close global

Welcome to GPFans

CHOOSE YOUR COUNTRY

  • NL
  • GB
  • IT
  • ES-MX
  • US
  • GB

Are you a F1 Fan? Follow GP Fans

Edition

NL GB IT ES-MX US

Mercedes on top as pre-season testing comes to a close

Photo: © LAT Images

Mercedes on top as pre-season testing comes to a close

Mercedes and Bottas fastest on the final day of testing

Google Make us your Google favorite

Valtteri Bottas tops the final day of Formula 1 pre-season testing on a day that saw teams loosen the shackles on their performance.

Mercedes had already recorded the fastest time of pre-season testing overall, but Bottas set a 1:16.196 to go fastest on the final day. The Silver Arrows had focused much of their efforts on long runs as they looked to improve on their less than optimum reliability, but a late effort saw Bottas top the timesheets.

Max Verstappen also left it late to show what Red Bull were capable of. Setting his fastest time inside the final hour of testing, the Dutchman was just +0.073 shy of the time of the Mercedes.

Daniel Ricciardo's effort from Friday morning remained strong enough to keep him third, +0.080 behind, while his new Renault teammate, Esteban Ocon, could only manage sixth, +0.237 off the pace.

Charles Leclerc sits fourth for Ferrari, his efforts sparking hope that Ferrari may not be as far off the pace as had originally been feared, with Lewis Hamilton fifth.

Leclerc also clocked up a massive 178-laps on the final day of testing, more than any single driver has ever completed in pre-season testing on a single day.

Sergio Perez and Carlos Sainz focused on long runs in the cooler condition for Racing Point and McLaren while George Russell and Daniil Kvyat rounded out the top ten for Williams and AlphaTauri.

Haas spent a lot of time in the garage in the afternoon, calling time on testing early after problems restricted Kevin Magnussen to just 27-laps.

Related

More F1 news

Latest F1 news

FIA confirms it will review Red Bull complaint over controversial upgrades decision

FIA confirms it will review Red Bull complaint over controversial upgrades decision

  • 13 minutes ago
Lewis Hamilton says Ferrari finally found their 'North Star' and F1 title race is on

Lewis Hamilton says Ferrari finally found their 'North Star' and F1 title race is on

  • 58 minutes ago
F1 News Today: Red Bull risk it all for Verstappen as Mercedes set to announce huge driver move

F1 News Today: Red Bull risk it all for Verstappen as Mercedes set to announce huge driver move

  • 1 hour ago
Red Bull have already 'found their next Max Verstappen'

Red Bull have already 'found their next Max Verstappen'

  • Yesterday 22:28
F1 star blasted by rival after collision: 'I was about to throw a punch'

F1 star blasted by rival after collision: 'I was about to throw a punch'

  • Yesterday 21:45
Mercedes 'to announce' F1 driver move which triggers big Max Verstappen decision

Mercedes 'to announce' F1 driver move which triggers big Max Verstappen decision

  • Yesterday 20:34

Just in

08:45
FIA confirms it will review Red Bull complaint over controversial upgrades decision
08:00
Lewis Hamilton says Ferrari finally found their 'North Star' and F1 title race is on
07:15
F1 News Today: Red Bull risk it all for Verstappen as Mercedes set to announce huge driver move
25-6
Red Bull have already 'found their next Max Verstappen'
25-6
F1 star blasted by rival after collision: 'I was about to throw a punch'
F1 news

Recommended by the editors

FIA confirms it will review Red Bull complaint over controversial upgrades decision Red Bull

FIA confirms it will review Red Bull complaint over controversial upgrades decision

13 minutes ago
Red Bull have already 'found their next Max Verstappen' Red Bull

Red Bull have already 'found their next Max Verstappen'

Yesterday 22:28
Mercedes 'to announce' F1 driver move which triggers big Max Verstappen decision Mercedes

Mercedes 'to announce' F1 driver move which triggers big Max Verstappen decision

Yesterday 20:34
Sky F1 issue official statement after presenter makes shock exit F1 on TV

Sky F1 issue official statement after presenter makes shock exit

Yesterday 18:44
Ontdek het op Google Play
x