****Winter Testing #1 Jerez****

[Ahonen]

Honda sounds like a twin - like the Merc did early on last year. Loud too. Strange sort of oscillation in the sound as well. Sounds pretty rough to be honest.

The Merc sounds much more like a V6 now. Far nicer.

[Bradgate]

According to Autosport, the Merc is already 4 seconds faster than the quickest time set on the first day of tasting last season. I know that day was more about "how do we turn these bloody things on?" than setting fast times, but 4 seconds is still a lot.

This suggests that Pirelli's prediction that this year's cars will be several seconds a lap quicker than last year's is credible.

[Ahonen]

Bradgate said:

According to Autosport, the Merc is already 4 seconds faster than the quickest time set on the first day of tasting last season. I know that day was more about "how do we turn these bloody things on?" than setting fast times, but 4 seconds is still a lot.

This suggests that Pirelli's prediction that this year's cars will be several seconds a lap quicker than last year's is credible.

Last year was all about installation laps. The Merc would have gone much quicker on D1 had the front wing not fallen off. This year they're on it already, so I wouldn't read too much into anything until Melbourne - even Barcelona testing isn't fully representative due to the cold temperatures.

[007 VXR]

So how does the merc time from today compare to the best last year by end of testing?

[Mini1275]

"What have I done?"

[rallycross]

Mini1275 said:

"What have I done?"

To date zero laps is what he has done!

[TuxMan]

Come on somebody do something to give the Mercs something too worry about !!!

[PeXy]

Mercs looking strong 74 laps in 1.5sec faster than the rest, I know the rest may be sandbagging...but so might the Merc. Mclaren +17secs at the moment....

[Megaflow]

007 VXR said:

So how does the merc time from today compare to the best last year by end of testing?

The faster time set at last year's Jerez test was KM in the McLaren with 1.23.276.

Mercedes have gone something like 1 second fastest than they did this time last year, and done more laps then the whole field did on day one by themselves...

[towser44]

Is this bad for Hamilton's contract negotiations? Mercedes seem to have a big bargaining chip in that the car seems as good as last years, if not better, already. Could Lewis have to lower his demands a little or risk having to move to perhaps a poorer package elsewhere at the end of the season. Gonna be interesting.

[anonymous-user]

Rosberg's done 88 laps and is well ahead of everyone else.

Is that the end of the season then.

[anonymous-user]

1:24.00 From Vettel. 3d fastest.

[The Hypno-Toad]

The Mercedes seems to be covered with extra aerodynamic parts that I thought were banned after Hamiltons first WC. Guess they must have read the regulations very carefully and maybe some of the others haven't?

Would agree with the opinion on the Ferrari, it looks massive at the back.

[FourWheelDrift]

Jerez today, Alonso, McLaren Honda (until Bernie's boys bash down the doors and confiscate the video)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jhrOh8XachE#t=58

Sadly I think the person taking the video might have been submerged in water. Either that or the Honda is gurgling.

[London424]

Ferrari just posted fastest laps of the day.

[007 VXR]

London424 said:

Ferrari just posted fastest laps of the day.

wow!

[mw88]

The amount of laps Mercedes have done compared to everyone else is insane.

Hoping McLaren are just having an easy day "checking systems", +17 seconds?

[007 VXR]

mw88 said:

The amount of laps Mercedes have done compared to everyone else is insane.

Hoping McLaren are just having an easy day "checking systems", +17 seconds?

cant see McLaren pushing to hard on day one with a brand new engine

[TheAngryDog]

Nice to see the bbc maintaining a high standard of accuracy in their reporting

[Some Gump]

Is it me, or do Ferrari make a point of setting some good testing times for the sponsors each year? Pity they always fall off by Melbourne tho.