Testing your patience...

So silly-season is upon us, and some of the teams (but certainly not all of them) have completed the first test session over 3 days in Valencia this week.

With assorted new regulations, the return of KERS, adjustable rear wings, new drivers, some teams still using old cars (notably McLaren), differing fuel loads and Pirelli replacing Bridgestone, it rapidly becomes clear that a fast lap time doesn't necessarily mean a great deal, so great are the variables.

What was obvious though, was that the good teams are still good. Vettel was fastest on day 1 and Alonso on day 2. With McLaren running last year's car until the next session, the gates were open for another team to be up their too, and Renault-Lotus-Whatever stepped up ro the mark, with Kubica posting not only the fastest time on day 3, but the quickest of the session.

Mercedes seemed to be struggling, and Lotus missed some time waiting for parts. Massa wasn't over-chuffed to get a bash in the Ferrai and discover it was on fire. Literally.

The next round is over 4 days in Jerez, starting this Thursday. The new McLaren has been launched, so we'll see how they're doing for pace then too.

Sadly, after his accident rallying, Kubica won't be joining them.

(Still Johnny Walker!)

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