PHOTOS: Valencia Testing Photo Galleries

Formula 1

PHOTOS: Valencia Testing Photo Galleries

The engines have fired and laps have been run...

SPEED Staff | Posted February 03, 2010 Valencia (ESP)

The Ferrari F10 led the time charts all three days of the first testing session at Valencia. (Photo: LAT Photographic)

The Formula One season began in earnest this week as the ban on off season testing was lifted and teams headed to Valencia Spain for the first round of three days of winter testing.

The Ferrari F10 led the time charts all three days of the first testing session at Valencia. (Photo: LAT Photographic)

A total of seven teams arrived and new drivers and veterans alike shook the rust off. Three teams staged their launches at Valencia's Ricardo Tormo circuit in Cheste including Sauber, followed by Renault and finally Toro Rosso. Mercedes GP showed off their new machine having staged a formal launch a week before with a re-branded Brawn GP car. Williams staged no formal launch saying their ‘launch’ would come when the car left the garage an headed to the track, as it did Monday morning.

Michael Schumacher, Robert Kubica, Fernando Alonso and Jenson Button showed off their new colors as they turned their first laps with new teams. Ferrari was the fastest all three days, the first two with returning Felipe Massa behind the wheel and the final day with Fernando Alonso wheeling the F10 much to the delight of the tens of thousands of Spanish fans who turned out to watch.

Photo Gallery: 2010 Valencia Test Day Three
A crowd of thousands descended on the Valencia track on Wednesday making the trip to the Spanish circuit to watch local hero Fernando Alonso in action in a Ferrari for the first time. Not only did Alonso cover 127 laps over the course of the day, but he also topped the timesheets.

Photo Gallery: 2010 Valencia Testing Day Two
Tuesday, a buoyant Lewis Hamilton said he is happy with the new McLaren MP4-25 after his first day of running at Valencia. He finished the day third fastest, with Massa again on top.

Photo Gallery: 2010 Valencia Testing Day One
Seven teams took to the track at a sunny Valencia road circuit Monday morning as the 2010 World Championship season kicked into gear at the start of a three-day test. Of the established teams only Force India and Red Bull Racing are missing, as both preferred to skip this opening test and spend a little more time on their cars. Felipe Massa in the Ferrari F10 was on top of the charts at the end of the day.

Photo Gallery: Schumacher Takes First Laps With Mercedes GP
Michael Schumacher was in buoyant mood after his first experience of the new Mercedes in Valencia Monday, likening the experience to his first test with Jordan in 1991.

Photo Gallery: 2010 Mercedes Launches At Valencia
Mercedes GP took some time prior to the test Monday morning to show off their 2010 machine.

Photo Gallery: Day one of the 2010 Valencia testing session
The F1 world - and a very crowded media center - got its first look at several new cars on Monday morning as the winter testing ban ended and Valencia burst into life.

Photo Gallery: 2010 Toro Rosso Launches At Valencia
Monday morning started out on a festive note as the Toro Rosso team unveiled their 2010 machine at Valencia. But having cut its technological ties with Red Bull, the Faenza based team was stranded at the bottom of the time sheets, having completed just 10 laps with the new STR5.

Photo Gallery: 2010 Renault Launch
Sauber revealed its car for the 2010 season on the tarmac of the Ricardo Tormo circuit at Valencia Sunday afternoon. The C29 - with a notably sharp, high and wide front nose and a McLaren-style shark-fin engine cover - is liveried all in white with black sidepods and currently no sponsors.

Photo Gallery: 2010 BMW-Sauber Launch
The BMW Sauber team unveiled its 2010 contender in Valencia Sunday afternoon. The C29 appeared in a new gray and white and was almost totally devoid of sponsorship other than logos for Bridgestone and – on the mirrors – watch brand Certina.