Final Barcelona F1 Test 2013: DAY 3 - Lewis is once again the fastest man on track

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Lewis Hamilton completed his final day of pre-season testing for MERCEDES AMG PETRONAS in Barcelona today.

- In the morning session, Lewis worked through a series of short runs, using the soft compound Pirelli tyre

- The programme included aerodynamic evaluations alongside different set-up options

- After the break, the focus switched to longer runs for the afternoon session, looking at aerodynamics and tyre wear

- Lewis completed 117 laps today, equivalent to 545 kms, to take his total pre-season mileage in the F1 W04 to 2585 kms

Nico Rosberg will drive for the final day of the test tomorrow to complete the team’s pre-season testing programme.

Lewis Hamilton
"It was great to have a dry track today for my final day of testing, and we were able to get through all the test items that we wanted to achieve by the end of my programme. There’s still a lot of work ahead of us to get to where we want to be but the team is doing a great job. The guys are working so hard at the factory and here at the track; it’s been really nice to get to know everyone in the garage and how they work together over the past few weeks. The reliability, the mileage and the step-by-step improvements that we have achieved during the three tests are all very encouraging. Whilst we’ve been focusing on our own performance, we definitely haven’t seen the full potential of our competitors yet, so it’s difficult to predict where we might be. I’ll be back at the factory next week doing some final preparation work on the simulator and with my engineers, and then it’s off to Melbourne for the first race of the new season with my new team."

DAY 3 Times

~ Official photos and report courtesy of MERCEDES AMG PETRONAS ~

Copyright © 2013, mercedesgla. All rights reserved.

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Final Barcelona F1 Test 2013: DAY 3 - Last drive for Checo ahead of Australian GP

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The penultimate day of pre-season testing – and Checo’s final day in MP4-28 before Melbourne. For the first time this week, weather conditions were stable and favourable: it was bright and sunny all day, which allowed the team to focus on a full day of running.

The morning was devoted to evaluating a number of different mechanical set-ups. The team then committed to a series of system changes over the lunchbreak before kicking off with a long run in the afternoon. Some live pitstop practice was also included – allowing Checo to get a feel for racing with the team in Australia later this month.

Location: Circuit de Catalunya
Driver: Sergio Perez
Track length: 4.655km
Laps: 101
Km covered: 470
Best laptime: 1m 22.694s
Test dates: Four days (February 28- March 3)

What’s next?

The final day: Jenson resumes running duties, and will wrap up our pre-season evaluation ofMP4-28 with more aero and mechanical set-up work.

DAY 2 Standings

Pos / Driver / Constructor / Time / Laps

1 / Lewis Hamilton / Mercedes AMG / 1m 20.558s / 117

2 / Felipe Massa / Ferrari / 1m 21.266s / 94

3 / Adrian Sutil / Force India / 1m 21.627s / 109

4 / Pastor Maldonado / Williams / 1m 22.305s / 34

5 / Valtteri Bottas / Williams / 1m 22.468s / 31

6 / Esteban Gutierrez / Sauber / 1m 22.553s / 99

7 / Mark Webber / Red Bull Racing / 1m 22.658s / 59

8 / Sergio Perez / Vodafone McLaren Mercedes / 1m 22.694s / 101

9 / Jean-Eric Vergne / Scuderia Toro Rosso / 1m 23.223s / 114

10 / Romain Grosjean / Lotus / 1m 23.380s / 46

11 / Davide Valsecchi / Lotus / 1m 23.448s / 16

12 / Jules Bianchi / Marussia / 1m 24.028s / 74

13 / Giedo van der Garde / Caterham / 1m 24.235s / 126

~ Official photo and report courtesy of Vodafone McLaren Mercedes ~

Copyright © 2013, mercedesgla. All rights reserved.

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Jerez F1 Test 2013: DAY 3 - Jenson Button back in the cockpit of the MP4-28

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Jenson returned to the cockpit this morning to complete his second day of running at Jerez, concluding his programme for this test.

As in previous days, the morning kicked off with further aero evaluation work – conducted over a number of shorter runs. The team then ran through a suite of larger mechanical changes in order to understand key changes in set-up – these were fully evaluated over a series of longer runs throughout the afternoon.

The team also conducted a number of live pitstops during the afternoon’s running.

Jenson made a precautionary stop on the track during the session’s dying minutes, and the car was recovered safely.

Location: Circuito de Jerez, Spain
Driver: Jenson Button
Track length: 4.428km
Laps: 83
Km covered: 368
Best laptime: 1m19.603s
Test dates: Four days (February 5-8)

What’s next?

Sergio returns tomorrow for the final day’s running. As before, he will conduct a mix of aero and mechanical work, also running through a similar series of larger mechanical changes in order to better understand the set-up characteristics of MP4-28.


DAY 3 Standings
Pos / Driver / Constructor / Best time / Laps

1 / Felipe Massa / Ferrari / 1m 17.879s / 85

2 / Nico Rosberg / Mercedes AMG / 1m 18.766s / 148

3 / Sebastian Vettel / Red Bull Racing / 1m 19.052s / 102

4 / Kimi Raikkonen / Lotus-Renault / 1m 19.200s / 40

5 / Jean-Eric Vergne / Scuderia Toro Rossa / 1m 19.247s / 85

6 / James Rossiter / Force India / 1m 19.303s / 42

7 / Jenson Button / Vodafone McLaren Mercedes / 1m 19.603s / 83

8 / Esteban Gutierrez / Sauber / 1m 19.934s / 110

9 / Max Chilton / Marussia / 1m 21.269s / 78

10 / Valtteri Bottas / Williams / 1m 21.575s / 86

11 / Charles Pic / Caterham / 1m 22.352s / 57

12 / Paul di Resta/ Force India / 1m 23.729s / 7

~ Official photo and report courtesy of Vodafone McLaren Mercedes ~

Copyright © 2013, mercedesgla. All rights reserved.

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Jerez F1 Test 2013: DAY 3 - Nico Rosberg and the F1 W04 in top form

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Nico Rosberg completed a successful third day of pre-season testing for MERCEDES AMG PETRONAS today in Jerez, Spain. Following a difficult start to the week with limited mileage, Nico was today able to complete a total of 655 km – over two race distances - to make good progress through the team’s test items.

• Nico’s work today focused on reliability running to put mileage on the car and aerodynamic evaluations
• Nico ran the medium and hard compounds throughout the day, setting his fastest time on the medium tyres
• He evaluated a new front wing design this morning and ran with the new parts throughout the afternoon.
• His total number of laps exceeded the highest single-day total from last year’s pre-season test in Jerez (132 laps for Michael Schumacher on 8 February 2012 in the 2011 car)
• Nico also completed pit-stop practice during the final hour of today’s running

DAY 3 Statistics

DAY 3 Times

Lewis Hamilton will complete the fourth and final day of the test tomorrow.

Nico Rosberg: "I’m very happy with today and I think it was probably a personal record for me to do almost 150 laps. I’ve never been so well prepared physically as I am this season; I feel on top form and it was no problem to complete the programme. To drive the distance from Silverstone to Spa in one day with no problems whatsoever is a fantastic achievement from the team. It really made up for the last two days and put a smile on everybody’s face. In terms of driving the car, I have a good feeling, I can push it and feel comfortable - but obviously we still have plenty of work to do to continue improving."

~ Official photos and report courtesy of MERCEDES AMG PETRONAS ~

Copyright © 2013, mercedesgla. All rights reserved.

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Magny Cours Young Driver F1 Test 2012: DAY 3 Report (MBAMGF1)

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The final day of the Young Driver Test in Magny Cours today saw Brendon Hartley, one of our simulator drivers, have his first chance to drive the team’s Formula One car on track.

Date: Thursday 13 September
Track: Magny Cours
Driver: Brendon Hartley

No of Laps: 87 laps
Best Lap Time: 1:18.671
Kms Covered: 384 km
Track Length: 4.411 km
Total Test Kms: 1354 km

Weather: Wet morning / dry afternoon

- Wet conditions this morning meant the Pirelli intermediate and wet tyres were required for the first time this week
- The team took an early lunch and were then able to use the hard compound tyre for set-up work over longer runs
- Brendon completed a total of 87 laps and 384 km today

Over the three days, the team completed a total of 1354 km and successfully completed the planned programme.

Brendon Hartley
“It was an amazing feeling to be back driving a Formula One car today, and I would like to thank the MERCEDES AMG PETRONAS team for giving me this opportunity. The track was quite wet this morning so we lost some time but once it had dried out, we were able to get on with the test programme, using mainly the hard tyre. It was a successful day for both me and the team, and we completed the programme, despite the weather. I’m happy with my performance and pleased that it only took a couple of runs before I was on the pace as it’s been three years since I last drove a Formula One car. I’m very grateful for the experience and really enjoyed working with the team today.”

Ross Brawn
“Today sees the conclusion of a successful three day test for the team in Magny Cours with our young drivers Sam Bird and Brendon Hartley. This was an important test, allowing both drivers some important track time in a Formula One car, and enabling us to continue our development programme with the evaluation of our new upgrades. Both Sam and Brendon have driven very well, providing good and consistent feedback, and I would like to thank them for their efforts and diligence over the last three days. We now have a wealth of data from the test to study back at the factory over the next few days and in advance of the forthcoming race in Singapore.”

TIMES

Pos / Driver / Car / Time / Laps

1. Jules Bianchi / Ferrari / 1:16.985 / 138
2. Rodolfo Gonzalez / Sahara Force India / 1:18.018 / 79
3. Brendon Hartley / MERCEDES AMG PETRONAS / 1:18.671 / 87

~ Official photo and report courtesy of MERCEDES AMG PETRONAS ~

Copyright © 2012, mercedesgla. All rights reserved.

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Mugello F1 Test 2012: DAY 3 Report (MBAMGF1)

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Nico Rosberg completed the third and final day of the Mugello test for the MERCEDES AMG PETRONAS team today.

- Nico and the team spent the day concentrating on further tyre and set-up evaluations with the F1 W03
- A second very productive day saw Nico complete 129 laps, equal to over 670 km

The team completed 1715 kms over the three days, and will next be in action at the Spanish Grand Prix in Barcelona.

Nico Rosberg
“It has been a good testing programme for us here in Mugello, and I have been able to complete a lot of mileage in my Silver Arrow around this amazing track. Today, we learned a lot about tyre management, and this should help us at the next race in Barcelona. There is still a lot of work to do of course, and we do need to improve our car in fast corners, but overall I am pleased with the progress that we have made here this week.”

Ross Brawn “We have had a good week in Mugello, and been able to complete much of our planned test programme despite the loss of some track time on Tuesday due to the poor weather conditions. The first opportunity for in-season testing for some time has proved beneficial, particularly as it has enabled us to test some new development ideas and take a closer look at improving the car from things that we have identified over the first four races. Mugello is a great track and I know that both Nico and Michael have enjoyed the experience of driving there this week.”

TIMES

~ Official photos and report courtesy of MERCEDES AMG PETRONAS ~

Copyright © 2012, mercedesgla. All rights reserved.

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