Ricciardo quickest in the morning of the first test day

Published on 26 February 2018 by Raymond Snip

The first week of testing of the new Formula 1-season has started at the Circuit de Catalunya-Barcelona. In a cold morning session it was Daniel Ricciardo, who set the fastest time in the Red Bull Racing RB14, 1:20.179. The Aussie had a productive session with 60 laps completed. Max Verstappen will take over the wheel on Tuesday.

At the beginning of the session it was only 5 deg/C. However, this didn’t stop the teams to get out for the traditional installation laps. Valtteri Bottas, in his Mercedes W09, sets the first serious time of the morning with a 1:22.952. Fernando Alonso sets a 1:24.202 before losing his right rear tire ending his run in the gravel. This causes the first red-flag of the day.

When the lights turn green again, the drivers add up laps quickly. Nico Hulkenberg, in his Renault, rises to the top of the time chart with a 1:21.326. That is faster than his qualifying-time of last year.

Nikita Mazepin, who is first to test the Force India, with another hour to go, parks his brand new VJM11 in the gravel at turn 4. The Russian’s wheel-spin causes the second red flag situation.

During the final hour of the session the time dwindles while Ricciardo sets the fastest time. With 1:20.179, the Australian is two tenths quicker than Bottas. With 59 laps it is also a very productive session for the Red Bull-team. Kimi Raikkonen, in his Ferrari and 0.30s slower, sets the third time.

Nico Hulkenburg, in fourth place, completed the most laps, 73, followed by Brandon Hartley, who in the Toro-Rosso-Honda completes 72 laps. Despite their spins, Alonso and Mazepin were able to continue their runs.

The session continues in the afternoon at 14:00hrs local time.

Results morning session test day 1 in Barcelona:

   Driver	        Team	        Time	      Difference Laps
1  Daniel Ricciardo	Red Bull	1.20.179	 	 60
2  Valtteri Bottas	Mercedes	1.20.349      +0.170	 58
3  Kimi Räikkönen	Ferrari	        1.20.506      +0.327	 59
4  Nico Hülkenberg	Renault	        1.20.547      +0.368	 73
5  Brendon Hartley	Toro Rosso	1.22.371      +2.192	 72
6  Lance Stroll	        Williams	1.22.452      +2.273	 46
7  Romain Grosjean	Haas	        1.23.092      +2.913	 32
8  Fernando Alonso	McLaren	        1.24.202      +4.023	 10
9  Marcus Ericsson	Sauber	        1.24.897      +4.718	 41
10 Nikita Mazepin	Force India	1:25.628      +5.449	 22