• Barcelona Test Day Four

Schumacher signals Mercedes progress

Laurence Edmondson in Barcelona March 11, 2011 « Pastor Maldonado feeling no pressure | »
The new updates on Michael Schumacher's Mercedes appear to be working well © Sutton Images
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Michael Schumacher put Mercedes' fully updated chassis to the test on Friday morning at Barcelona and produced the fastest lap time of the week in the process.

On a low-fuel run he clocked a 1:21.268, roughly half a second quicker than Sergio Perez's headline time on super-soft tyres on Thursday. Ross Brawn said his team would try a low fuel run before heading to Australia and Schumacher's morning attempt appeared to be that plan coming to fruition.

However, despite being impressive, defending champion Red Bull has yet to set a lap on a comparable fuel load and tyre compound. Sebastian Vettel was at the wheel of the RB7 on Friday and showed no interest in troubling the top of the timesheets, instead completing 33 laps interspersed with long periods in the garage. And with team principal Christian Horner watching on from the pit wall he set the sixth fastest time.

Fernando Alonso was second fastest in the Ferrari as he made his first appearance at the test this week. With his arrival came a boost in spectator numbers, although the busiest day is still expected to be on Saturday. He kept his fans entertained by completing over 60 laps and setting his fastest lap - a 1:21.614 - on a short run half an hour before lunch.

Nick Heidfeld was third fastest in the Renault with a time 0.805 off Schumacher. Watching his progress from turn 10 the car looked well balanced under braking and he was able to get on the power early. However, the fuel load and tyres he was running at the time are unknown.

McLaren's return to the track after a day in the garage on Thursday was fairly unceremonious. Jenson Button didn't trouble the top of the time sheets and he completed just 38 laps as the team continued to try and untangle the issues troubling the MP4-26. It is Button's last day in the car before Australia and he will be keen to tackle a race simulation in the afternoon if the car's reliability holds out.

At the other end of the reliability spectrum was Rubens Barrichello, who pounded round the Circuit de Catalunya all morning to rack up nearly 90 laps. The team has had its problems this week, most notably with KERS on Wednesday, but with the system removed the FW33 looks very solid and pretty quick.

In the afternoon HRT is planning to run its new car, meaning it will be the first time all 12 2011 cars have been on track together.

Times

Driver Car Time Laps
1. Michael Schumacher Mercedes W02 1:21.268 46
2. Fernando Alonso Ferrari 150 1:21.614 61
3. Nick Heidfeld Renault R31 1:22.073 43
4. Rubens Barrichello Williams FW33 1:22.233 89
5. Kamui Kobayashi Sauber C30 1:22.315 41
6. Jaime Alguersuari Toro Rosso STR6 1:22.675 32
7. Sebastian Vettel Red Bull RB7 1:23.012 33
8. Heikki Kovalainen Lotus T128 1:23.437 71
9. Adrian Sutil Force India VJM04 1:23.921 26
10. Jenson Button McLaren MP4-26 1:23.921 38
11. Jerome d'Ambrosio Virgin MVR-02 1:27.375 38

Laurence Edmondson is an assistant editor on ESPNF1

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
Laurence Edmondson Close
Laurence Edmondson is deputy editor of ESPNF1 Laurence Edmondson grew up on a Sunday afternoon diet of Ayrton Senna and Nigel Mansell and first stepped in the paddock as a Bridgestone competition finalist in 2005. He worked for ITV-F1 after graduating from university and has been ESPNF1's deputy editor since 2010

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