MERCEDES GP PETRONAS F1 Barcelona Test Days

The MERCEDES GP PETRONAS team’s final test ahead of the 2011 Formula One season began at the Circuit de Catalunya in Barcelona today with Nico Rosberg at the wheel of the MGP W02.

The team ran the first items of its upgrade package today including a new exhaust package and new bodywork.The morning was spent conducting baseline runs with the new components to ensure they were performing as predicted.

• Results were in line with the team’s expectations.

• The afternoon session focused on set-up and tyre management over longer runs.

• A bodywork problem brought the day’s running to an earlier than planned end.

• Nico completed 100 laps today, equating to 466 kms. The team has now completed 4768 kms of pre-season testing.

• Nico’s quickest time was set on the first lap of what proved to be his final long run of the day.

Michael Schumacher will take over the car for Thursday and Friday, with Nico completing the programme on Saturday.

Nico Rosberg: ” It was nice to get the first of our upgrades on the car today, and to feel their potential. Thanks to everyone at the team for their hard work as I think we have some impressive developments, even though we couldn’t test or show the full performance today as not all of the elements are on the car and working together yet. We had glimpses that showed that the full package should be a big step. The bodywork problem cost some time at the end, however we still learned a great deal.”

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Barcelona Test – Day Two

Michael Schumacher was in action today at the Circuit de Catalunya as the final pre-season test continues. Michael had what he described as a “very productive day” as he got his first taste of some of the team’s upgrades for the opening race of the season.

• Michael spent the morning completing set-up work with longer runs towards the end of the session

• The afternoon saw shorter runs focusing on data collection in preparation for the final two days of the test

• Michael completed 89 laps, equal to 414 kms, today with a quickest lap time of 1:22.892

• The team has completed 5182 kms of pre-season running to date with two further test days remaining

Michael will continue the team’s programme tomorrow before Nico takes over for the final day on Saturday.

Michael Schumacher: “We’ve had a very productive day and completed a reasonable amount of mileage. We were able to check and confirm a lot of things on the set-up of the car with the new upgrade package, and my initial impressions are certainly positive. We’ve worked hard on reliability at the previous tests and our priority now is to develop and fine-tune the car which we have done quite successfully today.”

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