Mexican rookie Sergio Perez was the surprise of the third day of the last Formula 1 winter test session, setting a time of 1:22.042 minutes on soft tires and 1:21.761 on the super soft compound in the Ferrari-powered Sauber C30.
With track temperatures in the high twenties for the first time of any test this winter, Perez did set up work in the morning followed by a qualifying simulation before the lunch break and a race simulation in the afternoon.
After the qualifying simulation – the first ever for the Sauber C30-Ferrari and the first one for the F1 rookie driver – went well, the race simulation was interrupted after only six laps due to a powertrain problem and resumed about an hour later.
Felipe Massa was second in the Ferrari 150° Italia. The Brazilian tackled a busy work programme, focussing mainly on a comparison of various aerodynamic elements, before moving on to a simulation of a race weekend. Massa covered a total of 132 laps, the quickest in a time of 1.22.092.
Australian Mark Webber was third in the Red Bull-Renault RB7 coming on a relatively light but not totally empty run - Webber staying out for a further four laps after putting in that time.
Veteran Rubens Barrichello in the Williams-Cosworth followed him. After completing some checks and mapping work with the new aero package, Barrichello went through a range of mechanical set-ups today. The team did have a failure on a very high mileage, rear suspension component late in the afternoon.
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| Team Lotus pit stop, Jarno Trulli (Photo: WRI2) |
With track temperatures in the high twenties for the first time of any test this winter, Perez did set up work in the morning followed by a qualifying simulation before the lunch break and a race simulation in the afternoon.
After the qualifying simulation – the first ever for the Sauber C30-Ferrari and the first one for the F1 rookie driver – went well, the race simulation was interrupted after only six laps due to a powertrain problem and resumed about an hour later.
Felipe Massa was second in the Ferrari 150° Italia. The Brazilian tackled a busy work programme, focussing mainly on a comparison of various aerodynamic elements, before moving on to a simulation of a race weekend. Massa covered a total of 132 laps, the quickest in a time of 1.22.092.
Australian Mark Webber was third in the Red Bull-Renault RB7 coming on a relatively light but not totally empty run - Webber staying out for a further four laps after putting in that time.
Veteran Rubens Barrichello in the Williams-Cosworth followed him. After completing some checks and mapping work with the new aero package, Barrichello went through a range of mechanical set-ups today. The team did have a failure on a very high mileage, rear suspension component late in the afternoon.
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| Adrian Sutil, Force India (Photo: WRI2) |