F1 testing day 3: Sauber still dominate

Heidfeld topped the timesheets for much of yesterday (Tuesday) with a lap of 1m20.132s set in the warmer conditions of the morning session. However, the young German has carried his form into the final day of Bridgestone testing before Christmas with a fastest time of 1m19.956s.

David Coulthard managed to put his McLaren-Mercedes between the Sauber duo and took second place, while the Woking team's test driver Alex Wurz struggled at the bottom of the time sheets, 1.5s off Heidfeld's pace.

British American Racing had race drivers Olivier Panis and Jacques Villeneuve running head-to-head for the first time. Panis set the fourth fastest time, seventh tenths faster than his 1997 F1 world champion team mate, despite a trip into the gravel trap which briefly halted the session.

Wet weather running continued for the Michelin teams at Estoril, after scattered showers kept the Portuguese track wet enough to preclude the use of the tankers used yesterday (Tuesday).

The red flags were brought out twice during the morning running. The first was due to Benetton test driver Mark Webber stopping as he exited the pitlane. After the car was pushed back to the Benetton stable, the Australian managed just one further lap before lunch.

Luciano Burti also brought the session to a halt when the Brazilian spun his Jaguar entering the corkscrew Turn 9. Eddie Irvine also went straight on at the tight right-hander. Jaguar test driver Tomas Scheckter is also on hand at Estoril and is scheduled to take over this afternoon. "I'll get a go when Eddie [Irvine] gets bored," said the South African.


1 Nick Heidfeld (Sauber-Petronas) 1m19.956s
2 David Coulthard (McLaren-Mercedes) 1m20.544s
3 Kimi Raikkonen (Sauber-Petronas) 1m20.606s
4 Olivier Panis (BAR-Honda) 1m20.610s
5 Rubens Barrichello (Ferrari) 1m20.648s
6 Jarno Trulli (Jordan-Mugen Honda) 1m20.766s
7 Heinz-Harald Frentzen (Jordan-Mugen Honda) 1m20.984s
8 Jacques Villeneuve (BAR-Honda) 1m21.195s
9 Alex Wurz * (McLaren-Mercedes) 1m21.378s