Bahrain Test Day 1: Rosberg on top as Mercedes continue to set the pace

Nico Rosberg tops on first day of Bahrain testing

Nico Rosberg ended day one of post-Bahrain Grand Prix testing with the fastest time of the day;

Rosberg, who finished second in the grand prix on Sunday after a memorable duel with Mercedes teammate Lewis Hamilton, had a hassle free day at Sakhir, notching up 121 laps in totalwith a best time of 1:35.697.

Next best was Nico Hulkenberg’s Force India who ended the day 0.367 seconds down on the top time, with 70 laps to his credit.

Also with 70 laps, and the third best time, was Fernando Alonso in the Ferrari, albeit almost a second down on Rosberg’s top time.

Nico Hulkenberg

Kevin Magnussen was fourth fastest in the McLaren and racking up 101 laps and ended the day a mere 0.008 down on Alonso.

On duty for Williams was Valtteri Bottas who only managed 28 laps during the course of the day.

Marussia’s Max Chilton and Red Bull’s Daniel Ricciardo ended up in sixth and seventh respectively. With what appeared to be a hydraulic problem, Chilton lost valuable track time but nevertheless managed to do 60 laps.

Sauber tester Sergey Sirotkin was eighth, Caterham’s Robin Frijns was ninth, Lotus driver Pastor Maldonado tenth and Toro Rosso’s Daniil Kvyat eleventh.

Maldonado did only 16 laps, the least of all the drivers, as the E22 was beset with more engine problems. (GP247)

Subbed by AJN.

Bahrain Test, Day 1 – Tuesday, 8 April 2014