• Jerez Test, Day 3
Comments: 9

Rosberg heads Grosjean in Jerez

ESPNF1 Staff
February 9, 2012
Nico Rosberg completed 118 laps as Mercedes ended its schedule © Press Association
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Nico Rosberg ensured Mercedes remained quickest in Jerez as his morning time in the 2011 car went unbeaten.

Mercedes enjoyed a productive final day, with Rosberg's best time of 1:17.613 coming during 118 laps of running. Romain Grosjean showed more encouraging pace in the Lotus as he set the quickest time of the week for the 2012-spec cars with a 1:18.419, completing just one lap less than Rosberg before he stopped on track to end the session prematurely.

Sebastian Vettel was third quickest on his first day in the RB8, improving his time from this morning by almost a second to clock a 1:19.297. It was close between Vettel and Lewis Hamilton - who looked in the groove during a late run - with Hamilton fourth quickest in a best time of 1:19.464.

Jean-Eric Vergne had a strong first day in the Toro Rosso as he set the fifth fastest time, just ahead of Sergio Perez who lapped in a best time of 1:19.770. After some reduced running on Wednesday, Perez only managed 48 laps on Thursday as an oil filter change in the gearbox confined his Sauber to the garage for a number of hours in the early afternoon.

A much larger crowd was present to see Fernando Alonso driving the new Ferrari for the first time, although a hydraulic issue in the morning session limited his running to 67 laps as the team tries to learn as much as possible about the new F2012.

Bruno Senna's first day in the Williams was a productive one in terms of mileage as he clocked up the most laps - 125 - but was only eighth quickest, while Giedo van der Garde was a couple of seconds off the pace in ninth.

Van der Garde was the cause of a red flag in the afternoon as he spun in to the gravel trap at turn ten but didn't damage the car. Less fortunate was Jules Bianchi who hit the barriers on an early run and the resulting damage to the right rear of the VJM05 meant Force India was forced to abandon its running for the day. Nico Hulkenberg missed out on the afternoon running but should finally get time in the car on Friday as the team expects the required parts to arrive overnight.

Times

Driver Car Time Laps
1. Nico Rosberg Mercedes W02 1:17.613 118
2. Romain Grosjean Lotus E20 1:18.419 117
3. Sebastian Vettel Red Bull RB8 1:19.297 96
4. Lewis Hamilton McLaren MP4-27 1:19.464 80
5. Jean-Eric Vergne Toro Rosso STR7 1:19.734 79
6. Sergio Perez Sauber C31 1:19.770 48
7. Fernando Alonso Ferrari F2012 1:20.412 67
8. Bruno Senna Williams FW34 1:21.293 125
9. Giedo van der Garde Caterham CT01 1:23.324 74

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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