouth, via text on 81111: "This season will be the most closely fought battle for years, new cars, new teams and no fuelling. I still believe that the pit stops will decide the positions of each race, but hopefully we will see a lot more overtaking. Good luck to the new teams, hope they have a big impact on mixing the grid up."BBC Sport’s Sarah Holt in Barcelona: "It is a little early in the day to figure out which updates the teams are running with on day one in Barcelona. Mercedes remained mysterious when asked if they had any new bits to the car. Willy Rampf is still in charge of Sauber’s development this week but, after 10 years at the helm, the German is set to be replaced by James Key, who has left his role as Force India technical director to switch to Sauber. Rampf was in typically pleasant mood over at Sauber HQ and said he’s still enjoying being around until the end of April. Sauber driver Pedro de la Rosa is fourth fastest in this early session. By the way, I’m trying to find out what’s happening with Fernando Alonso. The Spaniard hasn’t emerged since his stop on the track two hours ago but Ferrari are keeping schtum at the moment."1114: It is worth mentioning that although these pre-season tests do give some indication about a car’s pace, it is impossible to definitively analyse how competitive they are as the fuel loads of each vehicle are not published. Saying that though, the chat in the paddock is that Ferrari, Red Bull and McLaren are ahead of the rest, with Michael Schumacher’s Mercedes team just behind.BBC pit-lane reporter Lee McKenzie on Twitter:](http://twitter.com/LeeMcKenzieF1)"Just in chatting at Williams and saw fastest so far Nico Hulk who was heading back to car Twix in hand!"Renault on Twitter:](http://twitter.com/rf1paddockpass)"Testing under way in Barcelona. We’re practicing pit stops with Vitaly!"BBC pit-lane reporter Lee McKenzie in Barcelona:
"I’ve been speaking to fellow Scot Paul di Resta at Force India. Since the interview I did with Paul in Glasgow a month ago, when he was announced as Force India’s reserve driver, he’s not been back to the UK. He’s been staying in Spain in Portugal for F1 testing and the German DTM series, where he drives for Mercedes. The 23-year-old was meant to be driving the Force India today but the team changed testing plans so he’s now a spectator and is heading back home to Scotland tomorrow. Next time we see him should during Friday practice in Bahrain. Vijay Mallya’s team are behind the idea to give young drivers time in the car on Fridays because of the ban on in-season testing. Di Resta looked impressive when he drove in the wet during the Jerez test but he still reckons it’s hard to tell where Force India are in comparison to their rivals."1041: Right then, I take it you do not want to hear me drone on for the next four days all my own. My wife wouldn’t put up with it and you shouldn’t either. Here’s your chance to get involved. You can use the medium of606,](http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/606/A63836274)you can be hip and happening withTwitter,](http://twitter.com/markorlovac)or you can text me on 81111 (UK) or +44 7786200666. Let me know what you are thinking. Who will win the 2010 title, will there be any dark horses, will USF1 actually make the grid in Bahrain Get in the mixer, you know you want to.1022: The teams have been busy this morning, so here’s a quick catch-up. There have been two red flags so far, one for the Lotus of reserve driver Fairuz Fauzy and the other for Fernando Alonso’s Ferrari. Both cars stopped on the track. As for the timings, Nico Hulkenberg in the Williams has set the fastest lap so far with one minute, 22.684 seconds. The Red Bull of Mark Webber is in second (1:23.335) with Nico Rosberg’s Mercedes in third (1:23.709).BBC Sport’s Sarah Holt in Barcelona: “Welcome to the final pre-season test in Barcelona, where thankfully, after two soggy tests in Jerez, the sun is shining and temperatures are up to a positively balmy 14C. The dry conditions will please the 11 protagonists here, who now have just four days left to fine-tune the cars and iron out any creases before the opening Bahrain Grand Prix on 14 March. In theory, Barcelona should be the most illuminating of the winter tests because the Circuit de Catalunya is home to May’s Spanish GP, which means the teams have plenty of data to compare their early 2010 form against. The teams are also set to unveil significant aerodynamic updates and other “goodies” before lining up in Bahrain.”
1015: Morning all. After a test at Valencia and two at Jerez, Formula 1’s great and good are now in Spain for four days of smoke and mirrors at the Circuit de Catalunya near Barcelona. Welcome, to what I’m calling, ‘the first day of final pre-season testing’. Snappy isn’t itThis article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.