Renault’s Hulkenberg had the fastest time overall. Ferrari and Toro Rosso teams also perform well during test.
MONTMELO, Spain, February 18-21st—Using the softest tires that Pirelli (the sport’s official tire manufacturer) could provide, Nico Hulkenberg set the fastest time of the four-day Formula 1 test.
Hulkenberg-Renault post fastest time in Spain test run (photo, Motoring)
That performance, run at the Circuit de Catalunya in Spain with a 1:17:393 best time, puts Renault in a good position when the season opens on March 17 in Melbourne, Australia.
But it was Ferrari that stood out during the four days of testing. Sebastian Vettel returned with vengeance, setting the fastest time on the first day of testing, which was followed in Day Two by teammate Charles Leclerc, who was just a tenth off.
Another big surprise was the Toro Rosso team. Both Dani Kvyat and rookie teammate, Alexander Albon, were good in the last two days. As with Renault, they tested the softest tire, and the Russian set the best time on day three. Albon was second best to Hulkenberg on the last day of the test.
Mercedes drivers Valtteri Bottas, and defending world champion Lewis Hamilton, started slowly–beginning to look at longer distances in testing–rather than going out for qualifying sprints. Until the final day, both drivers were near the bottom of the time-sheets. But they put everything together for a fourth and fifth place finishes, respectively. For Hamilton, it shows that rivals from Maranello are looking fresh out of the box.
Hamilton knows that the difference between both cars is in fuel loads. “That’s good for him,” Hamilton said during the test. “I don’t think you put a figure on it, but Ferrari is very, very strong right now. They (Ferrari) are racking up great mileage as well.
It appears they (Ferrari) have a better package than they had last year, which means it’s going to be even more of a challenge for us this year.” Lewis Hamilton
For Vettel, this week was not how he can compete with the Silver Arrows, but how his teammate would go up against him this season. “Of course, he’s a full rival,” he commented about Leclerc. “He got the seat for a reason. I have to take him very seriously. You always have a close rivalry with your teammate. But priority number one is trying to bring the team forward. Obviously, I have been around a lot longer than him. But he is a nice kid. In a positive way, I leave him alone and let him do his job. I am certain he will be quick enough and put me under pressure, so we will see how it goes.”
The rest of the teams had faced a share of bugs during the four-day test. Alfa Romeo had the initiation of joining Formula 1 by having their new driver, Kimi Raikkonen, spin his car into the gravel trap right after the first five corners. But the Finn placed most of the day with the best time on Day Three–until Kvyat bettered it with less than an hour to go in the session.
The American Haas F1 Team–under their new energy drink sponsor, Rich Energy–stayed very much in the midfield on the last two days. The only issue was losing fuel pressure on Day 1. Romain Grosjean, who with even that issue, took third on that day overall, with teammate Kevin Magnussen doing the same on day two.
Red Bull, with their Honda engine, was not as quick as was their counterparts from Toro Rosso.
McLaren was very impressive in the first two days. Carlos Sainz Jr. and British rookie Lando Norris both finished in second. Renault’s Daniel Ricciardo was in the middle of the grid most of the week–even after a DRS malfunction on the second day on the main straight, and with the rear wing tearing completely off. Ricciardo bettered his time and took third fastest on the final day.
The disappointment of the entire week was the absence of the Williams team on the opening two days.
The Williams car wasn’t ready until the afternoon of the third day. For some reason, the car was delayed in getting to Spain and didn’t arrive until 4 a.m.
British rookie, George Russell, was only able to take it around for 25 laps. Both he and teammate Robert Kubica, who took the car out for 48 laps on the final day, could not get the required number of laps. Russell cut his testing period so that mechanics could work on the car for the rest of the afternoon.
There’s one remaining pre-season test remaining. It will take place next week, from Tu Feb 26-Fri Mar 1st.
