MERCEDES GP PETRONAS Formula One Team
Day 3 Jerez Test
Friday, 12 February 2010

Nico Rosberg was back at the wheel of the MGP W01 car in Jerez today for the third day of this week's test session although the rain returned to southern Spain to once again interrupt the track activity.

Nico had just one short run on the dry track early this morning before the rain began to fall pretty much continuously throughout the day. Adapting the test programme for the wet conditions, Nico evaluated the intermediate and wet Bridgestone Potenza tyres, alongside with race simulation exercises.

Conditions eventually became too wet by the late afternoon for any meaningful running and after a couple of practice starts and pit stops in the final thirty minutes, the team called an early end to the day, with Nico having completed 53 laps. His quickest lap time was set during the brief dry window this morning.

Michael Schumacher will take over from Nico tomorrow for the final day of the test.

Nico Rosberg: "It's unfortunate that it was once again a wet day today but we still achieved some valuable testing working on our race weekend procedures such as pit stops and pit entries. The positive side is that I felt very much home in the car and could attack on the half lap that I did in the dry so that gives me confidence and a good feeling for the test days ahead."

RESULTS (All timings are unofficial)
1. Jaime Alguersuari    Toro Rosso  1:19.919  (76 laps)
2. Pedro De La Rosa   BMW Sauber  1:20.736  (58 laps)
3. Adrian Sutil  Force India  1:21.428  (48 laps)
4. Felipe Massa  Ferrari  1:21.603 (72 laps)   
5. Sebastian Vettel  Red Bull  1:21.783  (59 laps)
6. Vitaly Petrov  Renault  1:22.000  (68 laps)
7. Nico Rosberg   MERCEDES GP PETRONAS 1:22.820  (53 laps)
8. Rubens Barrichello  Williams  1:23.217  (120 laps)
9. Lewis Hamilton   Vodafone McLaren Mercedes  1:23.985 (68 laps)
10. Lucas Di Grassi  Virgin Racing  1:37.107  (8 laps)