Teams prepare for Mugello test ahead of the European season – Formula 1 news
Williams, Sauber and Marussia confirm their plans for the upcoming Mugello test.
Teams have taken a different approaches for their driver line-ups to the only in season test. Williams have decided to split their running equally between its three drivers Valtteri Bottas will drive the car on the opening day.
Bottas has been driving in the Friday practice runs for Williams and also got a chance to drive the car during the pre-season tests. Bruno Senna will be taking over from Bottas on the second day and then Pastor Maldonado will follow Senna on the final day.
Williams have been impressive so far in the season and are doing considerably better than their poor 2011 campaign which saw the team finish 10th in the constructors’ championship.
Sauber have decided that they are not going to use their test driver Esteban Gutierrez but will join the team during the testing. Kamui Kobayashi is planned to have the most time behind the wheel. Sergio Perez is likely to take over on the final day of the
test.
Sauber is another team on the rise in the season with some good performances especially from the Mexican Perez who finished 2nd in the Malaysian Grand Prix showing Sauber’s good pace and his skills.
Marussia will split the running equally between its two race drivers, Charles Pic will be driving initially and Timo Glock will be taking the wheel from him after the morning session on Wednesday the second day of the test.
Most teams have announced their driver line ups the only teams that are left are Red Bull, Toro Rosso and Mercedes. Daniel Ricciardo tweeted on the social website Twitter that he will is lined up to drive for Toro Rosso on Wednesday though nothing officially
has been announced to confirm this news.
It will be interesting to see what updates all the teams come up with for the Mugello test. Especially Ferrari’s updates are going to be crucial as they probably are changing the most in their car to be competitive at the top of the grid.
The Mugello test will take place from May 1-3, 2012.
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