Jerez first 2014 test Test day three
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AUTOSPORT's technical expert GARY ANDERSON took an in-depth look at what's causing Renault's current problems and the implications for Red Bull in his Wednesday night analysis feature.
The car is on the low loader, the crew in the course car has returned, so we should be back underway shortly.
Covers on, the RB10 is being carted back to the pitlane. Still just the 11 laps for Red Bull's new creation, and we're approaching the halfway mark of the third day.
Mercedes, by comparison, has completed 160, while Ferrari has managed 104.
Mercedes, by comparison, has completed 160, while Ferrari has managed 104.
Green flag
Back to green, and Jenson Button is out immediately.
Nico Hulkenberg F1 Force India 2014
He's followed promptly by Nico Hulkenberg, who starts the first lap of his Force India return.
Vergne and Massa also head out, making it four cars on track.
Hulkenberg pits, but Button, Massa and Vergne stay out.
As Massa registers a new personal best, Sutil emerges for Sauber.
Twitter
Massa and Williams have been conducting a lot of sensor work today. The Brazilian is still running a small pitot sensor on the roll hoop, which gives an accurate air-speed measurement to use as a reference for downforce levels:
@WilliamsF1Team: "Lots of aero sensors going on and off the car which takes time between runs but Felipe has clocked up 10 timed laps today so far."
@WilliamsF1Team: "Lots of aero sensors going on and off the car which takes time between runs but Felipe has clocked up 10 timed laps today so far."
Breaking news
As we near the mid-point of day three, here is a quick recap on the main themes so far:
* Red Bull stops on track on first lap of the day, and 12th of the test
* Button sets the early pace
* Hamilton leads the lap count after two long runs
* Marussia's 2014 challenger yet to appear
* Caterham and Force India yet to set a time
* Massa and Sutil make new team debuts
* Red Bull stops on track on first lap of the day, and 12th of the test
* Button sets the early pace
* Hamilton leads the lap count after two long runs
* Marussia's 2014 challenger yet to appear
* Caterham and Force India yet to set a time
* Massa and Sutil make new team debuts
Nico Rosberg F1 Mercedes 2014
We're getting hundreds of questions for Nico Rosberg already, but if you want yours in the mix as well, email live@autosport.com now.
You've got just over two hours before we 'close the lines', and Rosberg will be here answering your questions live at 2.30pm UK time/3.30pm CET.
Twitter
@clubforce: "A successful installation lap for @NicoHulkenberg as The Hulk makes his official return to the team! #FeelTheForce."
The latest AUTOSPORT podcast has just been published, featuring a full analysis of the 2014 Formula 1 picture so far.
Ideal background listening while following AUTOSPORT Live, we'd suggest...
Ideal background listening while following AUTOSPORT Live, we'd suggest...
Alonso takes the Ferrari back out. We now have three on track, with Button and Massa being the other two.
No we don't! Button brings the McLaren in.
And Alonso improves to 1m25.508s to go second.
Massa is in, so it's now just the Ferrari on track.
Alonso is running on the medium tyre, which Button used to get into the 1m24s on day two.
And Alonso is in, so we have an empty track once more.
Jenson Button
As usual at this time of year, the visually bizarre sensor contraptions teams are running to get data about their cars' aerodynamic behaviour are attracting plenty of comments.
AUTOSPORT's technical experts will explain more about how these devices work later in the week.
In case you were wondering, the black thing pointing skywards in that pic is the sensor. It is hard to know what's a sensor and what's aerodynamics at times under this year's aero rules...
Run down of times and laps completed so far:
1 Button (McLaren) 1m25.030s, 40 laps
2 Alonso (Ferrari) 1m25.495s, 32 laps
3 Hamilton (Mercedes) 1m25.973s, 45 laps
4 Massa (Williams) 1m27.286s, 24 laps
5 Sutil (Sauber) 1m30.161s, 28 laps
6 Vergne (Toro Rosso) 1m45.525s, 22 laps
7 Frijns (Caterham) no time, 8 laps
8 Hulkenberg (Force India), no time, 2 laps
9 Ricciardo (Red Bull), no time, 1 lap
1 Button (McLaren) 1m25.030s, 40 laps
2 Alonso (Ferrari) 1m25.495s, 32 laps
3 Hamilton (Mercedes) 1m25.973s, 45 laps
4 Massa (Williams) 1m27.286s, 24 laps
5 Sutil (Sauber) 1m30.161s, 28 laps
6 Vergne (Toro Rosso) 1m45.525s, 22 laps
7 Frijns (Caterham) no time, 8 laps
8 Hulkenberg (Force India), no time, 2 laps
9 Ricciardo (Red Bull), no time, 1 lap
Ricciardo has gone out and this time he has made it past the start-finish line to start another lap.
Hulkenberg has also gone out again in the Force India.
Hulkenberg has also gone out again in the Force India.
Ricciardo brings the Red Bull back in. That's three laps he's managed, though one of those he didn't really finish under his own steam...
Hulkenberg records a time of 1m34.475s. That puts him sixth.
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Earlier, Hulkenberg told EDD STRAW he is happy to be back at Force India:
"It's pretty much the same crew I worked with in 2012. I know my race engineer, I know my mechanics.
"Obviously, there are a few new faces, but that should help to bed in quicker and get everything smoother in terms of the working processes.
"I feel that I am very well supported there. We worked together successfully at the end of 2012 and I see no reason why that shouldn't be the case again."
"It's pretty much the same crew I worked with in 2012. I know my race engineer, I know my mechanics.
"Obviously, there are a few new faces, but that should help to bed in quicker and get everything smoother in terms of the working processes.
"I feel that I am very well supported there. We worked together successfully at the end of 2012 and I see no reason why that shouldn't be the case again."
Twitter
Williams still seems pretty upbeat about its new car. Much of the FW36's running has been on the special Jerez hard tyre, potentially not as quick as the rubber some of the other teams have been using.
@WilliamsF1Team: "Another good run for Massa and he's back in.... his initial feelings about the #FW36 are all good"
@WilliamsF1Team: "Another good run for Massa and he's back in.... his initial feelings about the #FW36 are all good"
A quick look at how many laps the various engines have completed today, while we are quiet again:
Mercedes 115 (four cars running)
Ferrari 60 (two cars running)
Renault 33 (three cars running)
Mercedes 115 (four cars running)
Ferrari 60 (two cars running)
Renault 33 (three cars running)
Breaking news
Encouraging news on Michael Schumacher's recovery today as doctors begin to reduce his sedation and begin the 'waking up process' - see the AUTOSPORT homepage for the latest from the hospital.
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Button has spent much of the test on top of the times, since the McLaren MP4-29 first hit the track yesterday morning.
That's not bad considering the fitness issues he has had recently:
"I did a helluva lot of training over the winter and limiting my diet, but that's all gone out the window in January.
"I haven't trained for three weeks because I've had an infection in my knee.
"I've not been able to train at all. I'm not as light as I will be at the first race."
That's not bad considering the fitness issues he has had recently:
"I did a helluva lot of training over the winter and limiting my diet, but that's all gone out the window in January.
"I haven't trained for three weeks because I've had an infection in my knee.
"I've not been able to train at all. I'm not as light as I will be at the first race."
Twitter
Latest update from Red Bull:
@redbullracing: "Dan's just completed 2 more laps, slow going for the #RB10. Tactically we're taking the 'less is more' approach..."
@redbullracing: "Dan's just completed 2 more laps, slow going for the #RB10. Tactically we're taking the 'less is more' approach..."
Massa breaks the silence and takes the Williams back out.
Alonso Ferrari
AUTOSPORT has just been looking at pics of some of the cars. Worth commending Ferrari for making Alonso's number 14 more visible than we have come to expect in F1.
Massa improves to 1m26.435s, but he is still fourth.
This is a decent run from Massa, in the 1m26s and 1m27s, on the Jerez hard tyre. Nice amount of kerb used at Turn 4 too.
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McLaren has confirmed Button's running is done for the day. Kevin Magnussen will be taking over this afternoon.
Yesterday, Button had this to say about his new team-mate:
"I've done a couple of photoshoots with him and that's about it so far. He's got a nice smile! That's about as much as I know him.
"He's an intelligent guy and he's proven his speed to the team.
"I’ll be here when he's driving to sit in on the meeting at the end of the day to see how he feels the car and what his feedback is like."
Yesterday, Button had this to say about his new team-mate:
"I've done a couple of photoshoots with him and that's about it so far. He's got a nice smile! That's about as much as I know him.
"He's an intelligent guy and he's proven his speed to the team.
"I’ll be here when he's driving to sit in on the meeting at the end of the day to see how he feels the car and what his feedback is like."
Massa continues his consistent run, 1m27.6s and 1m27.5s on his last two flyers.
Massa pits after a 12-lap run. It looked like his tyres had just started to lose their edge as he slipped into the 1m28s.
Hulkenberg heads out for Force India. He hasn't done many laps today compared to the other Mercedes runners, just six.
By: Sam Tremayne, Matt Beer, Kevin Turner, Pablo Elizalde
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