F1: Hulkenberg sets the pace for Force India on first day of action in Bahrain

BIC, Sakhir – Nico Hulkenberg topped the timesheet today on day one of Formula One pre-season testing at Bahrain International Circuit (BIC). Hulkenberg steered his Force India VJM07 car to a best lap time of one minute 36.880 seconds.

The German was one of the busiest drivers on the day, putting in 78 laps of work around BIC’s 5.412-kilometre desert track.

Sporting a new 1.6-litre V6 turbo engine, Hulkenberg was more than four seconds slower than Nico Rosberg’s pole-winning time from last year’s Formula One Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix. Rosberg had a best lap of 1:32.330 then, when the field was running with 2.4-litre normally aspirated V8 engines.

With all the new rules and regulations in place for the 2014 campaign, the teams are now scrambling to get the best out of their cars, adding to the importance of these eight days of running at BIC.

Ferrari and Mercedes continued their fine pre-season form here. Having impressed during the maiden tests in Jerez, Spain in January, the pair were once again fighting for the top today.

Fernando Alonso in his Ferrari F14 T and Lewis Hamilton in Mercedes’ F1 W05 were second and third, respectively.

Alonso was 0.999secs off of Hulkenberg’s pace while Hamilton was 1.028secs back.

Both former World champions had productive days, with the Ferrari man testing for 64 laps and his former teammate going for 74.

Another driver with a positive outing was rookie Kevin Magnussen of McLaren. Magnussen clocked the fastest overall time in the maiden pre-season tests in Jerez, and was once again quick in Sakhir, leading for some time before eventually dropping to fourth.

Magnussen finished 1.415secs from the leader in his MP4-29 car.

Four-time defending World champion Sebastian Vettel rounded out the top five for Red Bull Racing, but he was not happy as the team continued to experience problems in their RB10 challenger.

Vettel was forced to sit things out for most of the day, managing just 14 laps out on the tarmac by the time testing wrapped up at around 5.30pm. He set a fastest lap of 3.344secs.

Adrian Sutil for Sauber (+3.563secs) and Robin Frijns of Caterham (+5.654secs) followed in sixth and seventh, respectively; while Daniil Kvyat of Toro Rosso (+7.466secs) and Romain Grosjean of Lotus (7.952secs) followed.

Grosjean was making the track debut of Lotus’ E22 car, which missed the Jerez tests completely.

Felipe Massa of Williams and Jules Bianchi of Marussia were also in action today but failed to register a lap time.

Testing continues tomorrow (Thursday, February 20) at BIC.

Hulkenberg, Alonso and Magnussen will be back in their cars tomorrow (February 20) looking to once again go quick. Vettel and Grosjean will also be suiting up once more, this time hoping for more time out on the tarmac.

Nico Rosberg will be taking the place of Hamilton in their Mercedes, while Jean-Eric Vergne will replace Kvyat for the day. Max Chilton will also be taking to the track for Marussia, as will Kamui Kobayashi for Caterham.

Williams and Sauber had yet to confirm their drivers for day two.

Following Thursday’s second day of action, BIC will be holding two open days for the fans on Friday and Saturday. That will cap the first four-day session of testing at BIC.

After a short break, running will resume on February 27 and continue until March 2. Two more open days will be held next week, on February 28 and March 1.

Tickets to each open test day cost BD5 per person. They can be purchased at the gate or at the BIC stands in Bahrain City Centre or Seef Mall, online at www.bahraingp.com or by calling the BIC Hotline on +973-17-450000.

Fans will be able to watch the testing from BIC’s Main Grandstand, which overlooks the Formula One pit lane, team garages and the circuit’s main straight. Doors will be open to the public from 9am to 5pm.

The new Formula One season is set to kick off just two weeks after the second session of testing at BIC.

The Formula One Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix is the third of 19 races this season. It will be taking place April 4-5-6 in Sakhir.

Tickets for the Grand Prix are also now on sale. They can be purchased at the BIC stands in Bahrain City Centre or Seef Mall; online at www.bahraingp.com or on the official BIC page on Facebook; or by calling the BIC Hotline on +973-17-450000.