Verstappen optimistic after first Hungaroring test day
Published on 01 August 2017 by Stefan Meens
Max Verstappen completed 58 laps on the first test day after the Hungarian Grand Prix at the Hungaroring. The Dutchman’s quickest lap was a 1:21.228. F2 championship leader Charles Leclerc was quickest driving for Ferrari. Stoffel Vandoorne, with 155 laps the most productive driver, was second fastest, ahead of third placed Valtteri Bottas in the Mercedes.
“We’ve tried quite a few new parts on the car, which is always positive. It’s good to try and learn how the parts work ahead of the upcoming races.”
The updates brought the last weekend’s Hungarian GP further improved the RB13. “On Sunday we were quite a bit better in the race because of the updates. Today we had another chance to learn more about improving the balance of the car which should help us make the most of our updates.”
Unfortunately for the team, the morning was less productive than hoped with only 11 laps on the board. “We tried some new parts that didn’t work so we replaced them. But that’s what testing is for.”
Apart from new parts being tested, there were several new faces in the paddock. George Russell tested for McLaren, Nikita Mazepin and Lucas Auer for Force India, Nicolas Latifi for Renault, Sean Gelael for Scuderia Toro Rosso, Santino Ferrucci for Haas and Gustav Malja for Sauber. Valtteri Bottas (Mercedes) and Lance Stroll (Williams) made up the rest of the drivers.
Tomorrow, Pierre Gasly will take over driving duties for Red Bull Racing. Another familiar face that will return to the F1 paddock is Robert Kubica. It’s the Pole’s first official Formula 1 session after his horrendous rally crash at the start of 2011. After a successful test in a Renault last month in an older Renault, Kubica will tomorrow also test for the Renault F1 team.
Hungaroring Test Day 1
DRIVER TEAM TIME INTERVAL LAPS
1 Charles Leclerc Ferrari 1:17.746 98
2 Stoffel Vandoorne McLaren 1:17.834 +0.088 72
3 Valtteri Bottas Mercedes 1:18.777 +1.031 155
4 George Russell Mercedes 1:19.231 +1.485 119
5 Lance Stroll Williams 1:19.866 +2.120 138
6 Nikita Mazepin Force India 1:19.910 +2.164 52
7 Nicholas Latifi Renault 1:20.302 +2.556 54
8 Sean Gelael Toro Rosso 1:20.341 +2.595 101
9 Lucas Auer Force India 1:20.563 +2.817 54
10 Santino Ferrucci Haas 1:21.185 +3.439 102
11 Max Verstappen Red Bull 1:21.228 +3.482 58
12 Gustav Malja Sauber 1:21.503 +3.757 108
