Bahrain second 2014 test Test day one
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On the subject of McLaren, EDD STRAW reports that the MP4-29 is once again running the eye-catching suspension 'blockers' that created so much interest at the first test.
GARY ANDERSON explains McLaren's blocker idea
GARY ANDERSON explains McLaren's blocker idea
More silver on the track as Kevin Magnussen takes the McLaren out.
It's no surprise to see the teams taking a cautious start here. Even the mild air temperature of 18C is a big step up from what we had at Jerez, so everyone will want to be careful from a reliability point of view as they get up to speed.
It's no surprise to see the teams taking a cautious start here. Even the mild air temperature of 18C is a big step up from what we had at Jerez, so everyone will want to be careful from a reliability point of view as they get up to speed.
Hamilton doesn't set a time - he's back in the pits after just a two-lap run.
Out on track, Lewis Hamilton is the first driver to cross the start/finish line and move onto a second lap.
Bahrain pitlane
Snap-happy Straw has spotted a fluid trail in the pitlane that was left by "smokey Alonso" when he headed out earlier.
Fernando Alonso, of course, didn't make it quite that far in the Ferrari earlier. On that subject, EDD STRAW has made an observation from the pits...
With nothing on track, here's some meaningless information: Hulkenberg's Force India went fastest through the middle sector when a handful of the cars went out for those sighting laps earlier.
Temperatures are still climbing here:
Air: 17.8C
Track: 33.3C
Air: 17.8C
Track: 33.3C
As Frijns returns at the end of that same lap, Sauber claims it won't be long before Sutil is sent back out having used that first tour to complete a radio check.
Breaking news
Here's more about the Lotus E22's emergence and the team's troubled winter:
Lotus E22 makes public debut
Lotus E22 makes public debut
Lotus E22
Over in the pits, EDD STRAW did catch a shot of Grosjean in the Lotus when he headed out earlier.
No one is quite so eager to take to the track this time, but Robin Frijns breaks the silence in the Caterham.
Green flag
Short stoppage. The track is open again.
The timing screens are suggesting that Alonso has stopped in the first half of the lap. All the other cars that left the pits when we went green have returned.
Stay calm, Lotus (or Renault) fans, it wasn't the Lotus that caused the red flag. Grosjean is back in the pits.
Red flag
That didn't last long, we've already got a stoppage.
Grosjean has been joined on track by Hulkenberg, Magnussen, Hamilton, Sutil and Alonso, showing that plenty of teams were keen to get going this morning.
Green flag
Course car
The course car is back from its circuit inspection and we have a green flag. As promised, the Lotus is the first car to head out.
Alonso isn't the only one. Lotus has Romain Grosjean strapped into the E22.
Ferrari clearly isn't expecting a big delay here. Fernando Alonso is sat in the F14 T and ready to go.
The always-active Lotus Twitter account is claiming that we currently have insufficient marshals for the session to start. Another theory offered up by circuit staff was a one-word answer: "Teams..."
As it stands, it doesn't appear that this delay is going to eat into the track time for today. The countdown clock hasn't started, so it is firmly stuck on eight hours to go.
From the pits, EDD STRAW reports that a course car has just headed out on track.
Twitter
It would appear that behind all those screens, Lotus is ready to go with its new car:
@Lotus_F1Team: "Well, we're ready to go out. Doesn't seem like the track is open yet..."
@Lotus_F1Team: "Well, we're ready to go out. Doesn't seem like the track is open yet..."
Lights out
The start of today's test has been delayed.
Breaking news
Lotus garage
If you want to know more about 'that' nose and the team's theory behind it, here's AUTOSPORT tech expert CRAIG SCARBOROUGH's explanation of the idea:
Lotus's twin-tusk theory explained
EDD STRAW is part of the scrum forming in the Lotus pits, and like most he has his camera at the ready looking for a first public glimpse of the E22's unique nose configuration.
Another good sign from the pits - the E22 has fired up in the garage.
The screens are up at Lotus, but Edd Straw reports from the pits that the mechanics appear to be making a bit of room for what will hopefully be a prompt roll-out of the car.
Red Bull might get a little bit of peace first thing this morning as the majority of the attention will be focused a few garages along at Lotus, where a crowd is already starting to gather in anticipation of the E22 emerging in public for the first time.
Red Bull
Our F1 Editor @eddstrawF1 is in the pits awaiting the start of the session, and he's already spotted "lots of activity" going on behind the screens that are up at the front of the Red Bull garage.
With a little under 10 minutes to go before testing starts, the current air temperature at the circuit is 16.7C, and track temperature is 28.9C.
Twitter
This test also marks former Lotus team boss Eric Boullier's first paddock appearance since joining McLaren as racing director.
The Frenchman has already tweeted that he is "back in business!" this morning with a picture from the Bahrain International Airport.
The Frenchman has already tweeted that he is "back in business!" this morning with a picture from the Bahrain International Airport.
For the first time in 2014 all 11 teams are scheduled to be in action together today. Here's the full driver line-up:
Red Bull – Sebastian Vettel
Mercedes – Lewis Hamilton
Ferrari – Fernando Alonso
Lotus – Romain Grosjean
McLaren – Kevin Magnussen
Force India – Nico Hulkenberg
Sauber – Adrian Sutil
Toro Rosso – Daniil Kvyat
Williams - Felipe Massa
Caterham – Robin Frijns
Marussia – Jules Bianchi
Red Bull – Sebastian Vettel
Mercedes – Lewis Hamilton
Ferrari – Fernando Alonso
Lotus – Romain Grosjean
McLaren – Kevin Magnussen
Force India – Nico Hulkenberg
Sauber – Adrian Sutil
Toro Rosso – Daniil Kvyat
Williams - Felipe Massa
Caterham – Robin Frijns
Marussia – Jules Bianchi
Red Bull, Jerez 2014
Much of the attention is likely to focus on Lotus today, as its E22 is scheduled to make its public debut.
The Enstrone-squad's fellow-Renault runners - most notably reigning world champion Red Bull - will also be in the spotlight after the French manufacturer's Jerez struggles.
Lotus managed to reach its maximum mileage limit during some promotional running at Jerez last weekend, suggesting that it may not be suffering from the same gremlins that struck the other Renault teams.
Red Bull design guru Adrian Newey offered a few clues that might explain that, telling AUTOSPORT earlier this week that his RB10 was hindered by rear-end packaging problems at the first test.
Good morning from sunny Bahrain and welcome to AUTOSPORT's live coverage of the second pre-season Formula 1 test.
Starting today, the teams have just another eight days of proper testing before the 2014 season kicks off, and the majority of them have some catching up to do mileage-wise after a tricky first test at Jerez thanks to the new regulations.
Starting today, the teams have just another eight days of proper testing before the 2014 season kicks off, and the majority of them have some catching up to do mileage-wise after a tricky first test at Jerez thanks to the new regulations.
By: Glenn Freeman, Matt Beer, Ben Anderson, Scott Mitchell
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