Magny-Cours – Day 1: Bianchi finishes on top
Jules Bianchi finished the first day of private testing held at Magny-Cours at the top of the leaderboard driving the Ferrari F2012.
Today was the first day of private testing scheduled at Magny-Cours with the Ferrari, Force India, and Mercedes teams. The fastest of the three drivers on track was Jules Bianchi, who was driving the Ferrari F2012 today. The French driver was ahead of Luiz Razia, who was driving for Sahara Force India, and Sam Bird, the third driver for Mercedes AMG, who was behind the wheel of the F1 W03.
Bianchi, a member of the Ferrari Driver Academy, completed 87 laps, testing in particular a new front wing as part of the aerodynamics development program for the F2012.
Razia also tested aerodynamic developments for Sahara Force India, including a new front wing. Like his two peers, Sam Bird was also behind the wheel of a revised Mercedes single-seater, featuring new Coanda-style exhausts similar to those used by Sauber, Ferrari, Red Bull, and McLaren, and a second Double-DRS similar to the one regularly tested by Lotus. The British driver was the most diligent on track with 95 laps completed today.
Tomorrow, it will be Davide Rigon’s turn to drive the Ferrari F2012, while Jules Bianchi will take the wheel of the Sahara Force India VJM05. Sam Bird will continue to drive for Mercedes.
Standings of the first day of testing for young F1 drivers at Magny-Cours:
| N° | Driver | Team | Times | Gap | Laps |
1 | Jules Bianchi | Scuderia Ferrari | 1:18.070 | 87 | |
2 | Luiz Razia | Sahara Force India | 1:18.535 | +0.465 | 65 |
3 | Sam Bird | Mercedes GP | 1:19.094 | +1.024 | 95 |
