Heavy rain lashes Jerez on Monday

It rained at Jerez on Monday, as Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso and Felipe Massa circulated the Spanish circuit alone for a day of sponsor filming.

It was an ominous sign for the week ahead, with similarly poor weather predicted in the sherry-producing region for the foreseeable future.

Ferrari will continue its exclusive filming on Tuesday, before a four-day F1 group test – the penultimate winter track outing – runs between Wednesday and Saturday with 11 of the sport’s confirmed 13 teams in action.

“The weather wasn’t good and it is getting worse,” read an entry on Ferrari’s official Twitter feed InsideFerrari on Monday.

“Next year it would be more efficient to go in another warmer and drier country for (pre-season) testing,” the Italian team added.

We reported on Monday that teams considered switching at late notice to Valencia or Portimao this week, but adverse weather is also forecast in those areas.

Ferrari said from Jerez on Monday: “Today’s work is supposed to be dedicated to PR activities.  With such a downpour it rather looks like a swimming not filming day!”

© RIF|GMM