Michael Schumacher and Nico Rosberg

The first day of testing at Valencia was in some ways very interesting but then again wasn’t. The problem is that absolutely no valuable information on any of the cars present could be gleaned off the times. Just as with any practice session, we don’t know who was running what fuel loads, we don’t know if everyone was running optimal setup. In fact as is so often the case in Formula 1, the comments and currents off the track are the ones which could have the biggest impact.

So Massa topped the time sheets in the Ferrari that should be a big improvement over last years pathetic attempt. Immediately however questions need to be asked, was Ferrari simply trying to boost Massa’s confidence after his life threatening outing the last time he sat in a competitive F1 car? Could he have been very light perhaps? Then there was Rosberg being bested by Schumacher, same story about the fuel loads. Schumacher went out after Rosberg as well so the track conditions could have been better. Schumacher’s settings could have been nicked from the other side of the garage if they were any good.

So on the track then there isn’t much to be gained, but off it is another story. The inevitable occurred and Schumacher was swamped by press whilst his younger teammate was relatively ignored compared to Schumacher. Now all along Rosberg has vehemently defended his status at Mercedes saying he wasn’t going to play second fiddle to the seven time World Champion. Surely though the thought must be there somewhere at the back of his mind, after all we’re talking about Schumacher and Ross Brawn here, a combination that produced some of the most infamous ‘team orders’ episodes ever. And that’s not even taking into account how both men have shown a willingness to do whatever it takes to win, no matter how liberally they then have to interpret the rules.

Maybe Rosberg is stronger mentally than most and able to ignore all that but then in rides good old Rubens with a real nice comment on the situation: “Yeah. Get out of there. That is the only thing I can tell him.” when asked if he had any advice for Nico. That’s from a man who’s career was in 2009 reignited by Brawn and still he has that to say. Then again he knows all about what those two will do if Rosberg slips up for even a minute.

Finally we all knew this was the case already because the announcement was made some time ago, but Red Bull’s absence from the first testing session was very worrying. Red Bull had by far and away the strongest package in the twilight of last season, so one would think then that they’d be ready with another now. The regulations after all haven’t changed that much. Then there is the new confusion about the double diffuser, is it on or is it off this year. Some of the teams already have them but it does seem they’re gone for 2010, but the reason I bring it up is that Red Bull has shown in 2009 they don’t deal with confusion very well. So could it be that there is more to their absence, are they struggling with an aspect of the new regulations?

The last bit of information from Valencia is rather amusing. Last season many teams, champions Brawn included, admitted Red Bull had the best car, and thus several 2010 cars would bear an uncanny resemblance. The new Mercedes car is unquestionably drawing heavily on Adrian Newey’s 2009 effort, the little ridges just forward of the cockpit being the most obvious example. So all the other teams could produce a Red Bull faster than Red Bull themselves, Vettel must be fuming.

Nico Rosberg at the Valencia test

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