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As it happened: Test day four
By AUTOSPORT staff, Lawrence Barretto and Mitchell Adam
The live commentary has ended. No further updates will be posted.
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FASTEST TIMES |
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P |
Driver |
Team |
Time |
1 |
Valtteri Bottas | Williams | 1m23.063s |
2 |
Sebastian Vettel | Ferrari | 1m23.469s +0.406 |
3 |
Felipe Nasr | Sauber | 1m24.023s +0.960 |
4 |
Max Verstappen | Toro Rosso | 1m24.527s +1.464 |
5 |
Daniel Ricciardo | Red Bull | 1m24.638s +1.575 |
6 |
Sergio Perez | Force India | 1m25.113s +2.050 |
7 |
Nico Rosberg | Mercedes | 1m25.186s +2.123 |
8 |
Jenson Button | McLaren | 1m25.327s +2.264 |
9 |
Pastor Maldonado | Lotus | 1m28.272s +5.209 |
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All timing unofficial. Updated: 17:01 GMT |
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OVERVIEW |
DAY FOUR |
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CURRENT WEATHER |
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Mainly sunny |
High Temp: |
19°C / 66°F |
Track: |
Dry |
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Mercedes - Rosberg
Red Bull - Ricciardo
Williams - Bottas
Ferrari - Vettel
McLaren - Button
Force India - Perez
Toro Rosso - Verstappen
Lotus - Maldonado
Sauber - Nasr
@nico_rosberg "ready for another marathon. preparing like a prize fighter... @MercedesAMGF1 #TestBarcelona"
He's been explaining why:
Rosberg - 11
Nasr - 8
Perez - 7
Vettel - 5
Bottas - 4
Maldonado - 4
Verstappen - 4
Ricciardo - 1
No sign of Button yet.
1 Nico Rosberg Mercedes 1m25.492s
2 Felipe Nasr Sauber 1m27.963s +2.471
3 Sergio Perez Force India 1m28.682s +3.190
4 Sebastian Vettel Ferrari 1m29.863s +4.371
"@jcourtney Mate congrats on an Epic win! #22"
Here's how Courtney triumphed at the much-loved old Australian GP venue:
1 Nico Rosberg Mercedes 1m25.277s
2 Daniel Ricciardo Red Bull 1m26.587s +1.310
3 Valtteri Bottas Williams 1m26.718s +1.441
4 Felipe Nasr Sauber 1m27.353s +2.076
5 Sergio Perez Force India 1m28.016s +2.739
6 Sebastian Vettel Ferrari 1m28.805s +3.528
Rosberg - 22
Bottas - 16
Perez - 15
Vettel - 14
Nasr - 13
Ricciardo - 1
Verstappen - 7
Maldonado - 6
Kvyat caused a red flag in similar circumstances on Thursday but got going again quickly, then came to a halt at Turn 1 on Friday as a "precautionary stop on track to check a hydraulic sensor".
1 Nico Rosberg Mercedes 1m25.186s
2 Max Verstappen Toro Rosso 1m26.267s +1.081
3 Valtteri Bottas Williams 1m26.440s +1.254
4 Daniel Ricciardo Red Bull 1m26.587s +1.401
5 Sebastian Vettel Ferrari 1m26.638s +1.452
6 Felipe Nasr Sauber 1m27.353s +2.167
7 Sergio Perez Force India 1m28.016s +2.830
8 Pastor Maldonado Lotus 1m29.185s +3.999
Rosberg - 34
Vettel - 24
Nasr - 24
Bottas - 22
Verstappen - 18
Perez - 16
Maldonado - 14
Ricciardo - 10
Still no sign of the McLaren, 90 minutes into the day.
So for no real reason other than that, here's a pic of the last time a March was 1st in Formula 1, Ronnie Peterson winning the 1976 Italian Grand Prix at Monza.
@Chr153van5BRFC asks: "What would you say to any young and upcoming driver that wants to make F1?"
KARUN CHANDHOK: "Knowledge is like gold dust in this game. It's not just about driving round and round in circles. There's a lot of other things, there's the politics, there's the business, there's the commercial side.
"There's a lot of things you need to understand about how the sport works before you go ploughing through your second mortgage to do a season in Formula 4. The one thing I would always say to drivers is be realistic.
"You have to dream – it's nice to chase that dream, but you have to be realistic and really be true to yourself. Do you have the talent, do you have the budget, and if not, why are you wasting your money?
"People like Max Verstappen prove that there is still a place for talent to come through. But unlike in the past, it takes an extraordinary talent to be able to get to F1 in that way. I don't think it matters who his dad is – he's just supremely fast. Jos seems to have brought him up as a level-headed chap, which he really needs to be. All credit to them."
* Rosberg comfortably on top after longer runs on mediums
* Verstappen P2 after soft tyre lap
* Ricciardo stops at the end of pitlane with ERS problem to cause red flag
* No sign of McLaren due to "system checks"
1 Nico Rosberg Mercedes 1m25.186s
2 Max Verstappen Toro Rosso 1m26.267s +1.081
3 Valtteri Bottas Williams 1m26.440s +1.254
4 Daniel Ricciardo Red Bull 1m26.587s +1.401
5 Sebastian Vettel Ferrari 1m26.639s +1.453
6 Felipe Nasr Sauber 1m27.353s +2.167
7 Sergio Perez Force India 1m28.016s +2.830
8 Pastor Maldonado Lotus 1m28.272s +3.086
Nasr - 37
Rosberg - 34
Vettel - 30
Verstappen - 27
Maldonado - 27
Perez - 23
Bottas - 22
Ricciardo - 10
1 Valtteri Bottas Williams 1m23.839s
2 Nico Rosberg Mercedes 1m25.186s +1.347
3 Sergio Perez Force India 1m26.074s +2.235
4 Max Verstappen Toro Rosso 1m26.267s +2.428
5 Sebastian Vettel Ferrari 1m26.501s +2.662
6 Daniel Ricciardo Red Bull 1m26.587s +2.748
7 Felipe Nasr Sauber 1m27.353s +3.514
8 Pastor Maldonado Lotus 1m28.272s +4.433
Other than the little go-kart track on the exit of the final corner.
Other than when the rain arrived on Thursday, many teams have used this hour to undertake qualifying simulations on the soft and super-soft Pirellis. It's when Massa and Raikkonen set their fastest times yesterday, for instance.
Air temp is up to 13.8C, track temp is 24.4C and if it helps you prepare for the hour ahead, there's 63 per cent humidity.
Nasr - 52
Rosberg - 45
Perez - 37
Bottas - 34
Perez - 37
Vettel - 36
Maldonado - 27
Ricciaro - 10
* Bottas fastest on super-softs
* Rosberg's time set on mediums
* ERS problem stops Ricciardo and causes red flag
* McLaren unsighted
Red Bull, meanwhile, continues to work away on returning Ricciardo to the circuit after he stopped earlier.
We want you to tell us your favourite F1 season-opener.
Which first round of a season brought you must excitement, or contained your favourite surprises?
Let us know your choice and reasoning via the hashtag #autosportf1 and we'll publish a selection of the best in AUTOSPORT Live over lunchtime.
1 Valtteri Bottas Williams 1m23.063s
2 Sebastian Vettel Ferrari 1m23.469s +0.406
3 Felipe Nasr Sauber 1m24.023s +0.960
4 Sergio Perez Force India 1m25.113s +2.050
5 Nico Rosberg Mercedes 1m25.186s +2.123
6 Max Verstappen Toro Rosso 1m26.267s +3.204
7 Daniel Ricciardo Red Bull 1m26.587s +3.524
8 Pastor Maldonado Lotus 1m28.272s +5.209
9 Jenson Button McLaren No time
Nasr - 72
Rosberg - 69
Perez - 54
Vettel - 52
Verstappen - 49
Bottas - 45
Maldonado - 35
Ricciardo - 10
Button - 2
* Bottas fastest on super-softs
* Vettel second and Nasr third after late super-soft run
* ERS problem stops Ricciardo and causes red flag
* McLaren sensor issue restricts running to two laps
The team, who only ran its 2015 car for the first time on Friday, is in discussions with Bernie Ecclestone over financial support.
However, deputy team principal Bob Fernley insists it will compete in Formula 1's season-opening Australian Grand Prix.
"One of the craziest first turn incidents of all time and Mark Webber's debut points at home in a Minardi"
"For me it's Melbourne 1996. Sensational debut of Jacques Villeneuve, major crash of Martin Brundle, Irvine P3 on Ferrari debut."
"Ferrari's resurgent 1-2 on the grid in Bahrain '06, just to be narrowly beaten by Alonso in a close and tense duel with Schumacher."
Alain Prost's drive to fight back from this puncture and win for Renault at Kyalami that year was one of his greatest. If you've always thought of Prost as a conservative tactician rather than an elbows-out charger, check that race out.
@TWRJag agrees: "Ferrari 640 so unreliable that Mansell books early flight home... and ends up winning the race."
A good omen for McLaren...?
"Oz '03 for me. It was the race that really got me into F1. Was gutted when JPM had that spin at the end that cost him the win."
A Senna/Prost/Schumacher battle, last-gasp thunderstorm with everyone on slicks and a Ligier on the podium at a time when that was very, very uncommon... yep, South Africa 1993 was a great way to kick a year off.
@Jori_Bremer sums it up: "Because from a near dead team in January to a 1-2 in Melbourne"
Times:
1 Valtteri Bottas Williams 1m23.063s
2 Sebastian Vettel Ferrari 1m23.469s +0.406
3 Felipe Nasr Sauber 1m24.023s +0.960
4 Sergio Perez Force India 1m25.113s +2.050
5 Nico Rosberg Mercedes 1m25.186s +2.123
6 Max Verstappen Toro Rosso 1m26.267s +3.204
7 Daniel Ricciardo Red Bull 1m26.587s +3.524
8 Pastor Maldonado Lotus 1m28.272s +5.209
Laps:
Nasr - 72
Rosberg - 69
Perez - 54
Vettel - 52
Verstappen - 49
Bottas - 45
Maldonado - 35
Ricciardo - 10
Button - 2
Officials are currently repairing the tyre barrier at Turn 4.
Maldonado ended the morning eighth on the times, with 36 laps completed.
And we have a completed laptime from Button, a 1m28.782s.
The black and white ditty has been a standout over the last month; a nice change of pace and also very easy on the eye. Could Red Bull give us the best of both worlds - building its regular colours on this design?
@LewisHamilton "At the beach with Roscoe. I'm wishing you an amazing Sunday. #Monaco #bestdog #blessed"
Afternoons have generally seen teams focus on long runs - including race simulations - on the medium and hard tyres. The track's currently the warmest it's been all week, so there's data to be gained over the coming hours.
He goes fourth-fastest, with a 1m25.103s.
Nasr - 92
Rosberg - 82
Perez - 68
Verstappen - 68
Bottas - 63
Vettel - 54
Maldonado - 36
Ricciardo -16
Button - 13
1 Valtteri Bottas Williams 1m23.063s
2 Sebastian Vettel Ferrari 1m23.469s +0.406
3 Felipe Nasr Sauber 1m24.023s +0.960
4 Daniel Ricciardo Red Bull 1m25.103s +2.040
5 Sergio Perez Force India 1m25.113s +2.050
6 Nico Rosberg Mercedes 1m25.186s +2.123
7 Max Verstappen Toro Rosso 1m26.267s +3.204
8 Jenson Button McLaren 1m26.832s +3.769
9 Pastor Maldonado Lotus 1m28.272s +5.209
1 Valtteri Bottas Williams 1m23.063s
2 Sebastian Vettel Ferrari 1m23.469s +0.406
3 Felipe Nasr Sauber 1m24.023s +0.960
4 Daniel Ricciardo Red Bull 1m24.638s +1.575
5 Sergio Perez Force India 1m25.113s +2.050
6 Nico Rosberg Mercedes 1m25.186s +2.123
7 Jenson Button McLaren 1m25.994s +2.931
8 Max Verstappen Toro Rosso 1m26.267s +3.204
9 Pastor Maldonado Lotus 1m28.272s +5.209
Nasr - 126
Rosberg - 106
Perez - 90
Bottas - 83
Vettel - 79
Verstappen - 68
Maldonado - 36
Ricciardo - 26
Button - 23
* Bottas fastest on super-soft run
* Button and Ricciardo's days plighted by mechanical problems
* Rosberg sticks to medium and hard compound programme
* Maldonado crashes in the afternoon
You can read the full feature here:
@faketilke asks: "Aren't drivers tempted to NOT use the ugly final chicane, and former track instead? Seriously, are drivers fine with this chicane?"
KARUN CHANDHOK: "I find the chicane very frustrating. I never raced on the track in its previous configuration but I did some testing and it was awesome. The last corner used to be amazing.
"So yeah, the chicane, and the whole last sector, is all a bit frustrating to be honest. But we have to drive the circuits we are given – we don’t get to design them.
"I think this is a very difficult circuit. In the old days if you had a car that worked well at Barcelona you had a car that worked well everywhere. The difference is today, the way F1 teams develop, you could have Ferrari winning here a couple of years ago and then for the rest of the year Red Bull destroyed them.
"Nowadays they develop the cars so much during the season, Barcelona is no longer the benchmark that it was before. They're just adding downforce at a much higher rate than they used to in the past."
*In terms of remaining on-track testing, not actual time.
Nasr - 149
Rosberg - 131
Perez - 120
Vettel - 106
Bottas - 89
Verstappen - 69
Ricciardo - 58
Maldonado - 36
Button - 29
1 Valtteri Bottas Williams 1m23.063s
2 Sebastian Vettel Ferrari 1m23.469s +0.406
3 Felipe Nasr Sauber 1m24.023s +0.960
4 Daniel Ricciardo Red Bull 1m24.638s +1.575
5 Sergio Perez Force India 1m25.113s +2.050
6 Nico Rosberg Mercedes 1m25.186s +2.123
7 Jenson Button McLaren 1m25.327s +2.264
8 Max Verstappen Toro Rosso 1m25.710s +2.647
9 Pastor Maldonado Lotus 1m28.272s +5.209
As the winter programmes draw to a close, we've got one more up our sleeve, although it's not an Edd special.
Sauber driver Felipe Nasr has completed the most laps today of testing today, 159. That's about 460 miles, and the distance between London and Switzerland, where Sauber is based, as the crow flies.
1 Valtteri Bottas Williams 1m23.063s
2 Sebastian Vettel Ferrari 1m23.469s +0.406
3 Felipe Nasr Sauber 1m24.023s +0.960
4 Max Verstappen Toro Rosso 1m24.527s +1.464
5 Daniel Ricciardo Red Bull 1m24.638s +1.575
6 Sergio Perez Force India 1m25.113s +2.050
7 Nico Rosberg Mercedes 1m25.186s +2.123
8 Jenson Button McLaren 1m25.327s +2.264
9 Pastor Maldonado Lotus 1m28.272s +5.209
Nasr - 159
Rosberg - 148
Perez - 130
Vettel - 129
Bottas - 88
Verstappen - 85
Ricciardo - 72
Maldonado - 36
Button - 30
Thank you so much to everyone who followed the past month's action and intrigue on AUTOSPORT Live.
Here's the final report from today's session:
There's plenty more coming up on AUTOSPORT tonight and beyond, starting with full reaction from the paddock on today's events, plus our ranking of the teams after testing.
Into the week we'll have a rundown of all the testing statistics plus our '10 things we learned' summary, GARY ANDERSON's verdict and plenty more, including our comprehensive season preview magazine on Thursday.
AUTOSPORT Live will be back for every session of the Australian Grand Prix weekend in a fortnight, and before then Race Centre Live is in action for Rally Mexico and the World Touring Car Championship season-opener from Friday afternoon this coming week.
See you then.