Jerez first 2014 test Test day one
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Sadly - for us - once again the answer is no.
Perez has yet to record a flying lap, so maybe this time?
Force India decides to go out.
The Toro Rosso failure means Vergne has been credited with 15 laps, the same as Kimi Raikkonen's Ferrari, which stopped on its first lap out the pits this morning but has since gone second quickest.
Green flag
And there it is. We're green again.
The Toro Rosso has been removed so we're waiting to go green again for the last hour and 20 minutes of day one.
Caterham has just conceded its new car is the CT05, and not the CT04 as originally billed!
Jean-Eric Vergne F1 Toro Rosso 2014
A recovery truck has already made it to Vergne. It's a shame as Toro Rosso has provided us with more laps to see than most today.
Red flag
And the red flag is out again. Vergne has stopped between turns 4 and 5.
Team boss Franz Tost earlier confirmed that Toro Rosso had built more of the STR9 than it had any other chassis.
Vergne heads out for Toro Rosso. He only needs to do five more laps and he'll have covered more miles than anyone else today.
With Ericsson joining Perez in venturing out (but not setting a time), we're now waiting to see if the final three drivers will make it out today.
The trio in question? Sebastian Vettel at Red Bull, Jenson Button at McLaren, and Valtteri Bottas at Williams.
The trio in question? Sebastian Vettel at Red Bull, Jenson Button at McLaren, and Valtteri Bottas at Williams.
Raikkonen brings his four-lap run to an end. He's up to 14 for the day now - Hamilton, on 18, still leads the way.
Twitter
Caterham F1 2014
Like we said, Caterham's 2014 car is bound to provoke debate:
@CaterhamF1: "Never seen Tweetdeck columns scroll so quickly. 2014 F1 cars might not be pretty, but they're certainly giving you something to talk about!"
Raikkonen banging in the laps now (well, relatively speaking).
He comes round for his third timed lap. He set a 1m29.655s last time around, less than two tenths shy of his current best.
He comes round for his third timed lap. He set a 1m29.655s last time around, less than two tenths shy of his current best.
Caterham's design is bound to provoke debate, but looking from above as it cruises down the pitlane it actually looks quite good (we might be relatively alone in that sentiment).
Ericsson heads in, Raikkonen heads out.
Caterham F1 2014
It sounds throaty, it is sporting a very obvious protruding nose, and it is also alive.
Caterham's 2014 machine heads out in the hands of new recruit Marcus Ericsson.
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One man's disadvantage is another man's opportunity, or so the saying goes.
The smaller teams on the F1 grid are certainly hoping the sweeping rule changes present the chance for a shock or two, as Force India COO Otmar Szafnauer explains:
"Like most things in life, having more resources usually wins!
"We are competing against manufacturer teams with big budgets so you would expect their well-funded research will help them find the optimal solutions.
"But you never know: we've been focused on 2014 for a long time and we're pleased with the car we've produced so there's always an opportunity."
The smaller teams on the F1 grid are certainly hoping the sweeping rule changes present the chance for a shock or two, as Force India COO Otmar Szafnauer explains:
"Like most things in life, having more resources usually wins!
"We are competing against manufacturer teams with big budgets so you would expect their well-funded research will help them find the optimal solutions.
"But you never know: we've been focused on 2014 for a long time and we're pleased with the car we've produced so there's always an opportunity."
With two hours to go, the leaderboard has changed little since our last update:
1 Hamilton, Mercedes: 1m27.820s, 18 laps
2 Raikkonen, Ferrari: 1m29.474s, 11 laps
3 Vergne, Toro Rosso: 1m36.530s, 14 laps
4 Gutierrez, Sauber: 1m42.257s, 7 laps
5 Perez, Force India: no time, 1 lap
1 Hamilton, Mercedes: 1m27.820s, 18 laps
2 Raikkonen, Ferrari: 1m29.474s, 11 laps
3 Vergne, Toro Rosso: 1m36.530s, 14 laps
4 Gutierrez, Sauber: 1m42.257s, 7 laps
5 Perez, Force India: no time, 1 lap
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Lewis Hamilton F1 Mercedes 2014
Despite his earlier crash, Hamilton is upbeat about his first day in the W05:
"For me it's an incredibly positive start to be the first car out on track and completing a good number of laps.
"Of course, it's unfortunate to end the day early when everyone has worked so hard and we had looked like easily completing the most mileage of anyone here today."
JONATHAN NOBLE is speaking with the Briton, who still heads the day one timesheets, as we type. Look out for more reaction later.
McLaren meanwhile confirms to AUTOSPORT that it will keep pushing to run today, even if it means getting one installation lap minutes from the day's end.
Even so, it is apparently unlikely to appear today. The problem is electronic/hydraulic.
Even so, it is apparently unlikely to appear today. The problem is electronic/hydraulic.
The apparent impasse is broken as Vergne heads out in the Toro Rosso.
Twitter
It must be something in the food. Shortly after lunch, and moments after Caterham fire up, Williams is almost ready too:
@WilliamsF1Team: "Car has fired up and is now being set up ready to run....we are hoping to show you the #FW36 soon!"
@WilliamsF1Team: "Car has fired up and is now being set up ready to run....we are hoping to show you the #FW36 soon!"
Breaking news
Mercedes F1 2014
Confirmation that Mercedes won't be heading back out: the end-of-day press briefing will take place in 10 minutes "owing to the early conclusion to the team's running today," a team release confirms.
Aha. We have a guttural roar, and the new Caterham is sparked into life (we can't see it yet, but the photographers can).
Seems like Caterham is being given the respect of the pitlane - the track is empty, and the team's 2014 car is overdue.
Vergne dives straight back into the pits, which allows the pitlane photographers time to scarper down to Caterham, where the first sighting of the Renault-powered F1 challenger is eagerly awaited.
Twitter
Fernando Alonso F1 Ferrari 2014
With Raikkonen tasked with Ferrari driving duties for the first two days at Jerez, Alonso is playing the AUTOSPORT Live lunch game. We reckon he wins (we had a baguette):
@alo_oficial: "Restaurante montana."
He was set to be joined by Gutierrez in the Sauber, but the Mexican comes to a stop in the pitlane and has to be wheeled back into his bay.
That tactic seems to be working a treat today. As we write that it is quiet, Vergne heads out for Toro Rosso.
We have eyes in the pitlane waiting for the first glimpse of the Caterham, and we're also on our way to speak with Daniil Kvyat and teams up and down the pitlane. Busy busy (even if the track isn't).
Caterham confirms to AUTOSPORT that it will be out 'within the next 10 minutes'.
Watch this space...
Watch this space...
Williams F1 2014
Williams of course is one of four teams yet to officially unveil their 2014 challenger, but they did release an early image of its Mercedes-powered FW36.
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In the (hopefully temporary) lull, here is Claire Williams, deputy team principal at the Grove-based squad, on why this year's Jerez test is so crucial for every team:
"Because of the regulation overhaul, the first test in Jerez is one of the most important pre-season tests that the sport has had in a number of years.
"This car is a complete revolution; it’s not an evolution from a previous year so the engineers and drivers are going to be under a considerable amount of pressure.
"We will be concentrating on systems checks to make sure everything is functioning as it should and then working towards reliability, which is going to be a potential game changer, certainly in the early races of the season.
"It’s going to be fascinating to see where everybody is over the coming weeks."
"Because of the regulation overhaul, the first test in Jerez is one of the most important pre-season tests that the sport has had in a number of years.
"This car is a complete revolution; it’s not an evolution from a previous year so the engineers and drivers are going to be under a considerable amount of pressure.
"We will be concentrating on systems checks to make sure everything is functioning as it should and then working towards reliability, which is going to be a potential game changer, certainly in the early races of the season.
"It’s going to be fascinating to see where everybody is over the coming weeks."
Twitter
Caterham's announcement is music to our ears:
@CaterhamF1: "Has to be positive news that @Ericsson_Marcus is in overalls and now in a briefing with the engineers..... soon come #TeamGreen 2014...."
@CaterhamF1: "Has to be positive news that @Ericsson_Marcus is in overalls and now in a briefing with the engineers..... soon come #TeamGreen 2014...."
Gutierrez stays out this time, and duly sets his first flyer of the day, a modest 1m42.257s.
Stopwatch
Five hours in, and still only five teams have ventured out. The order so far is:
1 Hamilton, Mercedes: 1m27.820s, 18 laps
2 Raikkonen, Ferrari: 1m29.474s, 11 laps
3 Vergne, Toro Rosso: 1m36.530s, 11 laps
4 Gutierrez, Sauber: no time, 5 laps
5 Perez, Force India: no time, 1 lap
1 Hamilton, Mercedes: 1m27.820s, 18 laps
2 Raikkonen, Ferrari: 1m29.474s, 11 laps
3 Vergne, Toro Rosso: 1m36.530s, 11 laps
4 Gutierrez, Sauber: no time, 5 laps
5 Perez, Force India: no time, 1 lap
Esteban Gutierrez F1 Sauber 2014
Gutierrez, with four laps (none of them timed) under his belt, heads back out for Sauber.
Twitter
Still little happening on track. Ferrari has coined a phrase for 2014 testing - will it catch on?
@InsideFerrari: "Formula 1 at a snail's pace #WelcomebackKimi, #F14T, #ForzaFerrari"
@InsideFerrari: "Formula 1 at a snail's pace #WelcomebackKimi, #F14T, #ForzaFerrari"
By: Sam Tremayne, Glenn Freeman, Matt Beer, Kevin Turner
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