Impossible in today’s Formula One was possible in the past of Formula One. There was a time that any time could test on any time he liked. To improve their cars, to give youngsters their first taste of Formula One, or simply to cash. Because testing was all about talent and money back in the days. Most of the drivers that tested are long forgotten or never arrived in the Formula One. As there isn’t really a database around, just bits and pieces, I started these overviews. Here are the test-drivers of 2004.
Luckily, there are a lot of test times available from the late 1990s and early 2000s. AtlasF1 is one of those sites that kept the testing times and published them on a special page dedicated to testing.
Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro 2003 was another dominant year for the Scuderia. Not as dominant as previous years, though still dominant enough to win the drivers’ championship and the constructor championship. For 2004, Ferrari appeared with the F2004 on the grid powered by their own V10 engine. Michael Schumacher and Rubens Barrichello were the drivers. While a lot of drivers tested for Ferrari. The team began testing with their old F2003GA car.
Michael Schumacher: Tested with the Ferrari F2003-GA and the Ferrari F2004.
Rubens Barrichello: Tested with the Ferrari F2003-GA and the Ferrari F2004.
Luca Badoer: Tested with the Ferrari F2003-GA and the Ferrari F2004.
Marc Gené: Tested with the Ferrari F2004.
Felipe Massa: Tested with the Ferrari F2003-GA during the first week of 2004 at Jerez. His best time was a 1:18.409. The 27th and 28th of April he tested at Mugello with the Ferrari F2004 with a best time of 1:19.529.
Andrea Bertolini: Tested with the Ferrari F2004 the 4th of June at Monza. He completed 23 laps with a best time of 1:28.281. Later the 28th and 29th of September he tested with the car at Fiorano. Completing 182 laps with a best time of 57,451 second.
Carlos Reutemann: The 8th of December Reutemann had a surprise test with the Ferrari F2004 at Fiorano.
Gerhard Berger: Did a couple of laps with the Ferrari F2004. As a demo on the new track in Shanghai.
Luc Alphand: Seems to have tested with the F2003-GA due to his connections with Ferrari in the endurance series. Interesting fact, the car was on slick tyres.
Valentino Rossi: Tested with the Ferrari F2003-GA on Fiorano with a best time of 1:12.362 only 0,7sec slower then Michael Schumacher.
BMW WilliamsF1 Team
Williams was back in the top. 2003 showed some great progress and all the signs were on green for 2004. The team appeared with the Williams Walrus on the grid, the FW26 powered by BMW’s V10 engine. Juan Pablo Montoya and Ralf Schumacher were the drivers for the team. While Marc Gené and Antônio Pizzonia replaced Schumacher for a couple of races due to the incident he had on Indianapolis.
Ralf Schumacher: Tested with the Williams FW26.
Juan Pablo Montoya: Tested with the Williams FW26.
Marc Gené: Tested with the Williams FW26.
Antônio Pizzonia: Tested with the Williams FW26.
Olivier Beretta: Tested with the Williams FW26 the 28th of September at Jerez. Completing 87 laps with a best time of 1:19.017.
Scott Dixon: Tested with the Williams FW26 the 26th of March at Paul Ricard. Completing 59 laps with a best time of 1:11.753.
Mark Webber: Started testing with the Williams FW26 after the season ended.
Nelson Piquet Junior: Tested with the Williams FW26 at Barcelona the 3rd and 5th of February. Completing 118 laps with a best time of 1:15.809.
Nick Heidfeld: Tested with the Williams FW26 the 1st, 2nd, 9th, 10th and 11th of December at Jerez. Completing 434 laps with a best time of 1:16.786.
Nico Rosberg: Tested with the Williams FW26 at Barcelona the 21st and 23rd of January. Completing 160 laps with a best time of 1:16.486.
West McLaren Mercedes
Did not have the best season in 2003. The MP4-18 did not make it to the grid at all. Which resulted in the evolved MP4-17D. For 2004, the team appeared with the McLaren MP4-19 on the grid. Powered by Mercedes’s V10 engine. David Coulthard and Kimi Räikkönen were the drivers for the team. During the season, the team appeared with the B-spec of the MP4-19.
David Coulthard: Tested with the McLaren MP4-19 and the MP4-19B.
Kimi Räikkönen: Tested with the McLaren MP4-19 and the MP4-19B.
Pedro de la Rosa: Tested with the McLaren MP4-19 and the MP4-19B.
Alexander Wurz: Tested with the McLaren MP4-19 and the MP4-19B.
Alex Lloyd: For winning the 2003 McLaren Autosport BRDC Young Driver of the Year Award, Lloyd was awarded a test with the McLaren MP4-19. Test happened in December at Silverstone.
Seweryn Kubacki: Did a couple of demo runs during the West Racing Days at Brno in the McLaren MP4-17D.
Cheng Congfu: Tested with the McLaren MP4-17D in September a Brno. He completed five laps.
Darren Turner: Tested the 2nd of February at Barcelona with the McLaren MP4-19. Completing 17 laps with a best time of 1:19.887.
Jamie Green: For winning the 2002 McLaren Autosport BRDC Young Driver of the Year Award, Green was awarded a test with the McLaren MP4-19. Test happened in December at Silverstone.
Juan Pablo Montoya: Started testing with the McLaren MP4-19B after the season ended.
Lewis Hamilton: Tested with the McLaren MP4-19 the same day as Green and Lloyd.
Mild Seven Renault F1 Team The Renault team from Flavio Briatore found it’s way to the sub top during the 2003 season. Showing some strong performance on the track. For 2004, the team appeared with the R24 on the grid powered by their own V10 engine. Jarno Trulli and Fernando Alonso were the drivers for the team. While Jacques Villeneuve would replace Trulli for the last two races.
Jarno Trulli: Tested with the Renault R24.
Fernando Alonso: Tested with the Renault R24.
Jacques Villeneuve: Tested with the Renault R24.
Franck Montagny: Tested with the Renault R24.
Giancarlo Fisichella: Tested with the Renault R24.
Heikki Kovalainen: Tested the 14th and 16th of July with the Renault R24 at Jerez. He completed 161 laps with a best time of 1:18.304.
José María López: Seems to have tested with the Renault R24.
Lucky Strike BAR Honda
After another disastrous year for BAR a lot had changed for 2004. Villeneuve was replaced for Jenson Button while their new BAR006 looked promising during early test session. Spoiler alert. 2004 would best year for BAR with several podium finishes and a 2nd place in the constructor championship. Takuma Sato stayed as second driver for the team. Honda’s V10 engine powered the BAR006.
Jenson Button: Tested with the BAR006.
Takuma Sato: Tested with the BAR006.
Anthony Davidson: Tested with the BAR006.
Adam Carroll: Tested the 1st and 3rd of December with the BAR006 at Jerez. Completing 102 laps with a best time of 1:28.865.
Alan van der Merve: Tested the 1st and 2nd of December with the BAR006 at Jerez. Completing 66 laps with a best time of 1:23.730.
Enrique Bernoldi: Tested the 28th, 29th and 30th of September with the BAR006 at Jerez. Completing 282 laps with a best time of 1:17.215. He would also test with the BAR006 the 16th of September at Silverstone. Completing 11 laps with a best time of 1:21.351.
James Rossiter: Tested the 1st and 2nd of December at Jerez with the BAR006. Completing 77 laps with a best time of 1:31.191.
Nelson Piquet Junior: Was to test with the BAR006 the 4th of December at Jerez. However, the test was cancelled.
Sauber Petronas
The same story as all the other years. The team did what they always did score on regular base points. For 2004, Sauber chose for a new driver line-up. Giancarlo Fisichella and Felipe Massa were the drivers. While the team appeared with the Sauber C23 on te grid. Powered by the Petronas V10 engine.
Giancarlo Fisichella: Tested with the Sauber C23.
Felipe Massa: Tested with the Sauber C23.
Jacques Villeneuve: Started testing with the Sauber C23 at the end of the season.
Vitantonio Liuzzi: Tested the 16th of September at Jerez with the Sauber C23. Completing 60 laps with a best time of 1:18.945.
Jaguar Racing
Since it’s debut in 2000 the team invested millions in the team. Millions that never saw any decent results, besides twice a third podium finish by Eddie Irvine. 2003 was not exception. The team managed to score a hand full of top six finishes. 2004 would become Jaguar’s their last year in the Formula One at the end of the year Red Bull Racing would purchase the team. In 2004 the team came with the R5 and later in the season with the B-spec powered by the Cosworth V10 engine. Mark Webber and Christian Klien, who came in via Red Bull were the drivers.
Mark Webber: Tested with the Jaguar R5 and Jaguar R5B.
Christian Klien: Tested with the Jaguar R5 and Jaguar R5B.
Björn Wirdheim: Tested with the Jaguar R5 and Jaguar R5B.
Martin Brundle: Did a demo with the Jaguar R5 during the F1 Regent Street parade the 6th of July.
Panasonic Toyota Racing
Another team that invested millions in its team since their debut. 2003 was somewhat a decent year for the team. In 2004 the team appeared with the TF104 on the grid and later in the season with the B-spec powered by their own V10 engine. Olivier Panis and Cristiana da Matta were the drivers for the team. However, Zonta replaced Cristiano before Jarno Trulli replaced Zonta.
Cristiano da Matta: Tested with the Toyota TF104.
Olivier Panis: Tested with the Toyota TF104 and the Toyota TF104B.
Ricardo Zonta: Tested with the Toyota TF104 and the Toyota TF104B.
Ryan Briscoe: Tested with the Toyota TF104 and the Toyota TF104B.
Jarno Trulli: Tested with the Toyota TF104B.
Franck Perera: Tested the 12th of October with the Toyota TF104B at Jerez. With a best time of 1:19.695.
Katsujuki Hiranaka: Tested the 13th of October with the Toyota TF104B at Jerez. With a best time of 1:20.861.
Ralf Schumacher: Started testing with the Toyota TF104B after the end of the season.
Jordan Ford
In 2003 the team won the insane Brazilian Grand Prix, which gave the team a bit of a boost. However, it would be one of the positive results for the team. Jordan looked with a positive view for 2004. The team appeared with the Jordan EJ14 powered by the Ford V10 engine. Nick Heidfeld and Giorgio Pantano were the drivers while Timo Glock replaced Pantano eventually. During the season rumours appeared of a investment group from the middle-east.
Nick Heidfeld: Tested with the Jordan EJ14.
Giorgio Pantano: Tested with the Jordan EJ14.
Timo Glock: Tested with the Jordan EJ14.
Nigel Mansell: Prior the F1 Regent Street parade in July Nigel Mansell tested with the Jordan EJ14 at Silverstone the 28th of June.
Bas Leinders: Tested with the Jorden EJ13 the 21st of January at Barcelona. Completing 17 laps with a best time of 1:21.631.
Chanoch Nissany: Tested with the Jordan EJ14 the 14th of July at Silverstone. Completing 25 laps with a best time of 1:36.606. More than 14 seconds slower as Pantano.
Christijan Albers: Tested with the Jordan EJ14 the 1st of December at Jerez. Completing 60 laps with a best time of 1:24.452.
Robert Doornbos: Tested with the Jordan EJ14 the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th of December at Jerez. Completing 191 laps with a best time of 1:25.291.
Derek Daly: Did the shakedown test of the Jordan EJ14 at Silverstone the 2nd of February.
Jos Verstappen: Was to test for the Jordan in the summer of 2004 at Silverstone. After a hectic winter where he signed the contract with Jordan though did not drive. While seat fitting happened, Verstappen never drove a single meter with the Jordan EJ14.
Wilux Minardi Cosworth / Minardi Cosworth
If the team had more financial backing in 2003 and a bit more luck in Brazil there would have been some decent results for the Minardi team. For 2004, the team appeared with the Minardi PS04B on the grid, which is actually the PS04A, a mix of some designs of the Arrows A23 and stillborn A24 and their own design. Fitted with the Cosworth V10 engine. Gianmaria Bruni and Zsolt Baumgartner were the drivers for the team. Check for the overview with testing times and so on this link.
Gianmaria Bruni: Tested with the Minardi PS04B.
Zsolt Baumgartner: Tested with the Minardi PS04B.
Bas Leinders: Tested with the Minardi PS04B.
Sergei Zlobin: Tested with the Minardi PS04B.
Tiago Monteiro: Tested with the Minardi PS04B.
Jeffrey van Hooydonk: Tested with the Minardi PS04B.
Chanoch Nissany: Tested with the Minardi PS04B.
Will Power: Tested with the Minardi PS04B.
Will Davison: Tested with the Minardi PS04B.
Patrick Huisman: Tested with the Minardi PS04B.
Nicolas Kiesa: Tested with the Minardi PS04B.
Pastor Maldonado: Tested with the Minardi PS04B.
Minardi 2-seater F1 X2
Besides Minardi’s activities on the grid the team had also several F1 X2 (2-seaters) running around. The 24th and 26th of November at Misano, several drivers took place behind the wheel of the 2-seaters to entertain visitors and guests.
Zsolt Baumgarter: Drove around with the F1 X2 the 24th and 26th of November. No times available.
Christijan Albers: Drove around with the F1 X2 the 24th of November. No times available.
Patrick Friesacher: Drove around with the F1 X2 the 24th of November. No times available.
Nicolas Kiesa: Drove around with the F1 X2 the 24th and 26th of November. No times available.
Jos Verstappen: Drove around with the F1 X2 the 26th of November. No times available.
Robert Doornbos: Drove around with the F1 X2 the 26th of November. No times available.
Red Bull Racing
At the end of the season Red Bull Racing became the new owner of Jaguar Racing. At the first test, the team appeared with the Red Bull Racing R4 in the paddock. While their trucks were still Jaguar Racing green.
Christian Klien: Tested with the Red Bull Racing R4 in December at Jerez.
David Coulthard: Tested with the Red Bull Racing R4 in December at Jerez.
Neel Jani: Tested with the Red Bull Racing R4 in December at Jerez.
Vitantonio Liuzzi: Tested with the Red Bull Racing R4 in December at Jerez.
Björn Wirdheim: Was to test with the Red Bull Racing R4 at Jerez. However, when he understood that he had no future within the team he told Horner to cancel his test.
