Finally the 2015 cars hit the track*. The first of the 3 pre-season tests gets underway tomorrow!
(*with the exception of Force India who will not attend the Jerez test)
Where
Circuito de Jerez, in Southern Spain
When
Sunday 1st February until Wednesday 4th February
The test runs from 09.00 – 17.00 CET (08.00-16.00 GMT) each day (I don’t think there is an official break for lunch in Jerez)
Driver line-up for the 4 days is as follows:
Team Day 1 Day 2 Day 3 Day 4
Mercedes Rosberg Hamilton Rosberg Hamilton
Red Bull Ricciardo Kvyat Ricciardo Kvyat
Williams Bottas Bottas Massa Massa
Ferrari Vettel Vettel Raikkonen Raikkonen
McLaren Alonso Button Alonso Button
Toro Rosso Sainz Verstappen Sainz Verstappen
Lotus Maldonado Grosjean Maldonado Grosjean
Sauber Ericsson Nasr Nasr Ericsson
The Track:
2.75 miles long
13 corners
For reference at the 2014 Jerez test the fastest lap was set by Kevin Magnussen in the McLaren with a time of 1.23.276 whilst the most number of laps completed over all 4 days was by Mercedes with a total of 309 laps (with the lowest amount of laps completed by Red Bull at just 21)
Weather Forecast: Looks like it will be dry and sunny for all 4 days, around 14°C http://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/2516326
Coverage
Sky F1 has two 15 minute programs from 21.00-21.30 each night – Paddock uncut and Teds Notebook.
Sky Sports News will have live updates throughout the day.
Live text coverage from multiple sites:
Autosport - http://live.autospor...9332.1421516325
BBC –
Sky –
A version of live timing (lap counts and fastest laps anyway) - http://www.f1i.com/live-f1/
Cars being launched in the pit-lane before testing starts (maybe shown live on Sky Sports News)
Mercedes - 08.30 CET (07.30GMT)
Red Bull?
ScottMB has promised to post photos each evening at this link: http://www.scottmbailey.com
Lots to look forward to in this test – New cars, new partnerships, new drivers:
McLaren-Honda is back!!!
Fernando back in a McLaren!
Seb driving for Ferrari!
Daniil stepping up to Red Bull!
Lotus will be hoping the Mercedes engine give them a performance boost.
How will the rookies (Max, Carlos, Felipe) get on in their 1st test as official F1 drivers?
Which team will cause the first red flag, and which team the most?
Will Lewis find its 3rd time lucky and manage to avoid a car failure and subsequent crash during the opening test?
Who will set the initial pace and ‘win’ the first round of testing? (and who will cause their fans despair at thoughts of a season-long struggle)?
It’s time to start reading way to much into testing times and for some to start dreaming of those race wins as others watch their hopes fade away… F1 2015 starts here!
Edited by Exb, 31 January 2015 - 07:44.