Max happy with productive first day of testing: 'A good start'

Published on 23 February 2022 by Stefan Meens

Max Verstappen enjoyed a productive first day of pre-season testing. The Oracle Red Bull Racing driver lapped the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya 147 times in the new RB18. The Dutchman set the ninth fastest time of the day, with McLaren’s Lando Norris setting the pace.

“The car is completely different. I think it looks great, but most importantly we hope it’s fast”, says Max following a long day in the cockpit. “Today was all about doing as many laps as possible; to get used to the car and gain an understanding how the car behaves. Everything worked well today, so that’s a good start. Tonight we’ll see what we can learn and take into tomorrow when Checo is driving the car.”

Max continues: “Of course there is the occasional lock-up or going wide. You try to find the balance of a car, and step by step you try to find the limit. The main thing is to drive a lot and have different parts put in the miles.”

After an hour-long lunch break, the ten Formula 1 teams are allowed to send their cars back on track, with each outfit permitted to run one car. Where most teams opt to switch drivers, Max remains in the cockpit of the RB18.

The Dutchman builds on his 80 completed laps in the morning session by being the first driver to lap the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya 100 times. Only Ferrari and Mercedes also breach the centenary mark. A contrasting picture is painted by Haas and Alfa Romeo, with both teams unable to reach thirty laps.

Lap times are arbitrary at this stage of testing, with teams and drivers focussing on understanding their new cars for the 2022 campaign. Nevertheless, Lando Norris has a stab at the fastest lap of the morning session, set by Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc. The Mclaren driver is the first to break the 1:20 barrier by clocking a 1:19.9.

Meanwhile, Max continues to focus on gaining as much track time as possible as he ventures on a long run at the halfway mark of the afternoon session. In the end, he completes 147 laps driving the new RB18, resulting in a productive and valuable opening day of the first pre-season test. The reigning champion will be back in the car on Friday morning, following teammate Sergio Perez’ stint on Thursday.

Formula 1 pre-season testing - Wednesday 23 Februari results:

01 Norris       McLaren        1:19.568   103
02 Leclerc      Ferrari        1:20.165    80
03 Sainz        Ferrari        1:20.416    73
04 Russell      Mercedes       1:20.784    77
05 Hamilton     Mercedes       1:20.929    50
06 Vettel       Aston Martin   1:21.276    52
07 Tsunoda      AlphaTauri     1:21.638   121
08 Alonso       Alpine         1:21.764   127
09 Verstappen   Red Bull       1:22.246   147
10 Bottas       Alfa Romeo     1:22.572    23
11 Albon        Williams       1:22.760    66
12 Schumacher   Haas           1:22.962    23
13 Stroll       Aston Martin   1:23.327    67
14 Latifi       Williams       1:23.379    66
15 Mazepin      Haas           1:24.505    20
16 Kubica       Alfa Romeo     1:25.909     9