Nov
25th
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Day 1 of final test of 2014 Formula 1 season in Abu Dhabi saw Valtteri Bottas set the fastest time of the day in the Mercedes-powered Williams.
The big news came from McLaren, which put its interim MP4-29 Honda to the test, but completed minimal running due to a lack of reliability.
An electronics issue meant the car spent the morning in the garage, but it broke cover soon after lunch, with test and development driver Stoffel Vandoorne conducting a number of exploratory installation runs throughout the afternoon.
The Belgian was halted on a couple of occasions by a fuel/data exchange issue - the second of which left him stranded on the circuit, causing a red flag.
Nonetheless, the first day of running was positive, as it's enabled the team to begin its trouble-shooting programme well ahead of the first test of 2015, which takes place at Jerez in early February.
Kimi Raikkonen set the second fastest time at the wheel of the F14 T, but all eyes were on the back of the garage after Sebastian Vettel made an appearance at his new team.
The German made the most of the opportunity to familiarise himself with his new colleagues, whilst also listening in on the radio as he prepares for his new life in 2015.
Nico Rosberg was third in the Mercedes W05 ahead of GP2 champion Jolyon Palmer who got his first experience of an F1 car, driving the Force India. Like Vandoorne, reliability issues also limited his running.
Carlos Sainz Junor was fifth in the Red Bull RB10, ahead of the surprising Will Stevens in the Caterham and Charles Pic in the Lotus.
Max Verstappen gained more valuable mileage in the Toro Rosso, but the 17-year-old planted his STR9 in the barriers.
Day 1 times:
1 Valtteri Bottas Williams 1m43.396 80 laps
2 Kimi Raikkonen Ferrari 1m43.888 81 laps
3 Nico Rosberg Mercedes 1m44.512 114 laps
4 Jolyon Palmer Sahara Force India 1m44.516 37 laps
5 Carlos Sainz Jr Red Bull 1m45.339 100 laps
6 Will Stevens Caterham 1m45.436 102 laps
7 Charles Pic Lotus 1m46.167 89 laps
8 Marcus Ericsson Sauber 1m46.253 95 laps
9 Max Verstappen Toro Rosso 1m47.194 55 laps
10 Stoffel Vandoorne McLaren No time 3 laps
The big news came from McLaren, which put its interim MP4-29 Honda to the test, but completed minimal running due to a lack of reliability.
An electronics issue meant the car spent the morning in the garage, but it broke cover soon after lunch, with test and development driver Stoffel Vandoorne conducting a number of exploratory installation runs throughout the afternoon.
Stoffel Vandoorne, McLaren-Honda. (Photo: WRi2) |
The Belgian was halted on a couple of occasions by a fuel/data exchange issue - the second of which left him stranded on the circuit, causing a red flag.
Nonetheless, the first day of running was positive, as it's enabled the team to begin its trouble-shooting programme well ahead of the first test of 2015, which takes place at Jerez in early February.
Kimi Raikkonen set the second fastest time at the wheel of the F14 T, but all eyes were on the back of the garage after Sebastian Vettel made an appearance at his new team.
Sebastian Vettel with Ferrari. (Photo: WRi2) |
The German made the most of the opportunity to familiarise himself with his new colleagues, whilst also listening in on the radio as he prepares for his new life in 2015.
Nico Rosberg was third in the Mercedes W05 ahead of GP2 champion Jolyon Palmer who got his first experience of an F1 car, driving the Force India. Like Vandoorne, reliability issues also limited his running.
Carlos Sainz Junor was fifth in the Red Bull RB10, ahead of the surprising Will Stevens in the Caterham and Charles Pic in the Lotus.
Max Verstappen gained more valuable mileage in the Toro Rosso, but the 17-year-old planted his STR9 in the barriers.
Felipe Nasr and Marcus Ericsson, teammates at Sauber in 2015. (Photo: WRi2) |
Day 1 times:
1 Valtteri Bottas Williams 1m43.396 80 laps
2 Kimi Raikkonen Ferrari 1m43.888 81 laps
3 Nico Rosberg Mercedes 1m44.512 114 laps
4 Jolyon Palmer Sahara Force India 1m44.516 37 laps
5 Carlos Sainz Jr Red Bull 1m45.339 100 laps
6 Will Stevens Caterham 1m45.436 102 laps
7 Charles Pic Lotus 1m46.167 89 laps
8 Marcus Ericsson Sauber 1m46.253 95 laps
9 Max Verstappen Toro Rosso 1m47.194 55 laps
10 Stoffel Vandoorne McLaren No time 3 laps
Valtteri Bottas, Williams FW36-Mercedes. (Photo: WRi2) |