Max after 128 laps at Barcelona: “A good first day”
Published on 18 February 2019 by Kees-Jan Koster
Max Verstappen concluded the first test day in Barcelona with a respectable 128 laps. The Aston Martin Red Bull Racing driver ended in P4 (1:19.426). Sebastian Vettel was with 169 laps the most productive and also the fastest (1:18.161).
“I was looking forward to drive the RB15, especially because it is a new start with Honda as the engine supplier. Everything worked fine and I have been able to drive many laps, so I am happy with that. That does not always happen on a first day. At the same time these are only the first kilometres, so I will not be able to say much more”, according to Max after the chequered flag was waved.
He continues: “So far things go well and the car feels okay. We keep working to improve, as everyone else. We want to understand the car and the engine better. We did not have any issues and were able to run our programme. It was a good first day.”
During the day Ferrari appears to have their act together. Right from the start of the day the SF90 sets the fastest times. Sebastian Vettel is not only the fastest driver, but with 169 laps also the most productive.
At the end of the day Carlos Sainz ends in P2. The Spaniard driving for McLaren caused a red flag in the afternoon after his car came to a stop at the end of the pitlane. Romain Grosjean sets in the last half hour the third time. The Frenchman lost a lot of time in the morning because of fuel pressure issues. This was the reason why he came to a stop on track, causing a code red. Eventually he only completed 65 laps.
Kimi Raikkonen set the fifth time of the day and causes with only one minute to go a code red by coming to a stop on track. Daniil Kvyat, after being absent for a year, re-enters Formula 1 and ends right behind Raikkonen in P6. Both Mercedes drivers, Valtteri Bottas and Lewis Hamilton, share the car during this first test day and end surprisingly in P8 and P9. Nico Hülkenberg and Daniel Ricciardo for Renault conclude the day ending last in P10 and P11.
Williams did not come into action. The FW42 was not yet ready and the team announces through Claire Williams that they will drive on Wednesday at the earliest. Plans to give reserve driver Nicholas Latifi a chance to drive have been cancelled.
Results Monday 18 February at 6.00 PM, Barcelona:
