The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Further frustration for Vettel
SEBASTIAN VETTEL’S bid for a record-equalling fifth straight Formula One world title could not have started in more disappointing fashion.
For reigning champions Red Bull, Vettel, and engine partners Renault, the second day of pre-season testing proved to be another to forget.
Just 31 hours after taking the wraps off the RB10 in the pitlane at Jerez, Vettel was departing the circuit a frustrated figure after two days spent predominantly twiddling his thumbs, as he completed just 11 laps.
On the opening day on Tuesday, Vettel had to wait until 15 minutes before the end of the session before finally taking to the track, managing three laps.
Yesterday, the 26-yearold’s day was done by 2pm local time due to an issue with the new energy store, with the German leaving the track just before 4pm after a debrief, without even conducting his scheduled media duties.
The only remarks from Vettel came via Red Bull’s press release as he said: “Obviously, we’ve not had a lot of running and a few problems to sort.
“With such big rule changes it’s usual to have teething problems, and that’s what tests are for, to sort those issues out.
“The next two days (with new team-mate Daniel Ricciardo at the helm) will be important to get some track time to prepare for the tests in Bahrain.”
A t the same time Vettel was departing, another Renault-powered car in the Caterham, driven by rookie Marcus Ericsson, was returning to the garage on the back of a flat-bed truck after stopping on track and with just 11 laps under its belt.
With Toro Rosso failing to run at all yesterday due to electrical issues, it means Renault’s engines have completed a miserable 38 laps over the two days.
A fter four years of dominance in powering Red Bull and Vettel to title glory, Renault’s head of track operations Remi Taffin acknowledged his company “are facing problems”.
The switch to the new 1.6litre turbo-charged powertrains, complete with the ERS (energy recovery system) is posing headaches.
A fter failing to turn a wheel in anger on Tuesday due to McLaren’s problems, Jenson Button topped the timesheets after day two.
Completing 43 laps, the Briton’s best was a one minute 24.165 secs, just over half a second ahead of Ferrari’s Kimi Raikkonen.