David Coulthard Supporters Forum

sassyshiraz · Posted: Thu Feb 14, 2008 2:17 am Post subject:

It's always Mark that is ahead of DC in testing - rarely the other way around. I know they test different things and all that but even so, if the car and driver are set up together then why isn't DC up there too with Mark. There is always such a gap. If Mark outshines DC this season in quali and DC holds it together in race trim we might see DC in 2009.

Am trying to keep the faith too but so close to the season beginning and I don't like what I see on the testing boards.

Bring on Melbourne, lets see what the Red Bull can really do. Oh if only they could be up there with the Ferrari's and the Macs.

Melanie · Red Bull Racing driver Joined: 03 May 2006 Posts: 2334

sassyshiraz · Posted: Thu Feb 14, 2008 5:48 am Post subject:

I started off being very optimistic but that seems to have drained away since testing has continued. Laughing

Melanie · Red Bull Racing driver Joined: 03 May 2006 Posts: 2334

DC today

sassyshiraz · Posted: Thu Feb 14, 2008 8:40 am Post subject:

Where do we think they sit in the mix? Question

Coulthard downplays Red Bull's pace

David Coulthard has warned against unrealistic expectations in the build-up to the new season after his team-mate Mark Webber set the pace at Jerez.

Webber's 1:18.628 saw him lead the field of 16 on Wednesday at the Spanish circuit, prompting some suggestions that perhaps 2008 will be the season that sees Red Bull finally come good.

However, Coulthard has played down these expectations, saying one shouldn't read too much into the times set during testing.

"I've done lots of testing over the years and some of those tests have been fantastic and some of them have been s**t," Coulthard told AAP.

"I wouldn't read anything into it - I think that anyone who expects anything different than McLaren or Ferrari to be setting the pace at the beginning of the season, I would be extremely surprised.

"What's not clear for us at the moment is where we fit into that mix, with BMW and Toyota and Renault and all those guys.

"And it might not even be completely apparent in Melbourne because it's a particular track.

"But I think by the time we're gotten through the first three grands prix, in Melbourne, Malaysia and Bahrain, we'll have a very clear picture of who are the pacesetters and what the pecking order is down the field."

The Scot, though, is confident that this year's RB4 is proving to be more reliable than last year's car. "I think that's the main thing that we're able to speak of with certainty," he said.

"The facts are the car is running more reliably, we don't have the gearbox issues that we've seen over the last couple of years.

"We're cranking out (the distance of) a grand prix and three-quarters every day per car.

"We were probably doing about 50 laps, so less than a grand prix, for most of the winter testing last year and that's just because the car's more reliable.

"So we go into the season with seven test days left in Jerez and Barcelona - before we go to Melbourne and we know we're not the quickest, we know we're not the slowest and we know we're more reliable than last year.

"The unknowns are where do we sit in that mix."

Si · BMW Sauber Joined: 19 May 2006 Posts: 823

I'm hoping they'll be the fourth team, third would be nice but I think fourth could be realistic.

Mark has said today that they took some fuel out to do his fast lap, like every year we'll have to wait for the GP's to see where they are ! not long now Cool

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sassyshiraz · Posted: Thu Feb 14, 2008 1:20 pm Post subject:

This is more like it... Laughing

Testing times from Jerez (February 14)

1. KOVALAINEN Renault 1m17.974s

2. COULTHARD Red Bull 1m18.485s

3. NAKAJIMA Williams 1m19.117s

4. HAMILTON McLaren 1m19.429s

5. KUBICA BMW 1m19.535s

6. VETTEL Toro Rosso 1m19.688s

7. PIQUET Renault 1m19.817s

8. BOURDAIS Toro Rosso 1m19.848s

9. HEIDFELD BMW 1m19.934s

10. WEBBER Red Bull 1m19.980s

11. FISICHELLA Force India 1m20.669s

12. BUTTON Honda 1m20.988s

13. DAVIDSON Super Aguri 1m21.010s

14. HULKENBERG Williams 1m21.116s

15. DI GRASSI Renault 1m21.286s

16. WURZ Honda 1m21.605s

Melanie · Red Bull Racing driver Joined: 03 May 2006 Posts: 2334

great

Seloxxx · Posted: Thu Feb 14, 2008 2:56 pm Post subject:

Thats more like it! Smile

Si · BMW Sauber Joined: 19 May 2006 Posts: 823

great stuff

I'm surprised to see Kovy in the Renault, thought he was with Mac now ? or have I missed something Question

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sassyshiraz · Posted: Fri Feb 15, 2008 4:47 am Post subject:

Erm good point Si Question

Si · BMW Sauber Joined: 19 May 2006 Posts: 823

Maybe it's a typo. Confused

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Si · BMW Sauber Joined: 19 May 2006 Posts: 823

Here are the times from autosport, showing Kovy in the Mac. I thought something interesting had happened but was a typo.

Pos Driver Team Time Laps
1. Kovalainen McLaren-Mercedes (B) 1:17.974 96
2. Coulthard Red Bull-Renault (B) 1:18.485 107
3. Nakajima Williams-Toyota (B) 1:19.117 90
4. Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes (B) 1:19.429 83
5. Kubica BMW-Sauber (B) 1:19.535 129
6. Vettel Toro Rosso-Ferrari (B) 1:19.688 53
7. Piquet Renault (B) 1:19.817 134
8. Bourdais Toro Rosso-Ferrari (B) 1:19.848 101
9. Heidfeld BMW-Sauber (B) 1:19.934 116
10. Webber Red Bull-Renault (B) 1:19.980 107
11. Fisichella Force India-Ferrari (B) 1:20.669 89
12. Button Honda (B) 1:20.988 121
13. Davidson Super Aguri-Honda (B) 1:21.010 103
14. Hulkenberg Williams-Toyota (B) 1:21.116 71
15. di Grassi Renault (B) 1:21.286 73
16. Wurz Honda (B) 1:21.605 103

All Timing Unofficial
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