"Sebastian Vettel made the perfect start to his Ferrari career by sending the Italian team to the top of the timesheets on the opening day of pre-season testing at Jerez on Sunday. "
"The four-time world champion , who switched to Ferrari from Red Bull over the winter, completed 60 laps in the new SF15-T, setting a best time of 1m 22.620s in the afternoon session to go clear of the field."
"The second-fastest time on the day went to Sauber’s Marcus Ericsson who, like Vettel, was making his first appearance for his new team. The Swede, who completed 73 laps, took his blue and yellow C34 round in 1m 22.777s late in the day to demote early pacesetter Nico Rosberg to third."
"The loss of position would have mattered little to Rosberg on a day when reigning champions Mercedes demonstrated ominous form. Having shaken down the F1 W06 Hybrid at Silverstone last week, the German clocked up a remarkable 157 laps in the freshly-unveiled car - a tally more than twice that managed by any other team."
"Daniel Ricciardo was fourth-quickest in Red Bull’s uniquely liveried RB11, though mechanical issues restricted the Australian to just 35 laps. Williams, meanwhile, were late to join proceedings, but eventually completed a useful 73 laps and set the fifth-fastest time with Valtteri Bottas at the wheel of the FW37."
"Carlos Sainz Junior recorded the sixth-quickest time as he gave Toro Rosso’s STR10 its maiden outing, though it proved a rather stop-start day for the Spanish rookie who caused the session's second red-flag stoppage when he came to a halt on the back straight late on. "
"The times were rounded out by Fernando Alonso who managed just six laps in McLaren's new Honda-powered MP4-30. The Spaniard did complete one timed effort, though it was a full 18 seconds off the leading pace. "
"Absent from the timesheet were Force India, who have opted to skip the first test completely, and Lotus, whose car only arrived in Spain late on Sunday. The Enstone-based team say the E23 Hybrid is now undergoing its build programme and is not expected to run until the third day of the test on Tuesday."
Day three results
Posted at 16:05
1) Felipe Nasr (Sauber) 1:21.545 108 laps
2) Kimi Raikkonen (Ferrari) 1:21.750 92 laps
3) Nico Rosberg (Mercedes) 1:21.982 151 laps
4) Felipe Massa (Williams) 1:22.276 71 laps
5) Pastor Maldonado (Lotus) 1:22.713 96 laps
6) Carlos Sainz Jr (Toro Rosso) 1:23.187 136 laps
7) Daniel Ricciardo (Red Bull) 1:23.901 48 laps
8) Fernando Alonso (McLaren) 1:35.553 32 laps
Source: http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2015/2/16793.html
You can see all the beauties here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/formula1/30916429
Ferrari appear to have gone for the old trick of underfueling their car to look competitive but the number of laps put in by Rosberg is ominous for the rest of the field.
McLaren as anticipated will have some teething problems. Tomorrow we see our world champion in action.
Testing Report
posted on 2/2/15
News from McLaren.
They reckon they've fixed whatever problem they had and are hoping to get Button back out on track asap.
posted on 2/2/15
ManUtdDaredevil: "What would it say about Alonso is Vettel goes on to do great things at Ferrari "
No offence mate but that in my mind has always been a crude analysis, different cars with different different drivers cannot be a base for comparison - That Ferrari was a dog last year, and this year, for all we know, they may have something surprising despite lack of engine power, a prime example of a team resurgence in the space of one winter, is Honda to Brawn between 2008 and 2009.
Lets put it in the simplest of terms for an example that admittedly could cause a riot between a select few on this forum:
"the fact that Lewis Hamilton has won a championship with Mercedes when Michael Schumacher couldn't, what would it say about Schumacher?"
It's just not an accurate statement to make.
posted on 3/2/15
McLaren having a much better day today.
Fernando Alonso already has 10 laps under his belt so.
The track is damp and greasy so don't expect lap times to right home about.
posted on 3/2/15
comment by Greg Rugby And F1 (U4521)
posted 17 hours, 55 minutes ago
ManUtdDaredevil: "What would it say about Alonso is Vettel goes on to do great things at Ferrari "
No offence mate but that in my mind has always been a crude analysis, different cars with different different drivers cannot be a base for comparison - That Ferrari was a dog last year, and this year, for all we know, they may have something surprising despite lack of engine power, a prime example of a team resurgence in the space of one winter, is Honda to Brawn between 2008 and 2009.
Lets put it in the simplest of terms for an example that admittedly could cause a riot between a select few on this forum:
"the fact that Lewis Hamilton has won a championship with Mercedes when Michael Schumacher couldn't, what would it say about Schumacher?"
It's just not an accurate statement to make.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I know, I personally do not rate Vettel very highly, just put the comment there for debate
posted on 3/2/15
I don't rate Vettel at all either to be honest MUDD, in 2010 I was actually fairly happy that he'd won the championship, but his arrogance at Red Bull (outwardly relishing the fact that the world span around him there and breaking team orders just for his satisfaction) started to irritate me. I judged Vettel on last season, not on his performance, but his attitude. Between threatening to quit F1 because he didn't like the rule change instead of fighting it out, and jumping ship to Ferrari as soon as he realised Red Bull had a problem with the Renault Engines... I lost all respect for him.
posted on 3/2/15
Comment Deleted by Site Moderator
posted on 3/2/15
When I heard about that I laughed to myself. The big baby. Boohoo, my car is no longer the fastest, I have to race other people.
Not fair, I quit
posted on 5/2/15
comment by The Guvnor III V.I.K-Give me a scotch.I'm starving (U12889)
posted 1 day, 13 hours ago
Seb is back
----------------------------------------------------------------------
posted on 5/2/15
Yes it is quite comical some of the things people post. So the entire 2014 F1 season was not sufficient to judge Sebastian Vettel's ability but 2 days testing at Jerez is.
On a more sensible note, the Renault and Ferrari have apparently used up most of their tokens but Mercedes has hardly used any. While Mercedes was busy completing simulated race distances Ferrari kept to short stints of less than 10 laps. Mercedes will still be the team to beat next year but the Ferrari has definitely improved as Kimi Räikkönen is quite happy with it.
posted on 6/2/15
Yep. It'll be hard to see past Mercedes taking both titles again but I can see Ferrari, Red Bull, Williams and McLaren giving them a real fight for it.