Max Verstappen: "This afternoon we"ll do a race distance"
Published on 25 February 2016 by Stefan Meens
On the morning of the last day of the first F1 pre-season test, Kimi Raikkonen set the fastest lap. The Ferrari driver clocked at 1:23.477 at the Circuit de Catalunya making use of Pirelli’s new ultra-soft tyre.
Max Verstappen’s quickest lap (1:25.939) was achieved on the medium Pirellis and granted the youngster third place at the end of the morning session. Toro Rosso stuck to their intended plan of gathering as much data as possible with the Dutchman completing 75 laps.
“It went well, we did a lot of laps, which is the main goal at the moment”, explained Max to Verstappen.nl during his lunch. “It’s all about finding out how the car behaves and how to understand the car. We’ve also practiced pit stops.”
When the session gets underway, most teams opt for the customary installation lap. Mercedes, however, continues where it had left off the past few days by going straight into timed runs. Again both drivers will hit the track in the Silver Arrows today with world champion Lewis Hamilton testing in the morning before Nico Rosberg takes over in the afternoon.
The other drivers in action today are Fernando Alonso (McLaren), Esteban Guttierrez (Haas), Alfonso Celis (Force India), Kimi Raikkonen (Ferrari), Kevin Magnussen (Renault), Kvyat (Red Bull Racing), Felipe Nasr (Sauber) and rookie Rio Haryanto (Manor).
Twenty minutes into the session Max is the last driver to head out for his installation lap before going for his first timed run at half ten. His stint consists of no less than four pit stop simulations, all intended to prepare both driver and crew for the upcoming Formula 1 season.
During his second and third run, Max continues to improve on his lap times. In the third, the 18-year-old sets a fast lap before he his times gradually drop off, a pattern expected with modern day Formula 1 tyres.
Nevertheless, Max is able to slowly close the gap to Hamilton, also on a long run. In his 35th lap, the Toro Rosso driver passes the world champion going into the first corner. The move is in no way representative of the current power balance in F1 but the Max Verstappen fans at the Circuit de Catalunya no doubt enjoyed the moment.
Max’ fourth and fifth run are similar to each other; first a flying lap, followed by a cooling down lap before pushing hard again the next lap. Max explains: “It’s a good way to learn how the car feels when you push a bit harder.” In the end Max sets his fastest time of the morning in his fifth run (1:25.939).
Max’ final run of the morning is another long run in which the Dutchman displays a good rhythm on the medium compound. His final stint lasts fourteen laps, bringing his total to 75 before heading for lunch.
For Max the goal remains the same for the remainder of the day; racking up the miles. “This afternoon we’ll simulate a race distance as well as practicing pit stops”, concludes Max.
Pre-season test I, day 4 - Circuit de Catalunya - Thursday 25 February 2016
MORNING SESSION 1. Räikkönen Ferrari SF16-H 1:23.477 58 2. Magnussen Renault RS16 1:25.263 +1.786 67 3. Verstappen Toro Rosso STR11 1:25.393 +1.916 74 4. Kvyat Red Bull Racing RB12 1:25.900 +2.423 57 5. Nasr Sauber C34 1:26.053 +2.576 50 6. Hamilton Mercedes W07 1:26.295 +2.818 97 7. Celis Force India VJM09 1:26.875 +3.398 36 8. Haryanto Manor F1 MRT05 1:28.266 +4.789 43 9. Massa Willliams FW38 1:28.684 +5.207 33 10. Gutierrez Haas F1 VF-16 1:29.088 +5.611 26 11. Alonso McLaren MP4-31 geen tijd 3
