Jerez Test - Team Reports: Williams, Force India and Sauber

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Jerez Test - Team Reports: Williams, Force India and Sauber

Published on 01 Feb 2014 19:17
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By: Tom Brooks

Williams: Perhaps the most surprising team of the week was Williams. With the outfit changing to Mercedes power after two years with Renault, as well as the more eye-pleasing 'anteater' nose as opposed to the 'schlong' noses featured on their competitors and expected sponsorship from Martini, it all looks rather promising for their 2014 campaign.

Bottas was the first to drive the new FW36 and placed it 3rd on the timesheets after the first day, after only completing 7 laps, albeit he was over +2.0 seconds off the pace. Day 2 however, proved to be far more promising, with the Finn completing a far more respectable 35 laps, just +1.2 seconds back of Jenson Button.

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Day 3 saw new-signing Felipe Massa take over driving duties, and the Brazilian failed to disappoint, being only +0.5 seconds back from Magnussen after his first time on track in the new car. He stunned the entire paddock however on Friday, by going to the top of the leaderboard, almost a second quicker than his ex-team mate Fernando Alonso's Ferrari.

It's looking to be a promising year for the Grove-based squad, time will tell though if they can keep up the impressive form.

Force India: After releasing a digital image of the VJM07 the week before the test got underway, it appeared as if Force India would have one of the best looking cars on the grid, but after the official launch on the morning of Day 1, it appears that we were rather naive.

Despite the appearance of the car, the initial signs looked promising with Sergio Perez at the wheel finishing 3rd after the first day and 5th on the second. The returning Nico Hulkenberg drove on the Thursday, with new reserve driver Dani Juncadella taking over duties for Friday and surprising the media by finishing in 3rd, a superb result considering it was his first time in a Formula 1 car.

Aside from Hulkenberg suffering a fuel supply problem on the Thursday, outright reliability has been strong so far for the team, with the Mercedes engine proving itself once more.

Sauber: The Swiss-Sauber team launched the C33 online on January 26th, with a heavily redesigned chassis that featured a far more prominent and triangular air-box, as well as the 'anteater' nose that is featured on the Williams.

After a lacklustre first day, the Mexican Esteban Gutierrez put in a race simulation of 53 laps behind the wheel of his Ferrari-powered challenger, good enough for sixth on the timing screens, despite an excursion into the gravel.

New signing Adrian Sutil was in the car for Day 3 who appeared to struggle with the new regulations after spinning off and cutting his running short for the day. He finished bottom of the leaderboard, some +7.0 seconds off the pace. The German fared a little better on the final day, finishing 7th out of 11 runners even though he spun once more.

Sauber were one of the only teams to not suffer any mechanical hitches throughout the week after driver error caused their running to be disrupted. This may put them in a promising position for Australia.

Tom Brooks
F1 Editor