Team SAUBER PETRONAS started its four-day test at the Circuito Permanente de Jerez today. Felipe Massa covered 36 laps in chassis C22-05 to set a best time of 1:26.273. He will continue tomorrow and on Wednesday before test driver Neel Jani will complete the test on Thursday.

Jacky Eeckelaert (Chief Race Engineer): “Our test this week will centre principally on tyre work, dampers and brakes. We have also planned to assess some gear box modifications with new parts. Today in the morning we adapted Felipe’s seat and optimised its position before we could start our programme for today which focused on intermediate tyre tests. Just at the time when we finished this it started to rain heavily. We actually intended to continue our schedule of the week and wanted to conduct some further evaluations but under these weather conditions it was simply impossible to go out again. But at least we were able to complete our programme of today so far.

“Felipe had a good return to the team today. He, of course, still knows the staff and the way we work, but also recognised that we made a big jump from the C21 to the C22 and its improvements. It felt as if he has never been away from SAUBER PETRONAS.”