In-Season Test #1 - Day #1 - RE-CAP & TIMES

IN-SEASON TEST #1 - DAY #1 - RE-CAP & TIMES

Test Location: Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya - Montmelo, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain

    Max Verstappen was fastest on the first day of the first in-season test of 2018. The Dutch driver finished on top with a 1:17.528 and racked up 148 laps for the Austrian team.

    Close behind in the times was Carlos Sainz with a 1:17.562. Sainz, who is being tipped to join Red Bull next year, completed 119 laps in the Renault.

    Toro Rosso had limited running after needing to change their power unit because of a problem with their chassis. Sean Gelael was running for them and finished the session in 12th with a 1:21.935 and completed a total of 50 laps.

    Both Force India and McLaren ran two cars during the session. The second cars were used to test for Pirelli's 2019 programme. McLaren also ran 3 drivers in total with 2 drivers doing the tyre resting duties.

    McLaren's main car was driven by Stoffel Vandoorne, who finished in 7th with a 1:18.981. The second car saw youngster Lando Norris drive in the AM while Oliver Turvey, who is currently competing in Formula E, took over for the PM session. Norris finished in 10th and Turvey 13th. Between the two of them, they completed a total of 134 laps.

    Force India chose current F2 driver George Russell for the tyre testing duties, while Nicholas Latifi ran in the main car. Latifi finished up in 5th with a 1:18.530 and 107 laps while Russell finished further down in 11th with a 1:21.478 and 123 laps.

    Former Formula 2 driver, Oliver Rowland, ran for Williams and finished 9th in the session, just behind Antonio Giovinazzi, who was running for Sauber. Giovinazzi set a fastest time of 1:19.693 while Rowland did a 1:20.009.

TIMES:

1. Max Verstappen - 1:17.528 / Red Bull Racing-TAG-Heuer / Netherlands / 148 Laps

2. Carlos Sainz - 1:17.562 / Renault-Renault / Spain / 119 Laps

3. Sebastian Vettel - 1:17.659 / Ferrari-Ferrari / Germany / 136 Laps

4. Romain Grosjean - 1:18.449 / Haas-Ferrari / France / 129 Laps

5. Nicholas Latifi - 1:18.530 / Force India-Mercedes / Canada / 107 Laps

6. Lewis Hamilton - 1:18.543 / Mercedes-Mercedes / Great Britain / 151 Laps

7. Stoffel Vandoorne - 1:18.981 / McLaren-Renault / Belgium / 85 Laps

8. Antonio Giovinazzi - 1:19.693 / Sauber-Ferrari / Italy / 135 Laps

9. Oliver Rowland - 1:20.009 / Williams-Mercedes / Great Britain / 121 Laps

10. Lando Norris (AM) - 1:20.997 / McLaren-Renault / Great Britain / 76 Laps*

11. George Russell - 1:21.478 / Force India-Mercedes / Great Britain / 123 Laps*

12. Sean Gelael - 1:21.935 / Scuderia Toro Rosso-Honda / Indonesia / 50 Laps

13. Oliver Turvey (PM) - 1:23.070 / McLaren-Renault / Great Britain / 58 Laps*

* - Notes drivers were testing for Pirelli's 2019 programme

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Article Written By: Amy Hawk

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