Posted on 1st February 2014
Sweeping rule changes and in particular the introduction of the new V6 turbocharged engines – largely dictated the results of testing, with last year's champions Red Bull particularly suffering, clocking up just 21 laps in their newly unveiled RB10, probably one of the better looking cars in this year's field.
There is no doubt that Mercedes looked ominously strong over the 4 days, clocking up an impressive 1368 kms, whilst Rosberg was the first and only man to do a full race simulation, with him and fellow Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton clocking up a combined 309 laps
Fernando Alonso and his new team mate Kimi Raikkonen also went well topping the opening day of the test with Fernando second only to Rosberg in the mileage chart.
While mileage figures are important for teams, and allow them to test the aerodynamics and assimilate the new cars, it was good to see McLaren setting the early season pace courtesy of new recruit Kevin Magnussen who with day four affected by poor weather put in a 1m23.276s which was enough to seal top spot by just under half a second.
Starting his new life as a Williams driver, Felipe Massa was the nearest challenger, finishing second overall and top in the slippery conditions of the final day, a good day's work by the Brazilian and his new team.
Lewis Hamilton, Jenson Button and Valtteri Bottas emphasised Mercedes’ emphatic start by all sealing top-six spots, with Raikkonen (fifth) and Alonso (seventh) the only non-Mercedes-powered drivers in the top 10.
So Renault engined cars had a troublesome Jerez, with overheating problems affecting the new hybrid system, but never underestimate the Red Bull team, or Adrian Newey, the team will be up there at the front in 2014, I have no doubt.
The Ferrari F14-T ran well and completed over 1000 kms of testing, but the biggest losers are likely to be Lotus, who failed to show at Jerez, and will therefore be playing catch up already, although the official line is that the car was being developed further for Bahrain.
Jenson Button's MP24-9 McLaren in unsponsored livery has a similar low and wide nose design to Ferrari which assisted him on his way to the fastest time of the day on day two, a 1m24.1s some 6 seconds slower than last year's fastest time on day two, emphasising how much the new rules have slowed the cars for 2014.
Other notables in Jerez were Caterham, who unveiled their CT05 with their narrow and strange looking nose design, Ericsson only however managed 12 Laps, and Frijns10 laps, whilst Kobayashi put in 54 laps however finishing 18th fastest
A lot of work then still to do on the new cars, particularly those with Renault power, I will eagerly await the next Test at Bahrain on 19th February where hopefully a clearer picture of the teams will emerge, and the Lotus team will be on track with their new car.
Results of Jerez testing,courtesy of Autosport.co.uk
Driver Team Time
1.Kevin Magnussen McLaren-Mercedes 1:23.276
2.Felipe Massa Williams-Mercedes 1:23.70
3.Lewis Hamilton Mercedes 1:23.952
4.Jenson Button McLaren-Mercedes 1:24.165
5.Kimi Raikkonen Ferrari 1:24.812
6.Valtteri Bottas Williams-Mercedes 1:25.344
7.Fernando Alonso Ferrari 1:25.495
8.Nico Rosberg Mercedes 1:25.588
9.Nico Hulkenberg ForceIndia-Mercedes 1:26.096
10.Sergio Perez ForceIndia-Mercedes 1:28.376
11.DanielJuncadella ForceIndia-Mercedes 1:29.457
12.Jean-EricVergne Toro Rosso-Renault 1:29.915
13.Adrian Sutil Sauber-Ferrari 1:30.161
14.Jules Bianchi Marussia-Ferrari 1:32.222
15.Esteban Gutierrez Sauber-Ferrari 1:33.270
16.Marcus Ericsson Caterham-Renault 1:37.795
17.Sebastian Vettel Red Bull-Renault 1:38.820
18.Kamui Kobayashi Caterham-Renault 1:43.193
19.Daniil Kvyat Toro Rosso-Renault 1:44.016
20.Daniel Ricciardo Red Bull-Renault 1:45.374
21. Robin Frijns Caterham-Renault No Time
22. Max Chilton Marussia-Ferrari No Time
Mileage by driver
1.Nico Rosberg Mercedes 188 (832laps)
2.Fernando Alonso Ferrari 173 (766)
3.Kevin Magnussen McLaren-Mercedes 162 (717)
4.Felipe Massa Williams-Mercedes 133 (588)
5.Lewis Hamilton Mercedes 121 (535)
6.Adrian Sutil Sauber-Ferrari 103 (456)
7.Jenson Button McLaren-Mercedes 83 (367)
8.Daniel Juncadella Force India 81 (358)
9.Kimi Raikkonen Ferrari 78 (345)
10.Esteban Gutierrez Sauber-Ferrari 60 (265)
11. Kamui Kobayashi Caterham-Renault 54 (239)
12. Sergio Perez Force India 48 (212)
13. Jean-Eric Vergne Toro Rosso 45 (199)
14. Valtteri Bottas Williams-Mercedes 42 (185)
15. Jules Bianchi Marussia-Ferrari 25 (110)
16. Nico Hulkenberg Force India 17 (75)
17. Marcus Ericsson Caterham-Renault 12 (53)
18. Sebastian Vettel Red Bull-Renault 11 (48)
19. Robin Frijns Caterham-Renault 10 (44)
20. Daniel Ricciardo Red Bull-Renault 10 (44)
21. Daniil Kvyat Toro Rosso-Renault 9 (39)
22. Max Chilton Marussia-Ferrari 5 (22)
Mileage by team
1. Mercedes 309 laps (1368) km
2. Ferrari 251 (1111)
3. McLaren 245 (1084)
4. Williams 175 (774)
5. Sauber 163 (721)
6. Force India 146 (646)
7. Caterham 76 (336)
8. Toro Rosso 54 (239)
9. Marussia 30 (132)
10. Red Bull 21 (92)
Mileage by engine manufacturer
1. Mercedes 875 laps (3874) km
2. Ferrari 444 (1966)
3. Renault 151 (668)
