Rosberg goes fastest as Grosjean leads 2012 cars in Jerez (Pictures)

Jack Sargeant On February - 9 - 2012

Nico Rosberg, Mercedes GP, Jerez, 2012 - Photo © Mercedes

On the penultimate day of testing in Jerez, Mercedes continued their good form in their 2011 car, finishing fastest for the second consecutive day. This time it was Nico Rosberg who set the pace in Spain.

Rosberg continued Mercedes’ tyre testing, and praised Pirelli for their new rubber. Renault’s Romain Grosjean finished second for Lotus, with Sebastian Vettel third on his first day of running in the new Red Bull RB8.

Lewis Hamilton and Jean-Eric Vergne were fourth and fifth, also both in their new cars for the first time – Hamilton in the McLaren MP4-27 and Vergne in the Toro Rosso STR7. Sergio Perez was behind the wheel of the Sauber for the second time, and recorded the sixth fastest lap.

Fernando Alonso‘s morning running in the F2012 was shortened by hydraulic problem, but still completed 67 laps in the Ferrari, finishing seventh fastest. Bruno Senna was in the new Williams for the first time, and finished just behind Alonso in eighth place.

Caterham’s Dutch reserve driver Giedo van der Garde was ninth, in front of Force India’s third driver Jules Bianchi. He had completed just two laps before he ran into a tyre wall, rendering both his morning, and Nico Hulkenberg‘s afternoon running, over.

Timesheet

1. Nico Rosberg, Mercedes*, 1:17.613, 118 Laps
2. Romain Grosjean, Lotus, 1:18.419, 117 Laps
3. Sebastian Vettel, Red Bull, 1:19.297, 96 Laps
4. Lewis Hamilton, McLaren, 1:19.464, 80 Laps
5. Jean-Eric Vergne, Toro Rosso, 1:19.734, 79 Laps
6. Sergio Perez, Sauber, 1:19.770, 48 Laps
7. Fernando Alonso, Ferrari, 1:20.412, 67 Laps
8. Bruno Senna, Williams, 1:21.293, 125 Laps
9. Giedo van der Garde, Caterham, 1:23.324, 74 Laps
10. Jules Bianchi, Force India, no time, 2 Laps

* indicates 2011 car