Max fastest during first session second Barcelona-test

Published on 18 May 2016 by Mike Motilall

The smell of Champaign has been replaced for that of gasoline in the Red Bull Racing-pitbox by now. Max Verstappen’s race-overall has also been freshly washed and the reinvigorated, brand new Grand Prix winner got himself ready for the second day of testing in Barcelona. Just like Sunday, Max is up to speed again, and with a 1:23.267 the 18-year-old Dutchman was topping the leaderboard. That fastest time was done about an hour before lunch. Max was able to complete 65 laps flawlessly in the RB12, almost a race distance.

“My first session went very well”, Max tells Verstappen.nl. “After Sunday’s race, I had a good rhythm almost immediately this morning. We were able to do a lot of laps and the most important thing was that it all went without any problems. My fist impression of the new engine is positive.”

The Belgian Stoffel Vandoorne noted the second time in the McLaren, on the supersoft compound tyres, some seven tenths a stray from Max. Daniil Kvyat completed the top three in his STR11. Fifteen minutes before the end of the session, Manor-test driver Jordan King caused a red flag situation by going off track in turn seven, leaving him in the gravel.

Official Formula 1 test - Circuit de Catalunya - Wednesday 18 May:

1  Max Verstappen     Red Bull     1:23.267          65 
2  Stoffel Vandoorne  McLaren      1:24.006  +0.739  45 
3  Daniil Kvyat       Toro Rosso   1:24.737  +1.470  68 
4  Kevin Magnussen    Renault      1:25.133  +1.866  53 
5  Pascal Wehrlein    Mercedes     1:25.166  +1.899  65 
6  Esteban Gutierrez  Haas         1:26.402  +3.135  41 
7  Antonio Fuoco      Ferrari      1:26.403  +3.136  55 
8  Alfonso Celis      Force India  1:26.855  +3.588  37 
9  Felipe Massa       Williams     1:27.167  +3.900  59 
10 Jordan King        Manor        1:27.615  +4.348  48