Vettel tops the first testing in Jerez

Sebastian Vettel finished the day at the top of the timesheets on the first day of testing at the Jerez circuit. Behind the Ferrari have been the Sauber of Marcus Ericsson and the Mercedes of Nico Rosberg that has done a total of 157 laps.

The opening day of pre-season test in Jerez has concluded, and the drivers have been able to complete the first sensations with the cars, in addition to draw the first conclusions about their new projects for this 2015. The weather has fully respected this first session, with a completely cloudless sky, although with slightly cooler temperatures than usual.

This afternoon we mentioned that Rosberg had topped the times, but finally Sebastian Vettel has been overcome at the end of the day, reducing time repeatedly until he made a lap of 1: 22,690. The German has only rolled nine laps in the morning, but after a series of amendments, the Scuderia has returned to the track at noon, one of the busiest in the afternoon completing a total of 60 laps.

Behind him has finished in an unusual way while looking at the timesheets Marcus Ericsson’s Sauber, who despite a spin in the morning, had no major complications than earn kilometers to improve the performance of a C34, of which they expect much more than its predecessor. Finally, the Swedish left the clock to one tenth of Vettel, in addition to completing a total of 73 laps, the second busiest team of the day.

Of course no doubt that most mileage has been featured in Mercedes. The holders have put fear into the body of others, and not by his times, but for his constant work. Rosberg has done 157 laps in the Jerez circuit, an atrocity seen that it is the first day of the year, which in good conditions it is not quite normal to even get closer to hundred laps. Mercedes has been faultless, and has had time to try all kinds of things, from Pit Stops to starts, as long simulations up to forty consecutive laps. We’ll see if the people from Brackley continue with this tune, but these details are already positioning themselves as favorites, with some advantage to the rest in that sense.

In fourth place was Daniel Ricciardo, who premiered a particular Red Bull, decorated entirely different than the view provided by Milton Keynes years before. The car seems to work well, but only have accumulated 35 laps and at the end of the day have suffered electric problems and forced them to stop early. Nevertheless, Red Bull seems to have done a good job, just seeing that they have arrived to Jerez just in time.

Behind the Australian was Valtteri Bottas, who took out on track with his new Williams, but ended up giving up 73 laps, almost everyone in the afternoon. Good form of the Grove team, who anticipate its line of 2014. For now, the car failed them, even though the engine is relatively new. We’ll see how they evolve these days.

Carlos Sainz Jr finished sixth, which accumulated significant experience in terms of miles. 46 laps at Jerez and a fast lap that was within two seconds off the lead. A good balance for the Spaniard, who debuted today as official driver for Toro Rosso. Eventually, a problem already waiting at the fuel pump, left him lying in the middle of the circuit in the afternoon, causing the second and final red flag of the day.

And to conclude the seven participants in this first day of testing, with Fernando Alonso and McLaren-Honda. Only six laps accumulated, quite problematic in a new engine, which is normal, being so new and having so few kilometers done. High hopes for a new project that has already been born, and it is expected that each day go better. Tomorrow Button will climb behind the wheel of the MP4-30, to see if it is able to roll over what has now made his teammate.

In addition, it is also good to include the absence of Lotus, which ultimately was not able to roll in the afternoon. The car has been put in the garage when the session finished and is now being prepared to get everything ready to go out there and start the work tomorrow. Hopefully the Enstone team will have no more setbacks and show their new weapon to overcome this 2015.

That’s all for today, tomorrow the tests are back with much more starting at nine o’clock, until the end of the day at five in the afternoon, as happened today. Drivers who participate are: Hamilton (Mercedes), Bottas (Williams), Kvyat (Red Bull), Vettel (Ferrari), Button (McLaren), Verstappen (Toro Rosso), Grosjean (Lotus) and Nasr (Sauber).

Final results at the end of Day 1 in Jerez: