Jerez: Vettel and Ferrari in the lead, Mercedes in line

Sebastian Vettel put a Ferrari at the top of the timesheets for its debut with the Team. The four-time world champion has signed a time of 1’22”620 behind the wheel of the SF15-T, while last year’s benchmark established by the McLaren MP4-29 with a lap time of 1’23”276. The German was also one of the most diligent, completing 60 laps of the track, but this is far from the performance achieved by the Mercedes by Nico Rosberg.

While reliability was the Achilles heel of the W05, the W06 Hybrid ran like clockwork in the first day of testing with no less than 157 laps covered. At the wheel, Nico Rosberg set the third fastest time behind the Sauber of Marcus Ericsson, who finished only a tenth behind the benchmark.

Daniel Ricciardo achieved the fourth time, but the Red Bull RB11 only completed 35 laps after spending a long time in the pits following mechanical problems. There Williams de Valtteri Bottas follows by more than a second, but the Finn was able to string together the laps. Carlos Sainz Jr completes the list. The pilot Toro Rosso caused the second red flag of the day.

The McLaren MP4-30 Fernando Alonso did not return to the track and therefore did not set a time. Lotus F1 Team did not complete a single lap, the E23 having arrived too late in Spain to take the track today.

In terms of engine manufacturers, the Mercedes Power Units were the most heard since they covered a total of 230 laps. The Ferrari 6l turbo/hybrid V1.6s follow with 133 loops completed. The blocks Renault completed 81 laps, while the Honda engine had to make do with the MP4-30's six laps.

Discover the photos of the winter tests in Jerez by clicking on this link.

Jerez test times. Day 1.

1. Sebastian Vettel? Ferrari? 1'22"620? 60 rounds
2. Marcus Ericsson? Sauber +0 »157? 73 rounds
3. Nico Rosberg? Mercedes + 0 »486? 157 rounds
4. Daniel Ricciardo? Red Bull + 0 »718? 35 rounds
5. Valtteri Bottas? Williams + 1 »286? 73 rounds
6. Carlos Sainz Jr? Toro Rosso + 2”707? 46 rounds
7. Fernando Alonso? McLaren? 6 rounds
8. Pastor Maldonado? Lotus