The 2014 Jerez testing program

For about a week, the end of winter has been rapidly approaching. Force India was the first to break the silence by unveiling a photo of its new VJM07, followed by Williams, McLaren, Lotus, Ferrari, and then Sauber, who also took part in the presentations. By tomorrow at 9 a.m., we will have had a glimpse of all the 2014 F1 models, and the winter testing can finally begin. It’s an opportunity to see these machines in action.

Only Lotus will be absent for this first test session. The ten other teams will travel to Spain to introduce their latest creations. These four days are expected to be evenly divided among the main drivers, even though we don’t know everyone’s schedule.

We know that Lewis Hamilton will be the first to take to the track at the wheel of the Mercedes W05, with Rosberg having completed a shakedown at Silverstone last week. The Brit will be on the track again on Thursday. Rosberg will be in position on Wednesday and Friday. At Toro Rosso, they are opting for the same rotation, giving priority to Jean-Eric Vergne.

At Ferrari, McLaren, Sauber, Williams, and Caterham, the drivers will be driving for two consecutive days. Notably, at Caterham, Robin Frijns will be in the CT04 seat on Thursday. This means Kamui Kobayashi will have only one day of driving at Jerez. At Force India, the third driver – Juncadella – will also be driving on Thursday. It’s not yet known who will drive on Friday. At Red Bull and Marussia, the schedule is still unknown as of today.

These tests will provide an opportunity to conduct the first checks to ensure that everything is functioning correctly and that the data collected in the simulators or using CFD translates effectively on the track. Therefore, performance should not be the number one priority. In any case, it is well known that it is always difficult to establish a real hierarchy before the first Grand Prix of the championship, and this should be even more complex this year given the numerous new features and different potential programs.

Note that the MotorsInside editorial team will bend over backwards to bring you this first practice session with live commentary throughout the four days.

2014 Jerez Winter Testing Schedule