Valtteri Bottas was the fastest car on track for the second day of the second F1 pre-season test at the Circuit de Catalunya in Barcelona. The Mercedes driver set a lap time of a 1:19.310 on the supersoft tyre, with the time being the fastest lap recorded in pre-season testing so far.
Felipe Massa continued his good form for Williams, with the Brazilian driver sharing testing duties with his rookie team mate, Lance Stroll. Massa finished the session in second fastest, setting a lap time of a 1:19.420 on the ultrasoft tyre while Stroll finished the session in fifth, setting a 1:20.579 on the supersoft tyre.
Kimi Raikkonen finished as third fastest for Ferrari, setting a best lap of a 1:20.406 on the soft compound tyre. Raikkonen’s day in the Ferrari SF70H ended early however, when the 2007 World Champion spun his car into a gravel trap and into the barriers with 90 minutes to go, bringing out a red flag and ending Ferrari’s running.
Max Verstappen was fourth fastest for Red Bull Racing, setting his best lap time of the soft compound tyre and being only 0.026 seconds slower than Raikkonen after setting a 1:20.432 lap time. The second day of testing was a difficult day for Red Bull, with the team having to undergo an engine change in the morning session. Verstappen also stopped on track at the end of the afternoon session with just over 15 minutes to go during a 66 lap race simulation.
Lewis Hamilton was sixth fastest for Mercedes, following Lance Stroll who was in fifth. Mercedes once again split testing duties between Hamilton and Bottas, with Hamilton in the car in the afternoon session. The three time World Champion set a best lap time of a 1:20.702 on the soft compound tyre.
Nico Hulkenberg was seventh fastest for Renault, being closely followed by his old team mate and old team of Sergio Perez and Force India in eighth. Hulkenberg completed a best lap time of a 1:21.213 on the supersoft tyre, being 0.084 seconds faster than Perez who set a 1:21.297 on the same compound.
Carlos Sainz Jr was ninth fastest for Toro Rosso, setting a best lap time of a 1:21.872 on the soft compound tyre.
Following Sainz was Romain Grosjean who was testing for the Haas F1 Team once again. Grosjean completed a 1:21.887, being 0.015 seconds slower than Sainz, completing this lap time on the faster ultrasoft tyre.
Pascal Wehrlein was 11th fastest for Sauber, setting a 1:23.000 flat on the soft compound tyre after running in the morning session.
Fernando Alonso was 12th fastest for McLaren, completing 46 laps and setting a best time of a 1:23.041 on the soft tyres. With three quarters of testing over, McLaren are not looking to be in good shape for the Australian Grand Prix which will be held on March 26th, having limited testing through reliability problems. In an interview after the end of the session with Spanish Press, Alonso has been quoted saying: ‘The team are all ready to win except Honda‘, showing the increasing frustration from the Spaniard.
Marcus Ericsson was 13th fastest for Sauber, setting a 1:23.384 on the soft compound tyre. At the very end of the session, Ericsson stopped out on track with only five minutes to go, forcing the session to an early end.
Finishing in 14th and last place in testing was Jolyon Palmer for Renault, setting a 1:24.774 on the supersoft tyre after having limited running in the afternoon session.
Results from Day 2 of Second Pre-Season Test:
- Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes, 1:19.310 supersofts
- Felipe Massa, Williams, 1:19.420 ultrasofts
- Kimi Raikkonen, Ferrari, 1:20.406 – softs
- Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, 1:20.432 – softs
- Lance Stroll, Williams, 1:20.579 – supersofts
- Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes, 1:20.702 – softs
- Nico Hulkenberg, Renault, 1:21.213 – supersofts
- Sergio Perez, Force India, 1:21.297 – supersofts
- Carlos Sainz Jr, Toro Rosso, 1:21.872 – softs
- Romain Grosjean, Haas F1, 1:21.887 – ultrasofts
- Pascal Wehrlein, Sauber, 1:23.000 – softs
- Fernando Alonso, McLaren, 1:23.041 – softs
- Marcus Ericsson, Sauber, 1:23.384 – softs
- Jolyon Palmer, Renault, 1:24.774 – supersofts
