By Phillip Horton on Friday, February 8, 2013

Kimi Raikkonen set the fastest time as the four day test at Jerez came to a close with the top seven drivers separated by less than a second.

The test was extended by thirty minutes following a lengthy delay when a hole appeared in the kerb between Turn 9 and 10. The hole was filled in and running resumed early in the afternoon.

Jules Bianchi’s time of 1:18.175 was sufficient enough to keep him atop the time sheets for most of the day as he completed 56 laps in the Force India VJM06. The French driver remains a candidate for the vacant seat at the team, with an announcement due prior to the next test in Barcelona on February 19th.

Bianchi handed over to Paul di Resta for the final two hours of running as the British driver made up for lost time on Thursday.

Reigning world champion Sebastian Vettel was third, ahead of Sauber’s Esteban Gutierrez.

Toro Rosso’s Jean Eric Vergne finished fifth in the STR8.

Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton was sixth and completed over 140 laps on his second day of running with his new team. His fastest time was narrowly quicker than replacement Sergio Perez.

Ferrari’s day began badly as a gearbox failure meant Pedro de La Rosa’s début for the Italian team lasted just two laps before he was required to stop his smoking Ferrari F138. He was able to return to the track early in the afternoon.

Charles Pic completed over 100 laps for Caterham to round out the top ten.

Luiz Razia’s time of 1:21.226 was Marussia’s quickest time of the week.

Day 4 times:

Pos Driver Team/Car Time Gap Laps
1 K. Raikkonen Lotus E21 1:18.148 83
2 J. Bianchi Force India VJM06 1:18.175 +0.027 56
3 S. Vettel Red Bull RB9 1:18.565 +0.417 96
4 E. Gutierrez Sauber C32 1:18.669 +0.521 142
5 JE. Vergne Toro Rosso STR8 1:18.760 +0.612 92
6 L. Hamilton Mercedes W04 1:18.905 +0.757 145
7 S. Perez McLaren MP4-28 1:18.944 +0.796 98
8 V. Bottas Williams FW34 1:19.851 +1.703 92
9 P. de la Rosa Ferrari F138 1:20.316 +2.168 51
10 C. Pic Caterham CT03 1:21.105 +2.957 109
11 L. Razia Marussia MR02 1:21.226 +3.078 81
12 P. di Resta Force India VJM06 1:23.435 +5.287 49

Jerez test times:

Pos Driver Team/Car Time Laps
1 F. Massa Ferrari F138 1:17.879 227
2 K. Raikkonen Lotus E21 1:18.148 120
3 J. Bianchi Force India VJM06 1:18.175 56
4 R. Grosjean Lotus E21 1:18.218 149
5 S. Vettel Red Bull RB9 1:18.565 198
6 E. Gutierrez Sauber C32 1:18.669 252
7 JE. Vergne Toro Rosso STR8 1:18.760 177
8 N. Rosberg Mercedes W04 1:18.766 162
9 J. Button McLaren MP4-28 1:18.861 120
10 L. Hamilton Mercedes W04 1:18.905 160
11 S. Perez McLaren MP4-28 1:18.944 178
12 P. di Resta Force India VJM06 1:19.003 240
13 D. Ricciardo Toro Rosso STR8 1:19.134 153
14 J. Rossiter Force India VJM06 1:19.303 61
15 M. Webber Red Bull RB9 1:19.338 174
16 N. Hulkenberg Sauber C32 1:19.502 178
17 V. Bottas Williams FW34 1:19.851 176
18 P. de la Rosa Ferrari F138 1:20.316 49
19 P. Maldonado Williams FW34 1:20.693 155
20 C. Pic Caterham CT03 1:21.105 165
21 L. Razia Marussia MR02 1:21.226 111
22 M. Chilton Marussia MR02 1:21.269 107
23 G. Van der Garde Caterham CT03 1:21.316 152

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