The ING Renault F1 Team began its final test before the August break in sweltering conditions in Jerez on Tuesday where the first of the three days saw Nelsinho Piquet at the wheel of chassis R27-06, conducting a limited program on a circuit that was inevitably lacking in grip on the first day of running.

The primary objective for the day was to accumulate mileage on the low downforce package to be used at the race in Monza in September. It was essential to complete this mileage to approve the components prior to testing in Monza in late August, but it meant Nelson was running in a configuration that was far from ideal given that the Jerez circuit usually demands high downforce. During the afternoon, he conducted a short, basic set-up programme but as is usual during the hottest part of the day, his lap-times where significantly slower than in the cooler morning conditions.

"The main goal for today was to put the necessary mileage on the parts for Monza, and we managed to do so,” Nelsinho said. “As usual on day one of the test, the circuit conditions were quite poor, and the track was rubbering-in all the way through the day, making it hard to get a good feel for how the car was handling. I am driving again on Thursday, by which time the conditions and car balance should have improved a lot."