Nelsinho - 3 seconds SLOWER than Ralf...not impressive

piquetfan · 2 Dec 2003, 17:14 (Ref:801654)

Jerez day 1:
Pos Driver Car Time Laps
1 Ralf Schumacher (Williams-BMW) 1m17.453s 68
2 Marc Gene (Williams-BMW) 1m18.326s 73
3 Nelson Piquet Jr (Williams-BMW) 1m20.453s 64

Ralf broke the unnoficial record at Jerez, so he set the bar high.

However, 3 seconds slower than Ralf, and 2 seconds slower than Marc Gene, after 65 laps, is far from impressive.

If I remember well, when Nico tested for Williams last year, he was about 1.2 seconds slower than Marc.
If the times matter, I think Nelsinho probably failed to impress, and his father's 'prophecy' (and also my signature) will NOT come true!

(ps: to my despair...I was a great fan of Piquet and I like Nelsinho, but the facts are the facts. The moment of truth has arrived!).

ElScOrChO · 2 Dec 2003, 17:21 (Ref:801662)

Calm down!

Maybe they were testing something and he couldn't push the car to its limit!

Damon · 2 Dec 2003, 17:23 (Ref:801666)

I've seen him a few times in British F3 and have been far from impressed. He's very firey but not really that outright quick (certainly others stood out far more). I also get the feeling that he's been told by many around him that he's the next "big thing" and that's gone to his head a little.

piquetfan · 2 Dec 2003, 17:26 (Ref:801670)

No.

Ralf and Nelson Angelo were using the 2003 model, while Marc Gene was testing a hybrid 2003/2004.

So the difference was exaclty 3 seconds - no excuses.

Don't you think this is what a 'normal' talented young driver would do? I remember that in his first test for Benetton, Pizzonia was 1.8 seconds slower than Fisichella, and Briattore decided he wasn't special.

I also remember that Kimi and Massa did very good tests in their first outings.

I like those tests - as someone said, Michael Schumacher 'does the talking on the track', and so should everybody else.

It will be interesting to see Nico's times tomorrow.

gttouring · 2 Dec 2003, 17:31 (Ref:801675)

why is Montoya not involved in this testing?

NiceGuyEddie · 2 Dec 2003, 17:41 (Ref:801681)

Indeed, I was dissapointed as well. In F1 you need to make an impression quick, and Nelsinho obviously failed to do that. If you can't make an impression, you end up making excuses.

piquetfan · 2 Dec 2003, 17:48 (Ref:801689)

Surprisingly, he was interviewed and said that everything was alright and easier than expected. I got the impression that today and tomorrow are sessions where Williams expect Nelson and Nico to get used to the car instead of being fast.

Maybe today was like the Friday qualifying session; so we have to wait unril Thursday when they will be testing together and will need to be fast.

ralf fan · 2 Dec 2003, 18:37 (Ref:801739)

calm down PIQUET fan!! its like only his 2nd or 3rd outing in f1!! cant expect him to go and beat Lap records... If Williams thought that he didnt have the potential theyd never have signed him....

steve nielsen · 2 Dec 2003, 19:02 (Ref:801762)

http://www.f1racing.nl/photo/upload2/MPyHjdpQCacDb.jpg

look at the way the marshalls and team mechanics look at him

piquetfan · 2 Dec 2003, 19:14 (Ref:801779)

Well, that's because they probably thought Nelson was going to do a streaptease.

darcym · 2 Dec 2003, 20:12 (Ref:801838)

To be honest, that picture looks a little rude.

the car looks beeched, The engineers are looking at it (maybe for damage) and the marshals look like they are getting a truck to get it back to the pits.

Piquet....he is wandering off

(thats how it looks in the picture)

looks a little cheeky to me.

Elton Julian · 2 Dec 2003, 20:34 (Ref:801853)

It is hard to tell what the times mean. Fuel load? Tire compound? etc. BUT it makes Klein look good.

PaulSands · 2 Dec 2003, 20:55 (Ref:801861)

I thought Williams denied having signed him yet? Nelson Sr. was telling the Brazilian press he had been signed on a long term deal but that was denied by the team.

DieRitter · 2 Dec 2003, 21:41 (Ref:801899)

Guys... Of course Piquet Jr is 3 secs slower. Don't you know the normal procedures adopted by Williams when someone drive their f1 for the first time?

-RPM of the engine are reduced from 19000rpm to 17000 rpm
-60Kilos of fuel
-Used tyres
-More wing to reduce speed.

Williams will do everything they can to prevent a youngester to drive on the limit.

piquetfan · 2 Dec 2003, 21:56 (Ref:801907)

Quote:

Originally posted by DieRitter
Guys... Of course Piquet Jr is 3 secs slower. Don't you know the normal procedures adopted by Williams when someone drive their f1 for the first time?

-RPM of the engine are reduced from 19000rpm to 17000 rpm
-60Kilos of fuel
-Used tyres
-More wing to reduce speed.

Williams will do everything they can to prevent a youngester to drive on the limit.

I was just going to post that up - thanks DieRitter.

I read exactly what you described (less power, used tyres, more wing to prevent spins at the corners).

flor · 3 Dec 2003, 00:53 (Ref:801997)

looking at the picture tells me that it didn't work

Mr V · 3 Dec 2003, 02:06 (Ref:802053)

Judging by that picture, it's no wonder he was 3 seconds slower, with all that hair, i'm surprised that he can see where he's going

senna12 · 3 Dec 2003, 04:18 (Ref:802128)

They all seem to be looking at his a$$. Perhaps he soiled himself when he beached the car.

I believe Nico will be quicker. We'll see soon enough.

Gore · 3 Dec 2003, 09:43 (Ref:802385)

Quote:

Originally posted by senna12
They all seem to be looking at his a$$.

See that guy shading his eyes? I guess the sun really does shine out of Piquet's...

climb · 3 Dec 2003, 10:08 (Ref:802409)

I wouldn't take an instant picture as if it was a 2 hours movie; it can't tell much about the real situation.

piquetfan · 3 Dec 2003, 18:15 (Ref:802873)

Times today

Jerez day 2 (unofficial):
Pos Driver Car Time Laps
1 Ralf Schumacher (Williams-BMW) 1m17.743s 113
2 Jenson Button (BAR-Honda) 1m18.317s 59
3 Marc Gene (Williams-BMW) 1m18.559s 50
4 Takuma Sato (BAR-Honda) 1m18.656s 77
5 Luca Badoer (Ferrari) 1m18.868s 75
6 Felipe Massa (Ferrari) 1m19.085s 64
7 Nico Rosberg (Williams-BMW) 1m19.490s 67
8 Luciano Burti (Ferrari) 1m19.583s 47
9 Nick Heidfeld (Jordan-Ford) 1m20.036s 29
10 Jaroslav Janis (Jordan-Ford) 1m21.976s 62

Nico was much faster than Nelson (0.9 sec). But he said his former experience with an F1 car helped. I will check, but apparently his car didn't have the limited revs and extra wings. Anyway, 1.7 seconds slower than Ralf is also far from impressive.

It seems it will rain tomorrow. Let's see what they do in the wet. My impression is that Klien was the most impressive rookie so far.

ralf fan · 3 Dec 2003, 18:17 (Ref:802875)

Gene slower than button?? not impressive!! ofcourse depends on what test program they were on!

Zep · 3 Dec 2003, 20:35 (Ref:803008)

Nico still faster than Burti and not so much behind Massa... I would say not bad.

F3lollipops · 3 Dec 2003, 20:44 (Ref:803017)

Come on guys, we all know that testing doesn't mean anything in terms of real speed.

Only once they are in race trim do we find out what was real or artificial speed...

paulzinho · 3 Dec 2003, 20:57 (Ref:803030)

Yeah remember when Prost were breaking all those lap records before going on to greater things...... debt and bankruptcy wasnt it?

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