The new season is almost upon us. In fact, there’s just one more four-day test between now and next month’s season-opening 2013 Formula 1 Rolex Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne. That test begins in Barcelona, Spain on Thursday. As the teams prepare for the final push of on-track development work, we review how they fared during last week’s four-day session at the Circuit de Catalunya - a session that saw McLaren newcomer Sergio Perez top the aggregate timesheet…
Caterham
Giedo van der Garde, 20th: 1:26.177, 133 laps
Charles Pic, 21st: 1:26.243, 151 laps
Like all the teams, Caterham insisted they weren’t chasing lap times, but there’s no doubt they would have preferred to see some slightly quicker figures staring back at them from the timing screens. On the plus side, reliability was generally good and new boy Van der Garde acquitted himself well relative to the more experienced Pic.
Unofficial aggregate test times from Barcelona:
1. Sergio Perez, McLaren, 1:21.848, 174 laps
2. Fernando Alonso, Ferrari, 1:21.875, 283 laps
3. Nico Hulkenberg, Sauber, 1:22.160, 179 laps
4. Romain Grosjean, Lotus, 1:22.188, 160 laps
5. Sebastian Vettel, Red Bull, 1:22.197, 150 laps
6. Nico Rosberg, Mercedes, 1:22.611, 162 laps
7. Kimi Raikkonen, Lotus, 1:22.623, 87 laps
8. Pastor Maldonado, Williams, 1:22.675, 178 laps
9. Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes, 1:22.726, 173 laps
10. Valtteri Bottas, Williams, 1:22.826, 189 laps
11. Jenson Button, McLaren, 1:22.840, 141 laps
12. Adrian Sutil, Force India, 1:22.877, 78 laps
13. Mark Webber, Red Bull, 1:23.024, 172 laps
14. Jean-Eric Vergne, Toro Rosso, 1:23.366, 186 laps
15. Daniel Ricciardo, Toro Rosso, 1:23.718, 143 laps
16. Paul di Resta, Force India, 1:23.971, 144 laps
17. Max Chilton, Marussia, 1:25.115, 241 laps
18. Esteban Gutierrez, Sauber, 1:25.124, 129 laps
19. Jules Bianchi, Force India, 1:25.732, 96 laps
20. Giedo van der Garde, Caterham, 1:26.177, 133 laps
21. Charles Pic, Caterham, 1:26.243, 151 laps
22. Felipe Massa, Ferrari, 1:27.563, 80 laps
Full article here.
Formula1.com
Circuito Permanente de Jerez – February 5 - Giedo: 1:21.915 - 64 laps
