The 2016 season gets underway with Ferrari setting the pace

Published on 22 February 2016 by Stefan Meens

After a long wait over the winter months, Formula 1 is back after its hibernation period. The 2016 season officially kicked off on Monday morning at the Circuit de Catalunya – 8 am local time – with the first day of pre-season testing.

Lap times are irrelevant during winter tests, but Sebastian Vettel’s 1:24.939, the fastest lap clocked in the morning session, provides encouragement for fans hoping for a duel between Ferrari and Mercedes in the upcoming season.

Max Verstappen will not drive the STR11 until tomorrow with team mate Carlos Sainz taking care of testing duties on the first day. The Spaniard lapped the Barcelona track 35 times without issue during the morning session. An encouraging start to their campaign for the Faenza based squad.

The day started with several teams – Mercedes, Force India and Haas – presenting their new cars to the press. When the pit light turns green, it is world champion Lewis Hamilton who takes to the damp track first in his new Mercedes. Jolyon Palmer (Renault), Valtteri Bottas (Williams) and Carlos Sainz follow the Merc, with Vettel heading out in his Ferrari, sporting various aero testing equipment.

The Sauber, Manor and Haas fans have to wait a while to see their teams hit the track. However, eventually we see Romain Grosjean give the very first Haas F1 car a shakedown followed by Pascal Wehrlein in the Manor. Sauber is the only team that has not made the first test with their 2016spec racer. The Swiss team is running a modified 2015 car. Marcus Ericsson clocked 36 laps in the interim car.

Scuderia Toro Rosso’s new car, the STR11 drew attention because of its livery, or lack off. During the next Barcelona test, next week, the Italian team will show its new paint scheme for 2016, but due to time constraints, the car is rolled out in a dark blue livery.

All in all it was solid start for most teams to the new season. Apart from Romain Grosjean losing his front wing on one of the straits, the session proceeded without incidents with the majority of the teams clocking 30+ laps.

The first day of testing continues at 2pm local time. 

Pre-season test 1, day 1 - Circuit de Catalunya - Monday 22 February 2016

 MORNING SESSION
 Driver        Team              Car       Time              Laps  
 1 Vettel      Ferrari           SF16-H    1:24.939            36
 2 Hamilton    Mercedes          W07       1:25.409 +0.470     66
 3 Bottas      Willliams         FW38      1:26.091 +1.152     43
 4 Ricciardo   Red Bull Racing   RB12      1:26.704 +1.765     20
 5 Sainz       Toro Rosso        STR11     1:27.180 +2.241     35
 6 Button      McLaren           MP4-31    1:27.691 +2.752     35
 7 Ericsson    Sauber            C34       1:28.165 +3.226     36
 8 Grosjean    Haas F1           VF-16     1:28.399 +3.460     13
 9 Celis       Force India       VJM09     1:29.406 +4.467     21
10 Palmer      Renault           RS16      1:31.351 +6.412     15
11 Wehrlein    Manor F1          MRT05     1:33.455 +8.516      8