Jerez first 2015 test Test day three
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@CoertGil5 asks: What's the function of the 'bubble' on the nose of the McLaren?
CRAIG SCARBOROUGH: "That was a camera used to look at the front wing to detect flex. McLaren have run this frequently in the past and Williams ran a version of it yesterday too."
CRAIG SCARBOROUGH: "That was a camera used to look at the front wing to detect flex. McLaren have run this frequently in the past and Williams ran a version of it yesterday too."
As Felipes Nasr and Massa (plus Carlos Sainz) continue to rack up the miles, let's have some answers to your technical questions from CRAIG SCARBOROUGH.
Massa improves on his latest lap and closes in on Rosberg's Merc.
Good news: CRAIG SCARBOROUGH has been tackling your questions, so his answers will start coming through shortly.
Nasr's times have been all over the place since he went fastest. We've had another 1m24s, a 1m43s, and now a 1m26s.
Today's times are still some way off the 1m20.9s we saw from Vettel in the Ferrari yesterday.
Stopwatch
Here's our first SAUBER FACT of the day: Nasr has gone fastest (on mediums) with a 1m24.052s.
Sainz has taken over driving duties from Toro Rosso team-mate Max Verstappen today.
Verstappen, 17, is F1's youngest ever driver, but the team is already impressed by his mature approach and attitude behind the wheel.
Verstappen reckons his first day in the STR10 went well.
"It was quite positive. We did a lot of long runs, and for me to understand the new car and get confident in it and see the reliability of it – I think it worked out very well," he said.
"So far I think the [new] car is more in balance from front to rear. The rest is difficult to say because not everything is on the limit so far so we have to see.
The first step Renault gave us here is already a good step forward – it’s very promising."
Verstappen, 17, is F1's youngest ever driver, but the team is already impressed by his mature approach and attitude behind the wheel.
Verstappen reckons his first day in the STR10 went well.
"It was quite positive. We did a lot of long runs, and for me to understand the new car and get confident in it and see the reliability of it – I think it worked out very well," he said.
"So far I think the [new] car is more in balance from front to rear. The rest is difficult to say because not everything is on the limit so far so we have to see.
The first step Renault gave us here is already a good step forward – it’s very promising."
Sainz moves ahead of Nasr for third with a 1m25.101s.
Breaking news
Some info on Rosberg's stoppage around 40 minutes ago:
@MercedesAMGF1: "UPDATE: Engine shutdown brought @nico_rosberg's last run to a halt. The crew are looking into it now... "
@MercedesAMGF1: "UPDATE: Engine shutdown brought @nico_rosberg's last run to a halt. The crew are looking into it now... "
Here's a lap count as we approach 13.30 local time in Spain:
Rosberg (Mercedes) 93
Sainz (Toro Rosso) 57
Raikkonen (Ferrari) 44
Nasr (Sauber) 39
Maldonado (Lotus) 32
Alonso (McLaren) 32
Massa (Williams) 27
Ricciardo (Red Bull) 5
Rosberg (Mercedes) 93
Sainz (Toro Rosso) 57
Raikkonen (Ferrari) 44
Nasr (Sauber) 39
Maldonado (Lotus) 32
Alonso (McLaren) 32
Massa (Williams) 27
Ricciardo (Red Bull) 5
Nasr and Massa head for the garages, while Sainz joins Maldonado on track.
Nico Rosberg's car
A bit of comfort for Mercedes' rivals given how relentless the champion team has been in its lap-racking-up this week - here's a picture of Rosberg's W06 coming back to the pits on a lorry, proving that it does break down too.
Nasr and Massa both lapping in the late 1m25s right now. Maldonado is in the 1m26s.
Raikkonen heads back to the pits in the Ferrari. Nasr, Massa and Maldonado are still circulating.
Stopwatch
Another improvement from Raikkonen, who falls just under three quarters of a second shy of breaking into the 1m23s.
Stopwatch
Nasr improves again on his next lap, while Raikkonen lowers the day's benchmark to 1m24.197s.
Well, briefly. Fellow Brazilian Felipe Massa demotes Nasr with a 1m25.7s effort on his first flying lap of this run in the Williams.
Nasr puts those new parts to good use and sets his fastest time of the day so far. He's up to fourth now.
Twitter
@HondaRacingF1: "32 laps. Always testing, always learning. Lets see what this afternoon brings."
Breaking news
If you want a recap of everything that's happened so far this morning, our lunchtime summary is now live:
Jerez test Tuesday am report
Jerez test Tuesday am report
The Sauber C34 is running some updates fresh from the Hinwil factory. Team used the time following Nasr's earlier spin to modify the car.
Green flag
The track has re-opened now the Mercedes has been recovered, so we're live again in Jerez. Raikkonen and Nasr head straight back out.
Recovery truck is on the move, so the Mercedes should be back in the pits very soon.
Twitter
@MercedesAMGF1: "So @nico_rosberg is catching a lift back form T10 it seems: he'd better not be late for lunch. We'll keep you posted on his progress..."
Flat-bed truck has been dispatched from pitlane to retrieve Rosberg's stricken Mercedes.
Red flag
Rosberg's Mercedes has stopped on the track on the run to the chicane. Red flag here at Jerez.
A faster final sector of the lap for Sainz last time around, but no overall improvement. Both he and Rosberg are currently lapping in the 1m26s.
Raikkonen then heads back to the pits, before Sainz improves in all three sectors in the Toro Rosso. The Spanish rookie is now into the 1m25s.
Twitter
@McLarenF1: "Lunchbreak: 32 laps on the board for Fernando, and a best time of 1m35.553s. #Progress #SizeZeroF1Car"
Having backed off for a lap, Raikkonen winds the Ferrari up again and does a better final sector, but crosses the line fractionally slower than his previous best.
Stopwatch
Kimi Raikkonen
Raikkonen goes fastest of all on that lap. His 1m24.357s effort is four tenths better than Rosberg's best.
A faster first sector next time around for Rosberg, who is chasing Raikkonen's Ferrari now. The Finn sets a new personal best with the Merc in his mirrors and then goes fastest of all in the first sector.
Twitter
@alo_oficial: "Encouraging morning here at the test! 32 laps. We keep learning about the car! #McLarenHonda"
Rosberg clocks his 80th lap of the day. He's past Maldonado now so has clear track in front of him once more.
Stopwatch
Rosberg is into the 1m24s now on his fresh set of medium tyres. About to catch Maldonado's Lotus though so expect a slower next lap.
Stopwatch
Sainz has returned to the pits now, as Rosberg becomes the first man to dip into the 1m25s on his first flying lap of this latest Mercedes run.
Twitter
@WilliamsRacing: "Back in the pits for Felipe Massa. Quick data analysis and then back out for some more time on track #WeAreRacing"
Sauber has decided to break for lunch after a less-than-smooth morning for Felipe Nasr.
Rosberg heads back out of the pits to join Sainz and Maldonado on track. Sainz did a slower 1m28s lap last time through. Maldonado is lapping fractionally slower than his current best.
By: Glenn Freeman, Ben Anderson, Jonathan Noble, Edd Straw, AUTOSPORT staff
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