The afternoon session began with comments in the paddock regarding the possibility of seeing Fernando Alonso testing the Ferrari F10.  With a warmer weather and more grip on the tracks the single-seaters started to leave the boxes heading to the Valencian Ricardo Tormo Circuit’s racetrack in Cheste.

With a lost Austrian –we say ‘lost” because we didn’t see him through all the morning (strange thing)-, Lewis Hamilton started by lowering his morning times, 1:12.256, but still far from Felipe Massa’s chronometer and his F10.  That’s how the afternoon started.

At 3:30 the pilot from Austria was seen around the box, and rumors spread with regards to his possible participation in today’s tests.

Massa carried out many tyre tests –we assumed he was testing their performance-, explaining why the Brazilian entered the box continuously.  The same as Ferrari, the rest of the ‘scuderias’ tested their performance, thus the morning times were not improved.

The Renault improved only a bit.  The Polish, Robert Kubica, wearing a completely black helmet, continued to average very high times ( 1:14 ).  The R30 seems to have very little performance evolution compared to its predecessor, last year’s R29.

Today was a hard working day for Nico Rosberg who commanding his Mercedes GP made all kinds of tests.  Yesterday, his single-seater was very fast, but today it was slower marking 1:14. high times and running 25 lap periods to try the tyres out.

The Ferrari engine Sabuer of Kobayashi, after completing a period of 30 laps started to lower its times, becoming one of the fastest of the afternoon ( 1:12.667 ).  The Sauber is giving a good impression in these first tests.

The first impressions of Barichello on his Williams FW32’s Cosworth engine, indicate less speed (point) than the rest.  Specifically, around 8-12km/h (Mercedes and Ferrari).

In a bit more than an hour the session will end.   We’re walking towards the paddock to pick up some feelings.

Today, the Valencian circuit has had around 7.000 spectators, according to the organization.  A good number of people has gotten together to see the tests, so if climate conditions permit it, a higher number is expected for tomorrow with the attendance of Fernando Alonso in the racetrack.

Best times of the day.

1º Massa (1:11.722)

2º Kobayashi (1:12.056)

3º Hamilton (1:12.056)

4º Rosberg (1:12. 899)

5º Barrichello (1:13.377)

The second day of official tests in the Valencia Ricardo Tormo Circuit have started.  Today’s surprise was the attendance of ex-champion, Lewis Hamilton.  Climate conditions are better than Monday’s.   Massa and Kobayashi are leading the time table since early this morning, confirming yesterday’s good impression of the two single-seaters (Ferrari y Sauber).

The morning session started as yesterday’s, Massa runs through the racetrack and in a little while stops the chronometer at 1:12.393, near the best time he got yesterday (1:12.547).  After him, came Hamilton with 1:13.366.

After this first period, Massa starts to ‘exploit’ his Ferrari, stopping the time at 1:11.722, and pulverizing yesterday’s times.  The Brazilian pilot seems has adapted quite well to the F10.  However, a little bit later, Kobayashi goes up to the second place in the time table with 1:12: 384, with a scarce difference of 662 from Massa.  Yesterday’s story seems to repeat itself with the battle between Ferrari and Sauber.

Lewis Hamilton (McLaren) was the third fastest of the morning with a better lap of 1:12.508, even though, one who also improved yesterday’s time was Nico Rosberg with the Mercedes GP.  The German managed a better lap of 1:12.899, almost a second faster than the one he got on the first day.  Rubens Barrichello’s Williams (1:13.377), Kubica’s Renault (1:13.659) and the Swiss, Sebastien Buemi’s Toro Rosso (1:14. 826) were behind.  The latter was the only one who improved yesterday’s times.

Better conditions

The improvement of, both weather and the asphalt atmosphere conditions, as well as the quantity of rubber in the racetrack helped to lower the times.  All the ‘Scuderias’ tested the components and as yesterday, ran with different fuel amounts.

1. Massa (56 laps)
2. Kobayashi (29 laps)
3. Hamilton (48)
4. Rosberg (41)
5. Barichello (45)
6. Kubica (59)
7. Buemi (41)

The British pilot, Lewis Hamilton made some interesting statements to finish for once and for all with rumors regarding his relationship with his fellow countryman and team-mate, Jenson Button, referring to the need to count on him to win the Constructors’ World Championship.

“I’m reading everywhere that my relationship with Button is not good and that I didn’t want him in my team.  All that is false.  I think he’s the best team-mate I could ever have,” he pointed out.

“When he’s winning, I have to try to finish second, and when I’m winning he has to finish second.  I cannot win the Constructors’ Championship alone, so I have to have a strong team-mate,” he added.

The British pilot was right.  He cannot win the Constructors’ Championship by himself.  For instance, last year, his team-mate, Kovalainen contributed with very few points, while tandem, Button-Barichello occupied first positions taking the ‘Scuderia’ to the highest level, ahead of Red Bull y McLaren.

On his part, current champion, Jenson Button, let some significant details be known, for instance that he has  started to talk with the McLaren directors “in Abu Dhabi and in Brazil.”  “We talked in these races, but not before we got here.”

“I was interested with the offer they made me, but didn’t think about changing team, until the Brazil Grand Prix finished.  A second before, I was still thinking in the BrawnGP,” he assured.

Even though, Button did not take the decision in that moment, the fact that he was sure that he would sign up with McLaren must have been a clue element, as Ross Brawn himself seemed confident in the British pilot’s change of ‘Scuderia’, stating that it was 99% a sure thing.

On the other hand, to end up with the alleged arguments, McLaren’s CEO, Martin Whitmarsh explained that Hamilton supported Button’s signing up at all times.  “When assessing the pilots’ market –which we did for weeks-, Lewis agreed with Jenson’s signing up,” he explained.