Jerez first 2014 test Test day two
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Jean-Eric Vergne, Toro Rosso
And while we're on the subject of Toro Rosso, which has probably one of the more aesthetically challenged 2014 cars, Daniil Kvyat had this to say yesterday when asked if he thought the STR9 was beautiful:
"From the inside it is!
"We've seen many different solutions, but in the end what matters to the drivers and the teams is that it's a fast solution. For some I understand it doesn't look nice."
Very diplomatic Daniil...
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Still waiting to see if the tractor will make another tour or if the wet element of 'wet day' is over.
Toro Rosso boss Franz Tost didn't think a huge amount of running would be required to tick the wet tyre testing box.
"Jerez's surface is different to many other tracks, but we'll get a picture of the tyre wear and tyre degradation," he said. "It's enough."
Toro Rosso boss Franz Tost didn't think a huge amount of running would be required to tick the wet tyre testing box.
"Jerez's surface is different to many other tracks, but we'll get a picture of the tyre wear and tyre degradation," he said. "It's enough."
Should rivals get excited about the prospect of Red Bull being reeled in this year?
AUTOSPORT's technical experts aren't so sure. In his Tuesday analysis GARY ANDERSON said Red Bull is the team he'd be most relaxed about being in charge of right now, and CRAIG SCARBOROUGH reckons there's as much clever thinking and hidden complexity as ever in the 2014 car.
Red Bull RB10 technical analysis
AUTOSPORT's technical experts aren't so sure. In his Tuesday analysis GARY ANDERSON said Red Bull is the team he'd be most relaxed about being in charge of right now, and CRAIG SCARBOROUGH reckons there's as much clever thinking and hidden complexity as ever in the 2014 car.
Red Bull RB10 technical analysis
That leaves the track empty again. We're still yet to see a timed flying lap from Vettel and Red Bull this year.
A brief excursion, as Vettel heads straight back to his waiting pitlane crew.
Aha. The silence is broken, as reigning champion Vettel - yet to set a timed lap in the 2014 pre-season - heads out in Red Bull's latest creation, the RB10.
Jerez F1 2014
A reminder that we are still yet to see Caterham or Toro Rosso emerge today - Marcus Ericsson and F1 rookie Daniil Kvyat are scheduled for driving duties for the respective squads.
As Marussia confirmed earlier (see 0945), we're not expecting any running from the team before tomorrow.
There's no official lunch break at Jerez, but everyone needs to eat. We therefore seem to have entered a natural pause in proceedings.
Breaking news
Quiet on the track now. If you're just joining us (where have you been?), here are the main themes of day two at Jerez:
* Overnight rain means Wednesday declared the official wet tyre test day
* Button goes fastest in the McLaren MP4-29
* Mercedes returns after Hamilton's day one front wing failure
* Gutierrez causes red after spinning at Turn 5
* 98 laps completed after the first three hours
* Overnight rain means Wednesday declared the official wet tyre test day
* Button goes fastest in the McLaren MP4-29
* Mercedes returns after Hamilton's day one front wing failure
* Gutierrez causes red after spinning at Turn 5
* 98 laps completed after the first three hours
Twitter
More weather talk. We don't mean to bang on about it, but it is very odd to have a 'wet' day which is in fact totally dry. In fairness, the forecast was for downpours - no doubt they'll come this evening when AUTOSPORT has a track run planned.
@McLarenF1: "Jenson: "The circuit's almost dry. There are still a few wet patches, but it'll be dry after lunch." #Jerez #F1"
@McLarenF1: "Jenson: "The circuit's almost dry. There are still a few wet patches, but it'll be dry after lunch." #Jerez #F1"
A spin that escaped our attention when it happened - we've just been informed that Bottas lost the rear of the Williams earlier when exiting the pitlane. Whoops.
McLaren F1 2014
Button (most definitely this time) heads back to the McLaren bay directly beneath us, a five-lap run completed.
Our expert spotter (we won't name and shame) reports that Rosberg has a rear-end wobble exiting Turn 1.
He means Button, of course - unless Rosberg is twerking down at Turn 1. Easy mistake given how similar the two teams' colour schemes are.
He means Button, of course - unless Rosberg is twerking down at Turn 1. Easy mistake given how similar the two teams' colour schemes are.
Twitter
Ferrari clearly concurs that it is no longer wet:
@InsideFerrari: "#wetTyreTesting done by #Ferrari. Now we use this time available to work on the car to prepare this afternoon's programme."
@InsideFerrari: "#wetTyreTesting done by #Ferrari. Now we use this time available to work on the car to prepare this afternoon's programme."
Stopwatch
Even quicker from Button. Was the tipster right? He clocks a 1m36.094s on his third flyer (he's followed the old quick-slow-quick pattern so far).
That lap has led one person in the media centre to tip Button for the world championship this year. Nothing like kneejerk reactions...
Stopwatch
That didn't take long. McLaren's second flying lap of 2014 sends is good enough to top the timesheets on a 'wet' second day, as Button comes round in 1m36.232s.
Jenson Button F1 McLaren 2014
Rosberg pits, but Button stays out.
Another flash of silver, as Button heads out for McLaren moments after Rosberg's departure.
Green flag
Car offloaded, garage screens up, and we're back to green. Rosberg and Mercedes wastes no time and are out as soon as the pitlane opens.
As the low loader heads back, here's a quick round-up of where we stand after the first three hours of day two:
1 Bottas, Williams: 1m37.762, 17 laps
2 Raikkonen, Ferrari: 1m38.272s, 15 laps
3 Perez, Force India: 1m39.008s, 13 laps
4 Gutierrez, Sauber: 1m41.798s, 33 laps
5 Button, McLaren: 1m47.767s, 6 laps
6 Vettel, Red Bull: no time, 4 laps
7 Rosberg, Mercedes: no time, 1 lap
1 Bottas, Williams: 1m37.762, 17 laps
2 Raikkonen, Ferrari: 1m38.272s, 15 laps
3 Perez, Force India: 1m39.008s, 13 laps
4 Gutierrez, Sauber: 1m41.798s, 33 laps
5 Button, McLaren: 1m47.767s, 6 laps
6 Vettel, Red Bull: no time, 4 laps
7 Rosberg, Mercedes: no time, 1 lap
Incidentally, that shot should show just how 'wet' this wet day is so far. Track temperature has risen to 17 degrees now, and a dry line has formed at virtually every corner (at least those we can see).
Esteban Gutierrez F1 Sauber 2014
As good a response as ever by the marshals and team - the car is under covers, and the crane is dropping it onto a waiting low loader as we type. Some of the attending crew have also returned in the course car that headed out.
He's had a spin at Turn 5, but there was no impact - which is rather lucky as he's only a few feet off the barriers.
Gutierrez is off in the gravel.
Gutierrez had just set his fastest time, a 1m41.798s, before that halt.
It does appear to be the Sauber man who has caused the stoppage, as his crew pack into a course car and head off. We can't see where he's parked as of yet though.
Red flag
Our first red flag of the day. Gutierrez is the only man out on track...
Rosberg heads straight back in after that one exploratory lap.
Twitter
Nico Rosberg F1 Mercedes 2014
Mercedes clearly happy to be back out after a lengthy hiatus (nice picture by the way):
@MercedesAMGF1: "Did somebody order some @nico_rosberg / #F1 W05 action? Coming right up!"
Stopwatch
Bottas improves again, breaking below the 1m38s mark with a 1m37.762s.
Times should be falling though - the skies are blue, and track temperature has crept up two degrees in the last 15 minutes (it's now 16). So much for the forecast rain...
Times should be falling though - the skies are blue, and track temperature has crept up two degrees in the last 15 minutes (it's now 16). So much for the forecast rain...
Nico Rosberg F1 Mercedes 2014
Good news for Mercedes - Nico Rosberg (pictured at Jerez yesterday) heads out for his first run in the W05, and the team's first run since yesterday's crash.
Up to 77 laps for the day - not bad given just 93 were completed over the whole of the opening day.
JONATHAN NOBLE is looking good in our sweepstake (see 0838).
JONATHAN NOBLE is looking good in our sweepstake (see 0838).
Breaking news
Big pitlane news this morning is McLaren confirming it has signed ex-Lotus chief Eric Boullier, but it's not a straightforward 'new team boss' deal...
Boullier gets McLaren Racing role
Boullier gets McLaren Racing role
Three men on circuit again, as Bottas joins the fray for Williams.
Gutierrez, the day's busiest man on 23 laps, heads back out for Sauber. He's joined by compatriot, and former Sauber man, Perez.
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Wondering what the latest is with Mercedes?
Executive director Paddy Lowe told reporters yesterday the team would be working through the night to find out why its front wing had broken.
"We know where it failed and we are trying to understand exactly why the margin was not sufficient in that area," he said.
Read the full story
Executive director Paddy Lowe told reporters yesterday the team would be working through the night to find out why its front wing had broken.
"We know where it failed and we are trying to understand exactly why the margin was not sufficient in that area," he said.
Read the full story
Esteban Gutierrez F1 Sauber 2014
More sideways action, this time from Gutierrez in the Sauber C33.
Anyone fancy some wet races this year?
The Briton pits straight after setting that time, and just as Perez heads out for his 10th lap of the day for Force India.
It's a short stint though - just the single lap, and the Mexican is back in.
It's a short stint though - just the single lap, and the Mexican is back in.
Button is on the board. A very cautious first flyer gives McLaren its first official laptime of 2014, a 1m47.767s.
By: Sam Tremayne, Matt Beer, Kevin Turner, Glenn Freeman
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