Source: autosport.com | testing photo gallery | follow live updates at F1Today.net
TODAY'S TIMES: Pos Driver Team Time Laps 1. Jenson Button McLaren 1m18.861s 37 2. Mark Webber Red Bull 1m19.709s + 0.848s 73 3. Romain Grosjean Lotus 1m19.796s + 0.935s 54 4. Paul di Resta Force India 1m20.343s + 1.482s 89 5. Daniel Ricciardo Toro Rosso 1m20.401s + 1.540s 70 6. Felipe Massa Ferrari 1m20.536s + 1.675s 64 7. Nico Hulkenberg Sauber 1m20.699s + 1.838s 79 8. Nico Rosberg Mercedes 1m20.846s + 1.985s 11 9. Pastor Maldonado Williams 1m20.864s + 2.003s 84 10. Giedo van der Garde Caterham 1m21.915s + 3.054s 64 11. Max Chilton Marussia 1m24.176s + 5.315s 29 Morning times Pos Driver Team Time Laps 1. Romain Grosjean Lotus 1m19.796s 24 2. Paul di Resta Force India 1m20.343s +0.547 40 3. Daniel Ricciardo Toro Rosso 1m20.401s +0.605 37 4. Nico Rosberg Mercedes 1m20.846s +1.050 11 5. Pastor Maldonado Williams 1m20.864s +1.068 52 6. Felipe Massa Ferrari 1m21.024s +1.228 47 7. Nico Hulkenberg Sauber 1m21.553s +1.757 32 8. Mark Webber Red Bull 1m22.959s +3.163 42 9. Giedo van der Garde Caterham 1m24.994s +5.198 21 10. Max Chilton Marussia 1m25.176s +5.380 21
Commentary:
Gary Anderson in Jerez: Like last year, the Lotus looks good. Romain Grosjean is able to keep the front tucked in nicely on the tricky exit of Turn Two, where the track falls away. If a driver misses his braking point, it can be hard in a tricky car to keep it on line, but the Lotus is going well.
12:17 Last year Lotus took opening day honours with Raikkonen.
12:16 There was some concern about Lotus’s lack of activity from its huge fanbase earlier today, but the team told AUTOSPORT it was just following a shakedown plan, and now it’s unleashing some pace.
10:41 Romain Grosjean and Lotus, conversely, are back out and flying. The Frenchman didn’t leave the pits for the first hour and still has just eight laps under his belt in the E21, but he’s just improved to a 1m21.175s, which keeps him third. The car looks particularly quick in the first sector, where it tops the speed trap.
Romain Grosjean claims Lotus had a better than expected start to 2013 Formula 1 testing at Jerez on Tuesday, as he ended the day third fastest.
The Frenchman was the first man to try out the new Lotus E21, which the team hopes will be enough to lift it into top three contention this year.
And although Grosjean ended up nine tenths of a second behind pacesetter Jenson Button, he was hugely encouraged by what he discovered.
When asked if he had got what he had hoped to from the car, Grosjean said: “Yes, but I would say even better to be honest.
“The first feelings were very, very good. It’s been a long time since we drove last time, but it has also been a short time at the same time.
“Honestly, three laps in and the car was already on the pace and the car was good without any set-up work.”
The new Lotus E21 is an evolutionary design from last year’s car, but Grosjean says he already feels progress has been made.
“I think it’s a good step forward, compared to where we were last year – which was already a good starting point,” he said.
“There was no issue with the car today; we could do 55 laps which were all pretty quick, and that’s a good point.”
Kimi Raikkonen will take over testing duties on Thursday and Friday.
Jerez test line-up Team February 5 February 6 February 7 February 8 Lotus Grosjean Grosjean Raikkonen Raikkonen
Video, Jerez Testing Day 1
KIMI RÄIKKÖNEN SPACE 
1. Button McLaren 1:18.861m
2. Webber Red Bull 1:19.709m
3. Grosjean Lotus 1:19.796m
4. Di Resta Force India 1:20.343m
5. Ricciardo Toro Rosso 1:20.401m
6. Massa Ferrari 1:20.536m
7. Hülkenberg Sauber 1:20.699m
8. Rosberg Mercedes 1:20.846m
9. Maldonado Williams 1:20.864m
10. Van der Garde Caterham 1:21.915m
11. Chilton Marussia 1:24.176m
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Thank you Drizz, I will update the post with Autosport’s final times report shortly 🙂
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