• Barcelona Test Day Four

Schumacher sets new benchmark

Laurence Edmondson in Barcelona March 11, 2011 « Pirelli predicts two to four stops | »
Michael Schumacher's morning time in the updated Mercedes went unbeaten © Sutton Images
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Michael Schumacher helped allay fears that the Mercedes W02 might lack pace by setting the fastest time of the week at testing at Barcelona on Friday.

On a low-fuel run he clocked a 1:21.268 to pip Fernando Alonso to the fastest time by 0.346 seconds. The Mercedes was fitted with its full Melbourne upgrade package, which includes a new exhaust, floor and front wing as well as a number of other aerodynamic appendages.

He handed the car over to Nico Rosberg in the afternoon to allow his team-mate some dry running ahead of the forecast rain for the final day of the test on Saturday. The younger German made the most of his opportunity, setting the third fastest time and joining Schumacher in the 1:21s.

Like Schumacher, Alonso also set his quickest time in the morning before working on a race simulation in the afternoon. In total he completed over 140 laps, keeping the spattering of fans that turned up to watch him entertained.

McLaren's miserable test continued with Jenson Button completing just 57 laps due to an engine change midway through the day. After missing out on the best conditions on Thursday, the team needs to get as much running as possible to boost its understanding of the car ahead of the first race. Any hopes of a race simulation were dashed and the return of the bubble nose measuring device from Tuesday's running suggests there are still some unanswered questions about the car.

Sebastian Vettel also had a quiet afternoon as Red Bull brought its testing schedule to a close. The world champion signed off with 64 laps and appeared to spend the whole day focusing on heavy-fuel runs. He also brought the session to an early end when his car stopped on the exit of the pit lane at the start of his final run.

Williams was another team to split its running between its two drivers. Rubens Barrichello completed a mammoth session in the morning with 89 laps before a precautionary engine change after lunch on a high-mileage unit. Pastor Maldonado then took over the cockpit for the final part of the session and completed 11 laps.

Times

Driver Car Time Laps
1. Michael Schumacher Mercedes W02 1:21.268 67
2. Fernando Alonso Ferrari 150 1:21.614 141
3. Nico Rosberg Mercedes W02 1:21.788 22
4. Nick Heidfeld Renault R31 1:22.073 67
5. Rubens Barrichello Williams FW33 1:22.233 89
6. Kamui Kobayashi Sauber C30 1:22.315 98
7. Jaime Alguersuari Toro Rosso STR6 1:22.675 72
8. Sebastian Vettel Red Bull RB7 1:22.933 64
9. Heikki Kovalainen Lotus T128 1:23.437 138
10. Paul Di Resta Force India VJM04 1:23.653 42
11. Adrian Sutil Force India VJM04 1:23.921 26
12. Pastor Maldonado Williams FW33 1:24.108 11
13. Jenson Button McLaren MP4-26 1:23.921 57
14. Jerome d'Ambrosio Virgin MVR-02 1:27.375 46

Laurence Edmondson is an assistant editor on ESPNF1

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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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