 |
 |
As it happened: Test day four
By Matt Beer, Sam Tremayne, Glenn Freeman and Kevin Turner
The live commentary has ended. No further updates will be posted.
|
 |
|
 |
 |
 |
FASTEST TIMES |
 |
P |
Driver |
Team |
Time |
1 |
Massa | Williams-Mercedes | 1m28.229s |
2 |
Alonso | Ferrari | 1m29.145s +0.916 |
3 |
Juncadella | Force India-Mercedes | 1m29.457s +1.228 |
4 |
Magnussen | McLaren-Mercedes | 1m30.806s +2.577 |
5 |
Hamilton | Mercedes | 1m30.822s +2.593 |
6 |
Bianchi | Marussia-Ferrari | 1m32.222s +3.993 |
7 |
Sutil | Sauber-Ferrari | 1m36.571s +8.342 |
8 |
Rosberg | Mercedes | 1m36.951s +8.722 |
9 |
Kobayashi | Caterham-Renault | 1m43.193s +14.964 |
10 |
Kvyat | Toro Rosso-Renault | 1m44.016s +15.787 |
11 |
Ricciardo | Red Bull-Renault | 1m45.374s +17.145 |
 |
All timing unofficial. Updated: 15:50 GMT |
 |
OVERVIEW |
DAY FOUR |
 |
CURRENT WEATHER |
 |
 |
Overcast |
High Temp: |
10°C / 50°F |
Track: |
Damp |
|
 |
 |
The weather forecast for the final day of F1 testing in Spain has changed several times this week, but we've got a bit of rain and a wet track at the moment.
Here is the full run-down of day four's drivers:
Daniel Ricciardo, Red Bull
Nico Rosberg, Mercedes
Fernando Alonso, Ferrari
Kevin Magnussen, McLaren
Daniel Juncadella, Force India
Adrian Sutil, Sauber
Daniil Kvyat, Toro Rosso
Felipe Massa, Williams
Kamui Kobayashi, Caterham
Jules Bianchi, Marussia
He tested a 2010 Ferrari F1 car at Fiorano in May last year, and then two months later drove another Ferrari during a Moscow City Racing demonstration event.
That didn't end so well though - he lost control on the wet surface and hit the barriers.
"For sure it's not easy this year, but it's always the same story. The cleverer a driver is the easier he adapts to any changes. And don't forget, especially this year, the drivers will be supported by the engineers. They will decide which [engine] map to use.
"I don't see it as a disadvantage to start in F1 as a young driver this year, although everything is not as easy as in the past when we just had the V8s."
* Ferrari sets the pace early with Kimi Raikkonen.
* McLaren takes control on days two and three with Jenson Button and Kevin Magnussen.
* Mercedes look strong, covering more laps than anyone despite a front wing failure for Lewis Hamilton on day one.
* Renault-engined teams in trouble, with Red Bull failing to have any meaningful running on the first three days.
JONATHAN NOBLE got the inside line on Red Bull and Renault's problems yesterday for his Thursday test feature:
"It's so different and you can feel it in every gear. It's not about using all the rev band anymore. The torque is in the middle of the rev band so you can sometimes shift a bit earlier, or use different gears in a corner, it doesn't really make a difference.
"So the engine is a lot more powerful in the rev band than the V8. The V8 was more operating between 15 and 18,000rpm so you always had to keep the revs up.
"Also we have eight gears, so you never run into a limiter at the end of the straight, you can go at almost 400km/h with these gears so it's very different, a massive change in every direction."
@clubforce: "Dani reports standing water between turns 5 and 6 but 'not too much' following his opening lap at the wheel of a VJM07. #FeelTheForce"
He's the 2012 European Formula 3 champion and will dovetail his new F1 commitments with racing for Mercedes in the DTM again.
If you want to check out the full statistics from the young Spaniard's career so far, including all his results in car racing, here's his page in our FORIX database - the most comprehensive motorsport stats resource on the internet and available as part of the AUTOSPORT subscription package.
In fact, the Williams motorhome staff were the subject of his biggest praise...having been a big sceptic of English food after so long in Italy.
"Honestly, I am happy for the food here – it is better than expected here. Not in England itself, but in the motorhome," he said.
"With the motorhome I would say I am very happy with the food – but in England I don't think it will change!
"And the coffee is much better in Italy, so maybe I need to buy a coffee machine for the team."
"@Felipe1Massa nothing wrong with English food mate!!"
"The car feels OK, not too different. It is heavier, so it feels like last year with a lot of fuel, and of course there is a lot less downforce.
"The engine is a bit different and we have higher gears, so in the hairpin you're going to be using third gear instead of first gear sometimes."
It's interesting that he feels the Mercedes is "not too different" as many drivers have been emphasising the difference between the 2013 and '14 cars. Is that indicative of how much more prepared Mercedes is compared to the others?
It's a new season launch special, containing in-depth analysis of and Gary Anderson's verdict on the leading teams' new designs.
We examine the implications of Ron Dennis's return to the helm of McLaren, talk to Paddy Lowe about Mercedes' prospects in the new era and take a detailed look at the issues Ferrari must address this season.
There are also interviews with Nico Hulkenberg, Valtteri Bottas and Adrian Sutil.
If you haven't already been to a newsagent, you can read the digital version here.
It probably would take some beating, as it reads...
"An anteater, a proboscis monkey, a crooked crab and a beluga whale walk into a bar. The bartender looks up and says, 'Is this some kind of Formula 1 joke?'"
You can find it on page 11.
Yesterday KEVIN TURNER gathered the views of the men behind the wheel, hearing from Fernando Alonso, Jenson Button, Nico Rosberg, Valtteri Bottas, Esteban Gutierrez, Sergio Perez and Adrian Sutil to get a sense of how different the new cars feel from the cockpit.
1 Rosberg (Mercedes) 1m37.580s, 49 laps
2 Magnussen (McLaren) 1m38.391s, 19 laps
3 Massa (Williams) 1m39.256s, 13 laps
4 Alonso (Ferrari) 1m39.999s, 16 laps
5 Juncadella (Force India) 1m41.925s, 8 laps
6 Kvyat (Toro Rosso) 1m44.016s, 8 laps
7 Sutil (Sauber) 1m44.224s, 21 laps
8 Kobayashi (Catherham) 1m44.859s, 15 laps
9 Ricciardo (Red Bull) 1m45.374s, 7 laps
10 Bianchi (Marussia) 1m48.192s, 5 laps
Last night AUTOSPORT revealed that rival teams have started making enquiries to the FIA about the McLaren design's legality with a view to starting work on their own versions, though as GARY ANDERSON explained in his analysis, copying it won't be easy.
"I wouldn't say it is an advantage being a rookie. But it is not as big a disadvantage as in other years.
"I think it is the right season, a good season, to come in. Because this car is so different the driving is going to be different, and everyone will have to learn that again.
"But I am a rookie, I will still have a lot to learn that other drivers know very well. So working with an F1 team and in a race weekend, all these things I'm going to have to learn.
"I'm not underestimating anything, but I think it's a good year to come in as a rookie."
Yesterday NASCAR went a fair few steps further than F1 when it announced that its title fights would now come down to a single winner-takes-all race at the end of the year.
So what you score in the first 35 races of the 36-round Sprint Cup season is just to decide the four drivers who are eligible for the title in the Homestead shootout.
We've just opened a debate about the new format on the AUTOSPORT Facebook page, so feel free to comment.
In his Thursday night round-up, he tackled topics including why the Ferrari sounds different on downchanges to its rivals, which cars are already looking sharpest from trackside, and Red Bull and Renault's prospects of a quick recovery.
@MercedesAMGF1: "Time for a well-earned break; would somebody please get @nico_rosberg a plate?!"
@CaterhamF1: "Lunchtime on day 4 in Jerez. So far we have completed 41 laps with Kamui in the car & we're keeping him strapped in so we can add to that..."
"I'm sure there is a lot of performance to come. That will never stop - in F1 it never does - but I'm sure we'll improve this week too.
"The important thing is to get a good understanding of where to improve coming away from here."
The Dane was clearly enjoying himself this morning, regularly playing with oversteer in the wet conditions.
@nico_rosberg: "Cool, day 4 of testing & already completed a full race practice. Will now hand over the car to @lewishamilton."
Rosberg was able to rack up 91 laps this morning, to add to his 97 from day two.
Hamilton only managed 18 before suffering a front wing failure on day one, and then added 62 yesterday.
1. Fernando Alonso (Ferrari) 1m35.334s, 64 laps
2. Nico Rosberg (Mercedes) 1m36.951s, 91 laps
3. Kevin Magnussen (McLaren-Mercedes) 1m38.391s, 49 laps
4. Felipe Massa (Williams-Mercedes) 1m39.256s, 34 laps
5. Daniel Juncadella (Force India-Mercedes) 1m41.132s, 32 laps
6. Kamui Kobayashi (Caterham-Renault) 1m43.193s, 45 laps
7. Daniil Kvyat (Toro Rosso-Renault) 1m44.016s, 8 laps
8. Adrian Sutil (Sauber-Ferrari) 1m44.234s, 43 laps
9. Daniel Ricciardo (Red Bull-Renault) 1m45.374s, 7 laps
10. Jules Bianchi (Marussia-Ferrari) 1m48.192s, 5 laps
* Rosberg runs first race simulation of 2014
* Alonso and Ferrari top timesheets at midday
* Kobayashi gets his first run in the Caterham CT05
* Bianchi likewise heads out in the Marussia MR03 for the first time
* Red Bull and Toro Rosso complete just a handful of laps
* Juncadella impresses with his first run in Force India
Some spectacular sliding in the right-left-right section drew enthusiastic applause, apparently.
@CaterhamF1: "45 laps now for @kamui_kobayashi who continues to pound round, adding to his mileage.
Don't tell him, but there's katsu curry for lunch...."
@redbullracing: "We've finished testing for the day. All focus now shifts to Bahrain. Full update to come shortly."
"The bigger the changes the more time it takes for everyone – drivers, engineers, people in the factory – to adapt, so we will probably see more retirements than we are used to.
"We understood the cars more in the past and now everything is new, so I think mistakes will happen for everyone.
"We have been on an incredible run and we will try to do it again to make it five (titles in a row), but at the moment expectations are low, as we don't know what's coming.
"We've had a good run but now it's a blank sheet of paper, so we will have to wait and see."
He's now broken through the 1m38s barrier, moving to within 2.5s of today's benchmark.
His latest effort is a 1m37.391s, which moves him onto the tail of Nico Rosberg's Mercedes.
It's been a good day so far for driver and team, with 51 laps already on the board.
The bright orange spark in the top left corner isn't a camera glitch - it is something flying off the back of the RB10.
On day one, a collective 93 laps were completed. That rose to 331 and then 340 on days two and three respectively.
Just past the halfway mark of day four, we're already past 400 and counting.
He doesn't stop there either - next time round is a 1m38.532s.
Magnussen deposes Alonso with a 1m34.084s. Will the Dane top his first two days as a McLaren driver?
Scratch that, he's 1.7s clear now as he dips down to a 1m33.619s next time around.
Bianchi heads out for Marussia shortly after the Dane crosses the line, but the MR03 is shod with wet tyres.
Daniel Juncadella has also headed out on track.
Magnussen improves to a 1m33.350s, while Juncadella slots into third with a 1m36.300s.
He shakes off the bout of oversteer however and crosses the line in 1m33.119s, sending Force India to the top of the timesheets.
The latter, on the special Jerez compound rather than super softs, wrests back the advantage with the day's first sub-1m33s lap.
Juncadella has pace in reserve though, and stops the clock at 1m31.719s next time around.
And if you want a thorough explanation of how some subtle regulation tweaks caused such a significant change to the appearance of the cars for this year, check out this piece from @ScarbsF1:
F1 2014 tech: aero controversy explained
1. Daniel Juncadella (Force India-Mercedes) 1m31.719s, 45 laps
2. Kevin Magnussen (McLaren-Mercedes) 1m32.260s, 82 laps
3. Fernando Alonso (Ferrari) 1m35.334s, 71 laps
4. Felipe Massa (Williams-Mercedes) 1m36.069s, 48 laps
5. Nico Rosberg (Mercedes) 1m36.951s, 91 laps
6. Jules Bianchi (Marussia-Ferrari) 1m40.966s, 10 laps
7. Adrian Sutil (Sauber-Ferrari) 1m42.549s, 51 laps
8. Kamui Kobayashi (Caterham-Renault) 1m43.193s, 54 laps
9. Daniil Kvyat (Toro Rosso-Renault) 1m44.016s, 8 laps
10. Daniel Ricciardo (Red Bull-Renault) 1m45.374s, 7 laps
If you missed it earlier (see 1208), the Briton is taking over from Rosberg in order to balance mileage between the two men.
@MercedesAMGF1: "For those asking about comparative driver mileage: @nico_rosberg has done 188 laps so far this week, @LewisHamilton has 80."
The German still improved that lap though, moving into sixth and above Hamilton - who is also swarming over the back of the Sauber. Hamilton executes a move along the back straight.
Moments later Juncadella - again on the super softs - comes with 0.027s of demoting him.
The latter hits the front with a low 1m31s, shortly before having to pick off Hamilton's Mercedes.
Alonso responds though, and moves back to the front with a 1m31.804s.
Moments later, Magnussen and Massa both improve, pushing Hamilton down to fifth.
He later took the blame for the accident.
Massa jumps up into second, while Hamilton leapfrogs Magnussen to sit fourth.
The latter duo are on mediums.
Hamilton was under pressure from Juncadella earlier, eventually surrendering position to the Spaniard down the back straight.
1. Massa (Williams-Mercedes) 1m29.023s, 65 laps
2. Alonso (Ferrari) 1m29.290s, 96 laps
3. Juncadella (Force India-Mercedes) 1m30.437s, 63 laps
4. Hamilton (Mercedes) 1m30.835s, 30 laps
5. Magnussen (McLaren-Mercedes) 1m31.804s, 102 laps
6. Rosberg (Mercedes) 1m36.951s, 91 laps
7. Sutil (Sauber-Ferrari) 1m39.941s, 57 laps
8. Bianchi (Marussia-Ferrari) 1m40.966s, 14 laps
9. Kobayashi (Caterham-Renault) 1m43.193s, 54 laps
10. Kvyat (Toro Rosso-Renault) 1m44.016s, 8 laps
11. Ricciardo (Red Bull-Renault) 1m45.374s, 7 laps
The RB10's best? A 1m38.320s on day two.
The Australian insists there is no need to panic however, saying the team still "has time on our side".
We'll be answering all such concerns over the next few days, including 10 things we have learned from Jerez, insight into what has been a dream test for Mercedes, and a reflection on the test in general from AUTOSPORT technical guru Gary Anderson.
Felipe Massa once again leads proceedings, improving upon his own best to set a 1m28.521s.
1 Massa (Williams) 1m28.229s, 86 laps
2 Alonso (Ferrari) 1m29.145s, 115 laps
3 Juncadella (Force India) 1m29.457s, 81 laps
4 Magnussen (McLaren) 1m30.806s, 110 laps
5 Hamilton (Mercedes) 1m30.822s, 41 laps
6 Bianchi (Marussia) 1m32.222s, 25 laps
7 Sutil (Sauber) 1m36.571s, 69 laps
8 Rosberg (Mercedes) 1m36.951s 91 laps
9 Kobayashi (Caterham) 1m43.193s, 54 laps
10 Kvyat (Toro Rosso) 1m44.016s, 9 laps
11 Ricciardo (Red Bull) 1m45.374s, 7 laps
Thank you for joining us on AUTOSPORT Live all week - in record numbers too.
The next Live action on the site will be Race Centre Live coverage of Rally Sweden on Thursday-Saturday next week, and the Formula 1 fraternity will no doubt have an eye on that event given Robert Kubica's stunning Monte Carlo performance.
AUTOSPORT F1 Live will be back for the second week of 2014 testing in Bahrain on February 19.
And keep an eye on the site over the weekend for more analysis features from this test.