F1 Pre-season Testing: The Mercedes driver, Lewis Hamilton laid down an early marker ahead of the new Formula One season on Friday when he set the fastest time in pre-season testing in Barcelona. Follow Formula 1 Pre-Season Testing Live Updates on InsideSport.IN.
In a further boost for the Silver Arrows team, Hamilton’s new teammate George Russell came home in second place.
F1 Pre-season Testing: Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton and George Russell on top, with Red Bull’s Max Verstappen claiming fourth
Reigning world champion Max Verstappen was fourth fastest. His Red Bull colleague Sergio Perez finished in the third position.
Hamilton controversially edged out for the 2021 title by Verstappen in the season finale in Abu Dhabi. Lewis clocked a best time of 1m 19.138s.
With the track now dry, @LewisHamilton takes top spot on the timing screens
His time of 1:19.141 just pips team mate @GeorgeRussell63‘s morning effort ⏱#F1 pic.twitter.com/1nkUm73sxg
— Formula 1 (@F1) February 25, 2022
Formula 1 Pre-Season Testing: “It’s been an interesting few days, it’s not been the easiest or smoothest running – we have some obstacles to overcome,” said Hamilton.
“We’d always want more laps but I’m happy with today’s running, I got almost 100 laps in today which for half a day’s running, isn’t too bad.”
F1 Pre-season Testing: Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton and George Russell on top, with Red Bull’s Max Verstappen claiming fourth
George Russell, who had topped the morning session, finished with a best of 1m 19.233s.
Having switched from Williams to Mercedes, Russell insisted the times meant little ahead of the new season which starts in Bahrain on March 20.
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Who racked up the most laps in Barcelona?
Here’s your team-by-team guide 📊#F1 pic.twitter.com/O0lek7Rrq9
— Formula 1 (@F1) February 25, 2022
F1 Pre-season Testing: “The three days in Barcelona have been incredibly intriguing. I don’t think the lap times are very representative at all,” he said.
“We were top of the timesheets today on the C5 tyre compound which is incredibly strong around Barcelona, but I wouldn’t read much into it. The Ferrari and McLaren look strong.”
Like Russell, Verstappen refused to see any significant indications in Barcelona as to how the forthcoming season will play out.
F1 Pre-season Testing: Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton and George Russell on top, with Red Bull’s Max Verstappen claiming fourth
The Dutchman prefers to focus on his chances in Bahrain where more testing will take place before the lights go out at Sakhir in three weeks’ time.
Formula 1 Pre-Season Testing: “Everything worked well in the running we got and the car felt good, but our morning was somewhat interrupted by a number of red flags across the session so we couldn’t complete all of our planned programme,” he said.
“What is positive is that the car is running smoothly, I don’t pay attention to the lap times just yet, I will look into that when we get into Q3 in Bahrain.”
The silver cars top the table on our final day of running in Barcelona 🤝#F1 pic.twitter.com/xWvoAlYroz
— Formula 1 (@F1) February 25, 2022
Friday times:
1. Lewis Hamilton (GBR/Mercedes) 1:19.138 (94 laps)
2. George Russell (GBR/Mercedes) 1:19.233 (66)
3. Sergio Perez (MEX/Red Bull) 1:19.556 (74)
4. Max Verstappen (NED/Red Bull) 1:19.756 (59)
5. Sebastian Vettel (GER/Aston Martin) 1:19.824 (48)
6. Charles Leclerc (MON/Ferrari) 1:19.831 (44)
7. Carlos Sainz (ESP/Ferrari) 1:20.072 (92)
8. Alexander Albon (THA/Williams) 1:20.318 (94)
9. Nicholas Latifi (CAN/Williams) 1:20.699 (13)
10. Daniel Ricciardo (AUS/McLaren) 1:20.750 (86)
11. Lando Norris (GBR/McLaren) 1:20.827 (52)
12. Fernando Alonso (ESP/Alpine) 1:21.242 (12)
13. Guanyu Zhou (CHN/Alfa Romeo) 1:21.939 (41)
14. Pierre Gasly (FRA/AlphaTauri) 1:22.469 (40)
15. Nikita Mazepin (RAF/Haas) 1:26.229 (9)
16. Valtteri Bottas (FIN/Alfa Romeo) 1:30.433 (10)
F1 Pre-season Testing: Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton and George Russell on top, with Red Bull’s Max Verstappen claiming fourth
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