Summary:
In a three-day test at the Jerez de la Frontera circuit in Spain, the BMW WilliamsF1 Team continued an intensive preparation programme for the imminent introduction of the WilliamsF1 BMW FW26, combined with an evaluation of two young drivers, Nelson Piquet Jr. and Nico Rosberg.
The team undertook continuing drivetrain validation, including the new BMW P84 engine, and the FW26 gearbox, as well as undertaking a variety of systems, electronics & reliability running. together with tyre work, making the most of occasional wet running opportunities during the three days.
The young drivers both acquitted themselves well, conducting a day and a half of running each, amounting to just shy of 1,000km between the pair over the duration of the test.
Nico Rosberg: "This week was great fun, it was a really unbelievable experience. Of course there was a lot of pressure, but I decided not to worry about that and just to do the best I could. I was particularly happy that I managed to understand the car and work out how it was behaving, and after that I managed to set a good pace."
Nelson Piquet:
"It was difficult with all the anticipation that my first day had a couple of interruptions and we lost maybe two hours. But otherwise it went really well, particularly today despite it being wet for some of the time, and I was quite satisfied with how I got on. I really appreciated the assistance I was given by the engineers who really helped me in my programme."
Sam Michael (Chief Operations Engineer, WilliamsF1):
"We finished the test with a wet day today, which proved productive for wet tyre and traction control work, which supplemented a busy and productive test. Nelson & Nico did a good job and worked well with the team, as well as showing themselves to be technically competent."
Mario Theissen (BMW Motorsport Director): "Although we have had mixed weather in Jerez and have had to run in the wet on a number of occasions, we have still managed to complete a huge programme running three chassis.
"With one chassis Ralf Schumacher and Marc Gené concentrated on the further development of the BMW P84 engine, while the second car was committed to chassis and tyre work, and the third chassis was used for the driver evaluation of Piquet & Rosberg. In summary, it was a very productive test and we only had to make one engine change due to a failure on Wednesday."
Jerez daily best times
Best lap time of the day in bold Best lap/Total number of laps
Driver / Car Tyre 02.12.03 03.12.03 04.12.03
R Schumacher BMW WilliamsF1 Team M 1.17.453 64/68 1.17.705 23/116 1.26.976 25/69
J Button BAR Honda M - 1.18.292 28/61 1.26.709 10/26
M Gené BMW WilliamsF1 Team M 1.18.326 72/73 1.18.422 9/52 1.26.957 4/76
T Sato BAR Honda M - 1.18.692 24/82 1.27.437 12/49
L Badoer Ferrari B - 1.18.830 63/75 1.25.432 6/12
F Massa Ferrari B - 1.19.074 17/63 1.26.043 21/54
N Rosberg BMW WilliamsF1 Team M - 1.19.468 36/68 1.30.262 28/30
L Burti Ferrari B - 1.19.544 38/42 1.26.638 7/9
N Heidfeld Jordan Ford B - 1.20.004 17/34 1.26.545 15/50
N Piquet BMW WilliamsF1 Team M 1.20.453 62/65 1.28.640 18/46
J Janis
Jordan Ford B - 1.21.991
47/60 1.28.001
10/46
