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Engine failures dominate final day of pre-season testing - Lewis Hamilton leads the last day as mechanical troubles loom large

Published by Christine

Bottas leads the way before bringing out one of eight red flags
Bottas leads the way before bringing out one of eight red flagsCredit: Pirelli S.p.A.
Hülkenberg didn't quite manage to complete a race simulation
Hülkenberg didn't quite manage to complete a race simulationCredit: Sahara Force India F1 Team
Romain says Lotus still have a lot to learn
Romain says Lotus still have a lot to learnCredit: LAT Photographic
Pre-season testing is done for another year
Pre-season testing is done for another yearCredit: Pirelli S.p.A.

There were still mechanical problems aplenty in the final day of testing in Bahrain, as several drivers were forced to change their engine, and there were eight red flag periods. The stop start session drew to a close with Lewis Hamilton on top, as Mercedes continued to show how strong they were. The team were not without their problems, however, as a gearbox problem delayed Mercedes getting their day started.

Sauber fielded both their drivers, with Adrian Sutil and Esteban Gutiérrez between them racking up 177 laps. Red Bull managed to complete 77 laps, their most in a single day yet, but Vettel did go off track in the morning due to a mechanical problem, and the team concentrated on reliability over speed.

We cannot do the times that the guys at the top are doing for a couple of reasons, but at the moment we have bigger problems to solve than just the pace... We haven't done enough laps, the speed is not there compared to some other teams so we have to wait and see when we get [to Australia].

- Sebastian Vettel

Nico Hülkenberg and Jenson Button both had to change their Mercedes engines which brought their running to a halt. Romain Grosjean also was forced to halt after problems with the Renault power plant in his Lotus - a story we are getting very used to hearing!

2014 testing - Day 7, Bahrain
PosDriverTeamTimeLaps
1L HamiltonMercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team1:33.27870
2V BottasWilliams F1 Team1:33.987108
3F AlonsoScuderia Ferrari1:34.28074
4N HülkenbergSahara Force India F1 Team1:35.57774
5JE VergneScuderia Toro Rosso1:35.70174
6A SutilSauber F1 Team1:36.46791
7M ChiltonMarussia F1 Team1:36.83561
8E GutiérrezSauber F1 Team1:37.30386
9S VettelInfiniti Red Bull Racing1:37.46877
10J ButtonMcLaren Mercedes1:38.11122
11K KobayashiCaterham F1 Team1:38.391106
12R GrosjeanLotus F1 Team1:39.30232

Although testing times aren't representative of anything, things were starting to speed up out there. Hamilton's P1 time was just 0.02 seconds off Felipe Massa's best time in Bahrain yesterday. Both Fernando Alonso and Max Chilton set the fastest times for Ferrari and Marussia respectively.

A clutch problem unfortunately ends our day a little earlier than planned, stopping us before our final planned performance runs...

CaterhamF1 CaterhamF1

Very proud to have achieved 936 laps - which is approx. 4900km - in winter testing with the Williams Mercedes FW36, #BO77AS, #MASSA & #NASR

WilliamsF1Team WilliamsF1Team

End of testing.Been good 4 us but challenge to get car 100% reliable for Oz. but if a team can do it its team mercedes.

nico_rosberg nico_rosberg

Can't believe we're racing in 2 weeks! It's all gone so quick. Now back to UK for a few days and then we're going down under. I can't wait!!

KevinMagnussen KevinMagnussen

As Magnussen quite rightly says, testing is all done and dusted, and the teams will be packing up now to prepare for Australia. All except Red Bull, who remain in the desert for a filming day. It's heads down to make the final touches to the cars and then the racing gets underway in two weeks time! Having seen everything we have over the last few weeks, this looks set for one of the most unpredictable races in Melbourne that we've seen for a long time!

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