Pics Aplenty: Alonso, Massa dominate Valencia testing in new Ferrari F10

Noah Joseph — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 13:34:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Ferrari, Racing

Felipe Massa and Fernando Alonso lap Valencia in the 2010 Scuderia Ferrari F10 - Click above for high-res image gallery

We know, we know. The pace set on track tests doesn't necessarily indicate how a given team, car or driver will perform in an actual race, let alone across a whole season. But it's hard not to read too much into it when we've been waiting for a sign since the end of last season, when the winningest team in all of motorsports - which has been working on this car since the middle of a dismal last season - with its veteran driver recovered from injury, and with a two-time World Champion taking the helm for the first time, when all these elements come together and the team absolutely dominates.

Half of the F1 teams that'll be competing for honors this season descended on Valencia for three days of official testing. And when all was said and done, Ferrari had dominated the time sheets on each of the three days. The first two days saw Felipe Massa run the new car, setting the fastest times on both days. Then Alonso took his turn on Day 3, beating Massa's time and everyone else's in the process - including returning seven-time World Champion Michael Schumacher in the new Mercedes and reigning champion Jenson Button in the new McLaren.

For his part, Alonso was quick to quell speculation. Reliability, fuel loads, yadda yadda yadda. But when this is the first and only indication we have of how the season is shaping up, we can't help but sit back and stroke our five o'clock shadows in contemplation. We invite you to do the same while viewing the mega gallery of on-track images below.

Gallery: 2010 Scuderia Ferrari F10 on track at Valencia

[Source: Ferrari]

Pics Aplenty: Alonso, Massa dominate Valencia testing in new Ferrari F10 originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 04 Feb 2010 13:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Loeb gets free Red Bull F1 test for fifth rally championship

Jonathon Ramsey — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 06:59:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Etc.

Last year, Sebastien Loeb swapped his WRC Championship winning Citroen Xsara for a test in Renault's F1 car (and former Renault driver Heikki Kovalainen hopped in the Citroen). This year, Loeb's going to take a turn in Red Bull's F1 runner for a test at the Catalunya circuit on November 17th -- Red Bull also sponsors Loeb's WRC team. The difference this time: instead of a quiet get-to-know-the-car session, Loeb will be running with the other teams and drivers during an official F1 testing session. Although he'll be piloting the Renault-powered RB4 with a mission not to embarrass himself, he has no plans to vacate his Citroen rally seat. After five straight WRC championships, piloting an F1 car is just what you do in your time off, for fun. Must be nice...

[Source: F1 Live]

Loeb gets free Red Bull F1 test for fifth rally championship originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 06 Nov 2008 06:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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