Following the return of Formula 1 pre-season testing ahead of the start of the forthcoming 2017 Season, it was Felipe Massa who topped the time sheets for Williams on the first day of the second pre-season test in Barcelona. Massa, who was set to retire at the end of 2016, set a best lap time of a 1:19.726 on the supersoft tyre – the second fastest lap of pre-season testing so far following Valtteri Bottas‘ fastest time on day three of the first test. The Brazilian F1 veteran completed 168 laps over the course of the day.
Daniel Ricciardo was second fastest for Red Bull Racing, being 0.174 seconds slower than Massa on the faster ultrasoft tyre and completing 89 laps.
Closely following Ricciardo was Sebastian Vettel for Ferrari, with the four time champion completing 168 laps and being only 0.006 seconds slower than Ricciardo when using the slower soft compound tyre. Following five days of testing over the course of two weeks so far, it is without doubt that Ferrari look competitive for 2017 following the implementation of new aerodynamic regulations.
The next fastest car on track was the Mercedes of Lewis Hamilton who once again shared testing duties with Valtteri Bottas. Hamilton ran in the morning part of the session, setting a fastest lap of a 1:20.456 on the soft compound tyre, leaving him in fourth place. Hamilton’s running in the morning was cut short however following damage on the floor of the car. This left Hamilton with a small lap coverage throughout the day, completitng 49 laps in total. Bottas followed Hamilton as fifth fastest, setting a 1:20.924 also on the soft compound tyre after competing in the afternoon session, completing 86 laps
Esteban Ocon was sixth fastest for Force India, setting a best lap time of a 1:21.347 on the supersoft tyre and completing an impressive 142 laps.
Nico Hulkenberg was seventh fastest for Renault after sharing testing duties for the day with his team mate, Jolyon Palmer. Hulkenberg set a best lap time of a 1:21.589 on the soft compound tyre while his team mate was slowest in 13th place after having issues in the morning session which resulted in an engine change. Palmer set a best lap time of a 1:24.790. At the end of the session, Hulkenberg brought out the red flag for the first time over the course of the day after stopping out on track, showing that some issues still persist for Renault. Over the day, Palmer completed 15 laps while Hulkenberg completed 57.
Closely following Hulkenberg were Kevin Magnussen and Daniil Kvyat of Haas F1 and Toro Rosso in eighth and ninth. Magnussen set a best lap time of a 1:21.676 on the softs and completed 81 laps while Kvyat set a best lap time of a 1:21.743 and completed 83 laps, leaving a gap of 0.154 seconds covering seventh to ninth place.
Stoffel Vandoorne was tenth fastest for McLaren in what was another difficult day for the Woking based team, completing 80 laps. In the morning part of the session, McLaren once again had limited running after encountering an electrical problem with the car which resulted in another engine change by the team – their fifth of pre-season testing so far. With it being less that 20 days until the lights go out for the Australian Grand Prix, McLaren are in a difficult position, with their newly redesigned Honda power unit not living up to initial expectations.
The first day of the second F1 pre-season test marked Pascal Wehrlein‘s first outing for Sauber in the brand new C36 after being on the sidelines for the first test following injuries sustained in an accident in the Race of Champions. The Mercedes Junior Driver finished the session in 11th place, completing 47 laps and setting a best time of a 1:23.336 on the soft tyre. Wehrlein’s team mate, Marcus Ericsson, finished just behind in 12th, setting a 1:23.630 lap time and completing 53 laps.
Results from Day 1 of Second Pre-Season Test:
- Felipe Massa, Williams, 1:19.726 – supersofts (168 laps)
- Daniel Ricciardo, Red Bull Racing, 1:19.900 – ultrasofts (89 laps)
- Sebastian Vettel, Ferrari, 1:19.906 – softs (168 laps)
- Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes, 1:20.456 – softs (49 laps)
- Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes, 1:20.924 – softs (86 laps)
- Esteban Ocon, Force India, 1:21.347 – supersofts (142 laps)
- Nico Hulkenberg, Renault, 1:21.589 – softs (57 laps)
- Kevin Magnussen, Haas F1, 1:21.676 – softs (81 laps)
- Daniil Kvyat, Toro Rosso, 1:21.743 – softs (83 laps)
- Stoffel Vandoorne, McLaren, 1:22.537 – softs (80 laps)
- Pascal Wehrlein, Sauber, 1:23.336 – softs (47 laps)
- Marcus Ericsson, Sauber, 1:23.630 – softs (53 laps)
- Jolyon Palmer, Renault, 1:24.790 – softs (15 laps)
