Mercedes topped the time sheets again in pre-season testing, being quickest in two of the three days so far. Today saw Valtteri Bottas as the fastest man on track at the Circuit de Catalunya in Barcelona, setting a 1:19.705 lap time – the fastest time so far and the fastest time recorded on the circuit in ten years. Bottas set the lap time whilst using the ultrasoft tyre compound which is the fastest compound available to teams. The Finn completed a total of 75 laps.
Sebastian Vettel was second fastest for Ferrari, setting a 1:19.952 on the soft compound – a very impressive time, being just over 0.2 seconds slower than Bottas while using the slower tyre. Vettel also completed 139 laps in the Ferrari over the course of day three, putting in a lot of running for the championship hopefuls.
Daniel Ricciardo was third fastest for Red Bull Racing, setting a best lap time of a 1:21.153 on the soft compound tyre. Ricciardo completed 70 laps over the course of the day.
The third day of F1 pre-season testing was also encouraging for Renault, with their drivers sharing testing duties for the day. The two drivers placed fourth and fifth, with Jolyon Palmer completing 51 laps and setting a best time of a 1:21.396, and Nico Hulkenberg completing 49 laps and setting a 1:21.791. Both of these lap times were set on the soft compound tyre, and made Renault the best outside of the top three teams in Formula 1.
Marcus Ericsson was sixth fastest in the Sauber C36, completing an impressive 125 laps over the course of the day and setting a best lap time of 1:21.824 on the supersoft tyre.
Lewis Hamilton was seventh fastest for Mercedes after sharing testing duties with Valtteri Bottas over the course of the day. Hamilton set a lap time of a 1:22.090 on the soft tyre. However, Mercedes were not aiming for outright speed when Hamilton was in the car but mileage instead. Hamilton completed 95 laps.
Romain Grosjean was eighth fastest for Haas F1, taking over testing duties from Kevin Magnussen after the Danish driver was testing on days one and two. Grosjean completed 56 laps, with his best lap being a 1:22.118 on the supersoft tyre.
After ending Williams’ running early on day two of pre-season testing after an accident, Lance Stroll was once again in the car to complete more mileage for his team. The day however, was not simple for the driver after he spun his car and put it into a gravel trap just before the lunchtime break. Nevertheless, Williams were still able to continue running the car. In the afternoon session however, Stroll once again had an off track excusrion, this time colliding with the wall in turn six, resulting in broken suspension on the car. This ended Williams’ day once again, 90 minutes before the end of the session. Stroll completed 98 laps over the course of the day and set a lap time of a 1:22.351 on the soft tyre.
Fernando Alonso was tenth fastest for McLaren, showing signs of encouragement after two tough days of testing for the Woking based team. Alonso completed 72 laps in the MCL-32, and set his best lap of a 1:22.598 on the ultrasoft tyre. Nevertheless, after three days of testing, McLaren seem to be in the most trouble of all of the teams on the grid, being 2.893 seconds slower than the next best time set on the ultrasoft tyre posted by Valtteri Bottas. On the soft tyres, McLaren again looked slow, being 3.374 secods slower than Vettel’s best time on the same compound.
When asked about the situation at the team, McLaren’s Race Director Eric Boullier said: “We had many issues. I think none is obviously fundamental. All of them are fixable. I am not sure we know all of them yet.”
Carlos Sainz Jr was 11th fastest for Toro Rosso, completing 32 laps and setting a best time of a 1:23.540. Sainz also shared testing with his team mate over the course of the day. In the morning session, Daniil Kvyat completed 31 laps and set a best time of a 1:23.952 – a time that left the young Russian in 13th and last place.
Alfonso Celis Jr was 12th fastest for Force India, completing 70 laps and setting a lap time of 1:23.619 on the soft compound tyre.
Results from Day 3 of Pre-Season Testing:
- Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes, 1:19.705 – ultrasofts (75 laps)
- Sebastian Vettel, Ferrari, 1:19.952 – softs (139 laps)
- Daniel Ricciardo, Red Bull Racing, 1:21.153 – softs (70 laps)
- Jolyon Palmer, Renault, 1:21.396 – softs (51 laps)
- Nico Hulkenberg, Renault, 1:21.791 – softs (42 laps)
- Marcus Ericsson, Sauber, 1:21.824 – supersofts (125 laps)
- Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes, 1:22.090 – softs (95 laps)
- Romain Grosjean, Haas F1, 1:22.118 – supersofts (56 laps)
- Lance Stroll, Williams, 1:22.351 – softs (98 laps)
- Fernando Alonso, McLaren, 1:22.598 – ultrasofts (72 laps)
- Carlos Sainz Jr, Toro Rosso, 1:23.540 – mediums, (32 laps)
- Alfonso Celis Jr, Force India, 1:23.619 – softs (70 laps)
- Daniil Kvyat, Toro Rosso, 1:23.952 – mediums (31 laps)
