Jerez first 2015 test Test day three
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A recovery vehicle has arrived next to the Sauber in the gravel, and a flatbed truck is heading the wrong way round the circuit to collect Nasr's car.
As Alonso returns the McLaren (which was following the Sauber) to the pits, BEN ANDERSON tells us that the plan was for Alonso to complete another five-lap run there.
He's also heard wheel guns in action at Mercedes, so maybe the F1 W06 is nearly ready to return to action once this stoppage is over.
He's also heard wheel guns in action at Mercedes, so maybe the F1 W06 is nearly ready to return to action once this stoppage is over.
The Sauber spun at Turn 9, the first of the double-right before the final chicane.
Red flag
Nasr is in the gravel. We have a red flag.
Alonso re-appears for his 12th lap of the day in the McLaren-Honda.
Nasr crosses the line to start a flying lap as Sainz returns to the pits again.
BEN ANDERSON: "Some bodywork coming off the McLaren. Alonso steps out and heads to the other side of the garage as the wheels are taken off.
"Elsewhere in the pitlane, screens are up at Ferrari and I can hear spanners at work. The doors are half-closed at Mercedes and screens are up in front of the F1 W06 too.
"Music is blaring out of the Red Bull garage and it sounds like a lot of work is going on behind screens on the RB11 at the moment. It doesn't look like a run is imminent for Ricciardo.
"Toro Rosso have used cones to mark out a pit box for Sainz, so it looks like he might be doing some pitstop practice once he's completed this sequence of practice starts."
"Elsewhere in the pitlane, screens are up at Ferrari and I can hear spanners at work. The doors are half-closed at Mercedes and screens are up in front of the F1 W06 too.
"Music is blaring out of the Red Bull garage and it sounds like a lot of work is going on behind screens on the RB11 at the moment. It doesn't look like a run is imminent for Ricciardo.
"Toro Rosso have used cones to mark out a pit box for Sainz, so it looks like he might be doing some pitstop practice once he's completed this sequence of practice starts."
Matthew Taylor asks: "Will we be seeing sparks fly from the cars this year, since it's trial in Austria last year. Not seen much mentioned of it since then."
EDD STRAW: "There have been attempts to make this happen and there have been some sparks flying from certain cars as they approach Turn 1."
EDD STRAW: "There have been attempts to make this happen and there have been some sparks flying from certain cars as they approach Turn 1."
The Sauber rolls out of the garage in the hands of Nasr as Sainz joins the track.
All AUTOSPORT can say on the matter is that the engines sound pretty good to us - including the Honda now it is running better today.
Nico Rosberg
"This has been much-debated on the pitwall and much debated in the factories where we have done fire-up and shift checks and so on," said Cowell. "I don’t have any accurate measurements to know whether we are louder today than we were 365 days ago. I certainly can’t quantify it.
"Is it just the fact that we have all been away from racing cars for two or three months and it’s nice to hear the sound and we’re all saying that sounds great?"
Well, to answer that, here's what Mercedes engine boss Andy Cowell had to say on the matter.
Jordan Botting asks: "How much louder are the 2015 cars compared to the 2014 cars? From reports I’ve read they are louder. So should I believe these reports that the cars are going to be louder, or am I just getting my hopes up?"
Lotus has yet to take to the track. This is because of a telemetry issue. Otherwise, the E23 would have been out first thing.
Twitter
@MercedesAMGF1: "Overnight dampness just about starting to clear on track - @nico_rosberg goes for the slick look"
BEN ANDERSON isn't only watching McLaren down in the pits. He reports from Toro Rosso that the team is having to keep an eye on a "suspect mechanical component in the engine", which might limit Sainz's running.
The 2014 Formula Renault 3.5 champion was unable to complete any of the long runs the team had planned for him on day one due to mechanical gremlins, so he'll be hoping to make up for that lost time today.
The 2014 Formula Renault 3.5 champion was unable to complete any of the long runs the team had planned for him on day one due to mechanical gremlins, so he'll be hoping to make up for that lost time today.
And Sainz is back in.
Not for the first time this week McLaren had a man with a fire extinguisher on hand as Alonso returned. His services weren't required though, and the car is back in the garage where BEN ANDERSON is having a peek at what's going on for us.
And the silence is broken by Sainz in the Toro Rosso.
The track falls silent.
As expected, Alonso returns to the pits after completing a seven-lap run, with five flying laps.
A 1m40.887s from Alonso. That's five flying laps on this run.
Rosberg and Sainz have come back in. So it's only Alonso in the McLaren-Honda, which is making a very pleasing noise, left out on the circuit.
And that's a 1m40.524s from Alonso.
Alonso did a 1m39s last time round.
Andrew Wilson asks "how many laps does McLaren-Honda need to chalk up across the four days for Jerez to be considered a success".
EDD STRAW: "In general terms, the more laps the better, and this morning has started encouragingly. But most important is that they run through the problems and solve them. Inevitably, with such a new engine it will be a stuttering start. The fact Alonso is currently on the longest run we've seen yet from the car is very positive."
EDD STRAW: "In general terms, the more laps the better, and this morning has started encouragingly. But most important is that they run through the problems and solve them. Inevitably, with such a new engine it will be a stuttering start. The fact Alonso is currently on the longest run we've seen yet from the car is very positive."
As Rosberg heads back out onto the track.
Alonso completes another lap, 1.1s slower than his fastest.
Rosberg returns to the pits as Sainz heads out in the Toro Rosso.
And Alonso crosses the line to post a 1m37.407s. That's the fastest we've seen from a McLaren-Honda so far at Jerez.
Alonso is on a five-lap run, if his pit-board is to be believed.
Alonso staying out to start another lap. Rosberg and Nasr also still out there.
And the McLaren-Honda is back in action, with Alonso heading out for his fifth lap of the morning. He's on intermediate rubber.
Nasr has headed in and switched to soft slicks.
Raikkonen has been in and out of the pits a few times this morning. He's on hard tyres, and the Ferrari still has an aero rake bolted to the front.
Thanks to the damp track surface, we're seeing laptimes 10 seconds and more off the fastest from the previous two days of testing here at Jerez.
Rosberg and Nasr are battling for the 'honour' of having completed the most laps so far this morning. Rosberg has done 12, Nasr 13.
It's been over 20 minutes since our last 'McLaren watch', so here's the latest updates on a car that is still in the garage:
BEN ANDERSON: "Alonso got out of the car, and the mechanics have been fiddling with his seat. Button was watching on closely in the garage but he's now headed off for some training.
"Tyres are going back on the car and Alonso is hopping back in. Another run for the Honda engine is imminent."
BEN ANDERSON: "Alonso got out of the car, and the mechanics have been fiddling with his seat. Button was watching on closely in the garage but he's now headed off for some training.
"Tyres are going back on the car and Alonso is hopping back in. Another run for the Honda engine is imminent."
And we also have Rosberg back on track in the Mercedes.
Nasr improves his time to a 1m35.127s.
By: Glenn Freeman, Ben Anderson, Jonathan Noble, Edd Straw, AUTOSPORT staff
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