ATLAS F1 - THE JOURNAL OF FORMULA ONE MOTORSPORT
2003 SuperStats: Winter Testing

By David Wright, Australia
Atlas F1 Magazine Writer



Advice: With each table, click on a column's header (title) to sort the table by that column; click again to change the sorting order.

Fastest times is a listing of the fastest time by each team at the eight tracks that have been used during winter testing. For each team at each track, the fastest time set during testing is listed first. This is then followed by the fastest time set during the November/December testing period, January testing period and February testing period. The fastest time is also highlighted in the period it was set.

At most of the tracks they visited, Ferrari top the tables, closely followed by McLaren. Ferrari were on top at Jerez until the last day of testing saw some very fast times, while at Valencia, a Jaguar tops the tables! Toyota must be disappointed that at the Paul Ricard track where they do a huge amount of testing, both Renault and McLaren turned up for a couple of days of testing of their cars and managed to outpace them.

Barcelona:

Fiorano:

Imola:

Jerez:

Mugello:

Paul Ricard (short):

Paul Ricard:

Silverstone (National circuit):

Valencia:


Driver days compares the number of days each driver, and team, has driven during winter testing, with a driver day being counted for each driver that tests for a team on a day of testing - multiple drivers for one team on a day of testing mean multiple driver days. A total of 42 drivers have driven for the ten teams in these tests from November through to February, for a total of 529 driver days of testing. Finally every team and driver for the 2003 season has tested, though Minardi's Justin Wilson and Jos Verstappen has been somewhat limited compared to the other teams' drivers.

Of the 42 drivers that have taken part, Marc Gene clearly leads the way with 34 days, from Cristiano da Matta on 32 days and Juan Pablo Montoya and Olivier Panis on 29. From the teams' perspective, Williams-BMW clearly lead the way with 94 from Ferrari on 78, with Toyota, Renault, McLaren-Mercedes and BAR-Honda closely bunched together, while Jordan and Minardi clearly trail the field.


The driver totals compare the total number of laps completed by each driver during testing, with the total number of laps broken down circuit by circuit. A total of 28824 laps have been completed during testing since the end of the 2002 season. Marc Gene is at the top of the standings for the dizziest driver with 2098 laps, closely followed by fellow Williams driver Juan Pablo Montoya on 1906 laps. Next up is Toyota's rookie Cristiano da Matta on 1568 laps. Then there are a large group of drivers who have completed quite a few days of testing with 1000 to 1450 laps of testing led by Luca Badoer. Similar to Ferrari's use of Fiorano and Mugello, Toyota spend a lot of time testing by themselves at the Paul Ricard circuit, with almost half of da Matta's testing at the French circuit. At the bottom of the table is a group comprising mainly of drivers the teams evaluated for possible further use as test drivers, though Minardi's Justin Wilson and Jos Verstappen are mixed in there as well.

By default, the table is sorted by total laps in descending order.


The team totals compare the total number of laps completed by each driver during testing, with the total number of laps broken down circuit by circuit. Again, 28824 laps have been completed during the testing period. On top are Williams, having completed over 800 more laps than Ferrari, both teams spreading their testing over several circuits. McLaren-Mercedes are next, just ahead of Renault who are followed by Toyota. Sauber-Petronas, BAR-Honda and Jaguar-Cosworth form another tight group. Jordan's testing in January and February move them well clear of Minardi while still being well behind the rest of the teams.

By default, the table is sorted by total laps in descending order.


The distance totals compare the total distance completed by drivers and teams during testing. A total of 127923.865 km has been covered during testing, the equivalent of over 419 Grand Prix distances! These two tables follow a similar pattern to the previous tables, though Toyota moves ahead of McLaren-Mercedes. Minardi's testing is the equivalent of under four Grands Prix, compared to pacesetter Williams who have completed over 84! Meanwhile Marc Gene's testing has seen him cover the equivalent of more than 30 race distances.

By default, the tables are sorted by total distance in descending order.


The track totals show the total distance, total laps and total driver days completed during testing at each track. The most popular venue has been Barcelona, which has seen almost 55,000 km of punishment inflicted on it by the various teams, as the teams have completed the equivalent of almost 180 race distances at the track. As the averages show, each driver each day at Barcelona has averaged about 80% of a race distance, with some drivers completing over 100 laps in a day at the track! The two other Spanish venues of Valencia and Jerez are next most popular. Interestingly, the average laps completed per driver per day is fairly similar at the various venues, whether they be as short as Fiorano or as long as Paul Ricard or Mugello.

This table is listed in alphabetical order.


The averages compare the average distance completed and average laps completed by the drivers and teams. The drivers leading the table have averaged around a race distance per day of testing, with the Ferrari, Jordan, Sauber and Williams teams averaging almost a race distance per day per driver. Minardi once again lag behind the other teams.

This table is listed in alphabetical order (drivers by surname).


Finally, the battle of the two (well, it should be two) tyre companies. With the departure of Arrows, and Jordan not testing before building their new car for 2003, Bridgestone had only three teams at their disposal in November and December while Michelin had six teams out there running. Despite Minardi switching to Bridgestone and Jordan doing some decent running in February, the table still tends to reflect this imbalance, with Michelin's totals about two-thirds greater than Bridgestone's total in the categories of total distance and total laps, and almost 80% higher in driver days. Interestingly, when looking at the averages, Bridgestone runners have averaged slightly more running per driver day compared to their Michelin counterparts. Also included in this table is the running that Minardi did on Avon F3000 tyres when they were unable to get tyres from either Michelin or Bridgestone.

This table is also listed in alphabetical order.


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Volume 9, Issue 10
March 5th 2003

Articles

Giancarlo Fisichella: Through the Visor
by Giancarlo Fisichella

Guide to the Perplexed: The 2003 Changes
by David Cameron

For the Rekord
by Thomas O'Keefe

Australian GP Preview

2003 Australian GP Preview
by Craig Scarborough

Australian GP Facts & Stats
by Marcel Schot

2003 SuperStats: Winter Testing Wrap-Up
by David Wright

Columns

The 'New Formula' Trivia Quiz
by Marcel Borsboom

The Fuel Stop
by Reginald Kincaid

Bookworm Special
by Mark Glendenning

On the Road
by Garry Martin

Elsewhere in Racing
by David Wright & Mark Alan Jones

The Weekly Grapevine
by Tom Keeble



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