Two drivers into the 100-plus lap range now. Teams-wise, Ferrari, Alfa and Mercedes have batted past a century. Williams are off the mark with their first lap of the year. Not a timed lap, but at least an installation lap and it runs. Finally.
Times: Whooda thunk the Sauber would be the only car to have dropped into the 17s this year.
Interesting that George Russell was only able to have a Williams seat fitting today in the garage. To me that suggests it might have been the driver cell / tub that was causing the hold ups.
DRIVER TEAM TYRE TIME
1 Raikkonen Alfa Romeo 1m17.762s
2 Vettel Ferrari 1m18.350s
3 Hulkenberg Renault 1m18.800s
4 Kvyat Toro Rosso 1m18.897s
5 Verstappen Red Bull 1m18.899s
6 Fittipaldi Haas 1m19.249s
7 Sainz McLaren 1m19.354s
8 Grosjean Haas 1m19.358s
9 Perez Racing Point 1m20.102s
10 Bottas Mercedes 1m20.693s
11 Hamilton Mercedes 1m20.818s
12 Ricciardo Renault 1m20.885s
Russell Williams No time
Still a couple of hours to go today. Many Teams on long runs at the moment.
* I started life with nothing, and still have most of it left
“Good drivers have dead flies on the side windows!” (Walter Röhrl)
* I married Miss Right. Just didn't know her first name was Always
PTRACER wrote: ↑5 years ago
Day 1: Ferrari P1, McLaren P2
Day 2: Ferrari P1, McLaren P2
A sign of the year ahead?
I don't think many people would mind that being the case. Ferrari could easily walk this season (would anyone mind after so many years of Mercedes dominance?) whereas McLaren looks better, but their times were set on a softer tyre.
I would prefer this being the theme of the year...
Daniil Kvyat tops day three for Toro Rosso (1 second faster than Red Bull.
Williams finally make it out on track in the hands of George Russell
Hamilton says Ferrari look 'very, very strong' . (Sandbags still on board at Mercedes!)
But... it is the first week of testing.
Lets not get excited of any major turnaround. Im not judging the times until last day of test two. Or tbh P1 or even P3 at Melbourne.
* I started life with nothing, and still have most of it left
“Good drivers have dead flies on the side windows!” (Walter Röhrl)
* I married Miss Right. Just didn't know her first name was Always
A bit of a snigger here.... George Russell, on only his second lap has already lapped faster than Kubica managed all day (he ran 48 laps) . Of course we dont know fuel loads or the like, but unlikely they would be getting Russell onto a low fuel run on his second lap of the day.
Times as at this moment:
DRIVER TEAM TYRE TIME
1 Albon Toro Rosso 1m17.637s
2 Ricciardo Renault 1m17.785s
3 Bottas Mercedes 1m17.857s
4 Hamilton Mercedes 1m17.977s
5 Leclerc Ferrari 1m18.046s
6 Giovinazzi Alfa Romeo 1m18.511s
7 Grosjean Haas 1m18.563s
8 Hulkenberg Renault 1m18.649s
9 Magnussen Haas 1m18.720s
10 Gasly Red Bull 1m18.780s
11 Norris McLaren 1m19.543s
12 Stroll Racing Point 1m19.664s
13 Russell Williams 1m21.287s
14 Kubica Williams 1m21.542s
* I started life with nothing, and still have most of it left
“Good drivers have dead flies on the side windows!” (Walter Röhrl)
* I married Miss Right. Just didn't know her first name was Always
A near miss between Hamilton and Kubica in this morning's session
Two things about this video:
1) Hamilton was on his fastest lap, had gone purple in the first two sectors, whereas Kubica was driving around slowly and apparently unaware that Lewis was closing rapidly.
2) Love the new onboard camera angle.