Many think Formula 1 Testing reveals the running order for the season ahead, but it really isn't. After Button topped the opening day of testing for McLaren, and Grosjean set the fastest time the day after, it was Felipe Massa's turn to show some speed.
The third day of testing at Jerez was a rather uneventful one, as drivers got their heads down and made the most of the precious time out on track. That is not to say some teams ran in to problems, but after the reliability woes of the opening day and Hamilton's dramatic exit from the second, it was slightly more subdued.
The third day brought a few new faces to the test, or though the majority of teams kept their drivers in the car. However it was Felipe Massa who dominated the day with a seriously quick time, but is it all relative? Only time will tell.
Drivers in the car on day three were: Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull), Felipe Massa (Ferrari), Jenson Button (McLaren), Kimi Raikkonen (Lotus), Nico Rosberg (Mercedes), Esteban Gutierrez (Sauber), Paul Di Resta and James Rossiter (Force India), Valtteri Bottas (Williams), Jean-Eric Vergne (Toro Rosso), Charles Pic (Caterham) and Max Chilton (Marussia).
After setting times some-what under the radar at Jerez, Felipe Massa set the pace on the third day of the Jerez test. He drove his F138 round the Spanish track in 1m17.879, the first and only man (so far) to dip below the 1m18's. It was impressive from the Brazilian, who was on his final day of testing for Ferrari at Jerez. Pedro De La Rosa will round out the test for Ferrari on Friday.
He also completed a healthy 85 laps in mileage, which was only shadowed by four drivers. One of which was the second fastest driver of the day, Nico Rosberg. After the reliability woes of the opening two days, the German got to work making up for lost time. He completed a mammoth 148 laps of the Jerez circuit, setting a best time that was nine tenths shy of Ferrari's benchmark.
However Mercedes were just happy to get some running and mileage after their belts, the issues of before obviously resolved. Sebastian Vettel was next up, 1.1 seconds shy of Massa's best time and lapping the circuit a healthy 102 times. It was another positive day for Red Bull, the first with the 2012 world champion on board.
He looked quick in the RB9 and showed consistent promise throughout the day. They suffered no real reliability issues and looked content at running lap after lap. Another driver who made his testing debut was Kimi Raikkonen, 2007 world champion and Lotus F1 Team driver. The "Iceman" was garage bound and focused on getting comforable in the car for part of the day, limiting his running to 40 laps. However he still managed to set the fourth fastest time.
However he did have to sit out of the final two hours after a problem with the E21's clutch. Fifth went to Jean-Eric Vergne, who also debuted at the test. The Toro Rosso STR8 continued to show promise and the Frenchman's best effort was 1.3 seconds slower than Massa's attempt. However he did lose some time after stopping at the end of the pitlane in the afternoon, managing a total of 85 laps.
James Rossiter drove the Force India again, but this time for the whole morning. After driving the VJM06 in the final hour of Wednesday's test, he had more time in the car and impressed. He ended the day in an eventual sixth place, a tenth behind Vergne's Toro Rosso. However he did create on of the talking points of the day. Closing in on his pit box, he outbraked himself and clattered in to the front jack man. The mechanic was checked over and was uninjured.
Jenson Button returned to the cockpit of the MP4-28, rounding out his running in the car at Jerez. 83 laps was a healthy total for the Brit, finishing 1.7 seconds off the pace. His session came to a premature end after a long stint to close the day, stopping on track with five minutes left.
Esteban Gutierrez also debuted at the Jerez test, taking over from Nico Hulkenberg at the wheel of the Sauber C32. The GP2 race winner completed 110 laps on his first day and looked comfortable at the wheel, despite being two seconds off the front running pace. Max Chilton made up for his crash on Tuesday, which was caused by a suspension problem, by ending the day ninth, ahead of Valtteri Bottas in 10th. The two rookies completed some good and consistent runs but were both over three seconds off Massa's top time.
Charles Pic and Paul Di Resta rounded out the 12 runners of the days testing, with contrasting fortunes. Whilst Pic managed a decent 47 laps in the car, Di Resta only completed seven after the car developed an exhaust problem.
More drama at the Jerez circuit, but plenty to look forward to. Formula 1 is certainly back with a bang.
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| (c) Sky Sports F1 |
The third day brought a few new faces to the test, or though the majority of teams kept their drivers in the car. However it was Felipe Massa who dominated the day with a seriously quick time, but is it all relative? Only time will tell.
Drivers in the car on day three were: Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull), Felipe Massa (Ferrari), Jenson Button (McLaren), Kimi Raikkonen (Lotus), Nico Rosberg (Mercedes), Esteban Gutierrez (Sauber), Paul Di Resta and James Rossiter (Force India), Valtteri Bottas (Williams), Jean-Eric Vergne (Toro Rosso), Charles Pic (Caterham) and Max Chilton (Marussia).
After setting times some-what under the radar at Jerez, Felipe Massa set the pace on the third day of the Jerez test. He drove his F138 round the Spanish track in 1m17.879, the first and only man (so far) to dip below the 1m18's. It was impressive from the Brazilian, who was on his final day of testing for Ferrari at Jerez. Pedro De La Rosa will round out the test for Ferrari on Friday.He also completed a healthy 85 laps in mileage, which was only shadowed by four drivers. One of which was the second fastest driver of the day, Nico Rosberg. After the reliability woes of the opening two days, the German got to work making up for lost time. He completed a mammoth 148 laps of the Jerez circuit, setting a best time that was nine tenths shy of Ferrari's benchmark.
However Mercedes were just happy to get some running and mileage after their belts, the issues of before obviously resolved. Sebastian Vettel was next up, 1.1 seconds shy of Massa's best time and lapping the circuit a healthy 102 times. It was another positive day for Red Bull, the first with the 2012 world champion on board.
He looked quick in the RB9 and showed consistent promise throughout the day. They suffered no real reliability issues and looked content at running lap after lap. Another driver who made his testing debut was Kimi Raikkonen, 2007 world champion and Lotus F1 Team driver. The "Iceman" was garage bound and focused on getting comforable in the car for part of the day, limiting his running to 40 laps. However he still managed to set the fourth fastest time.
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| (c) Force India F1 Team |
James Rossiter drove the Force India again, but this time for the whole morning. After driving the VJM06 in the final hour of Wednesday's test, he had more time in the car and impressed. He ended the day in an eventual sixth place, a tenth behind Vergne's Toro Rosso. However he did create on of the talking points of the day. Closing in on his pit box, he outbraked himself and clattered in to the front jack man. The mechanic was checked over and was uninjured.
Jenson Button returned to the cockpit of the MP4-28, rounding out his running in the car at Jerez. 83 laps was a healthy total for the Brit, finishing 1.7 seconds off the pace. His session came to a premature end after a long stint to close the day, stopping on track with five minutes left.
Esteban Gutierrez also debuted at the Jerez test, taking over from Nico Hulkenberg at the wheel of the Sauber C32. The GP2 race winner completed 110 laps on his first day and looked comfortable at the wheel, despite being two seconds off the front running pace. Max Chilton made up for his crash on Tuesday, which was caused by a suspension problem, by ending the day ninth, ahead of Valtteri Bottas in 10th. The two rookies completed some good and consistent runs but were both over three seconds off Massa's top time.
Charles Pic and Paul Di Resta rounded out the 12 runners of the days testing, with contrasting fortunes. Whilst Pic managed a decent 47 laps in the car, Di Resta only completed seven after the car developed an exhaust problem.
More drama at the Jerez circuit, but plenty to look forward to. Formula 1 is certainly back with a bang.
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