F1 Jerez test, day 3: Kimi and Ferrari lead the group in the morning

Ferrari once again in the lead on the third morning of testing scheduled in Jerez.
Kimi Raikkonen he stopped the clock at 1:24.074 after the first four hours of testing and after constantly battling for the top with Rosberg's Mercedes in second. Third time for Nasr's Sauber, ahead of Sainz's Toro Rosso and Massa's Williams. Maldonando's Lotus was sixth and, having resolved the telemetry problems, managed to rejoin the rest of the group. Only five laps so far for Ricciardo and Red Bull, who have recovered their front wing after the damage suffered on Monday. McLaren Honda finally returns to follow the normal test program with Alonso, following the probable engine replacement.

News – The traffic lights come on and Nico Rosberg inaugurates the Jerez track for the third day of testing. Together with the German, the drivers involved on the track today are Raikkonen, Alonso, Ricciardo, Nasr, Massa, Sainz and Maldonado. On the McLaren Honda the problems that prevented Alonso and Button from going beyond 6 laps in the first two days seem to have finally been resolved, while Red Bull has recovered a new front wing after Kvyat had damaged it during Monday morning.

Rosberg he immediately stops the clock at 1:49.721 and in the meantime the track fills up. For the drivers, the compound chosen at the start of the day is intermediate green: the sky is gray and the track is wet with night. He scores the second time trial Ricciardo, while Nasr and Nico again alternate in the lead. After the first 30 minutes Whom he is the first to mount slicks. Meanwhile, Maldonado's Lotus is still missing, with the mechanics working due to telemetry problems. Sainz with the soft tires he takes third place and Rosberg he also switches to slicks.

After the first hour the German from Mercedes is in the lead followed by Ricciardo, Nasr, Sainz, Alonso, Massa and Raikkonen, who still doesn't have a time. The first red flag of the day came from Nasr with the Sauber, which ended up in the gravel at turn 9. With the track clear again, Alonso e Rosberg they are the first to return to filming. Also Whom he gets back behind the wheel and sets his first time of the day, 1:37.342, which places him in fourth place. The Ferrari driver continues to improve, reaching a time of 1:36.403. The track is not yet in optimal conditions and in the meantime the first two hours have passed: Rosberg he is always in front followed by Ricciardo, Nasr, Sainz, Raikkonen, Alonso and Massa.

At 11.30 finally there Lotus di Maldonado she has solved her problems and is ready to join the group. Meanwhile with the medium compound Whom he climbs to second place and therefore leads with a time of 1:29.228. Rosberg he stops in the pits and mounts winter hard tires, while Kimi continues to improve. With a time of 1:27.073, Rosberg regains first place, limiting his time to 1:26.786, while Sainz is carried behind him.

Finland and Germany continue to fight for first place, with Nico once again having the upper hand, lapping in 1:26.064. Behind him again Sainz, 1:26.067. Meanwhile, Maldonado is also back on track, setting his first time of the day, 1:28.368, placing him in fourth place. At 12.30 (Swiss!) la Clean is the first team to retire for lunch. Shortly afterwards they do the same to the McLaren-Honda.

Rosberg e Raikkonen instead they continue to turn, with the Mercedes which returned to the track with the medium compound and set a time of 1:24.770. The response of Ferrari it doesn't take long to arrive and Whom he takes the top again, lapping in 1:24.357.
Ten minutes before the end of the fourth hour of testing, Rosberg's Mercedes stopped at turn 10 and called the second red flag of the morning.

Just after 13.00pm the track is usable again and Raikkonen, Massa and Nasr return. The ranking sees the Finnish at the top Ferrari, who in the meantime adjusted his time to 1:24.074, followed by Rosberg, Nasr, Sainz, Massa, Maldonado, Ricciardo and Alonso.

F1 Test Jerez 2015 – Morning times, day 3