Rain could affect entire Jerez test

UPDATE After finally seeing sunshine yesterday, latest weather reports do not read well for the teams with just two days of running left at Jerez. Today's weather forecasts predict more light rain this afternoon followed by a heavy downpour overnight and yet more wet conditions tomorrow. Monday's session has already been compromised this week as a result of poor weather. Today sees former champion Kimi Räikkönen take over from team-mate Massa at Ferrari as Nick Heidfeld steps into the BMW cockpit in replacement of Kubica. Glock, fastest for the last two days, hands the Toyota TF109 over to Jarno Trulli. World Champion Lewis Hamilton also makes an appearance today for McLaren.

After Jerez, just one more official pre-season test remains in Barcelona next week before the championship kicks off in Australia on the last weekend of the month. The Barcelona test will be particularly important as there are just seven days between Australia and the second meeting in Malaysia.

03/02/09 (GMM) An extended five-day test, one of the last before the trek to Australia for the 2009 season opener, kicked off at Spain's Jerez circuit on Sunday.

With an extra day added to the earlier schedule, the test could however be affected by rain throughout the week.

On Sunday, when Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel was quickest by some margin, a few showers and multiple red flags held up proceedings.

Every team except Toro Rosso and Honda were in action, including Force India, whose Giancarlo Fisichella was impressed with the new VJM02 despite managing only 31 laps.

"I am however quite surprised and happy about what I felt with the behavior of the car today. It's very promising," the Roman veteran, trying for the first time the newly Mercedes powered car, also equipped with a McLaren gearbox, said.

McLaren's Pedro de la Rosa was down the order in the MP4-24, and like Robert Kubica in the BMW-Sauber he was evaluating Bridgestone's proposed tire blanket-less slicks for 2010.

The new McLaren was also fitted with a fully 2009-specification wing for the first time in a while.

Felipe Massa, second quickest, beached his car into the gravel at one point, and Williams' Nico Rosberg also had an off.