Lights Out: Record-breaking Ricciardo a sign of things to come?

Lights Out: Record-breaking Ricciardo a sign of things to come?

Originally written by Joas van Wingerden. This version is a translation.

Thursday 8 March 2018 09:00

Red Bull have been tipped as a potential title-winner by none other than Mercedes chief Toto Wolff. Then Daniel Ricciardo smashed the lap record at the Circuit de Catalunya to back up the Silver Arrows boss. It's lights out for Thursday morning!

MUST READ

Mercedes chief Toto Wolff has hinted Red Bull could be favourites in 2018, and Ricciardo was only too happy to prove him right.

Article continues under video

The Australian broke the previous unofficial record (which had stood for 10 years!) as he clocked one minute and 18.047 seconds on the new hypersoft Pirelli compound.

The Silver Arrows were a few tenths off on ultrasoft tyres, but Ricciardo's suggestion afterwards that he thought there was more time on the track could set nerves jangling at Brackley.

It was a case of another day, another McLaren breakdown as an oil leak robbed Fernando Alonso of five hours on-track.

McLaren say they're "on top" of the issue, which they believe is natural after taking on a new engine partner for this season, but four failures in two days has a familiar and dread-inspiring feel.

Elsewhere, the grid giels discussion made a brief return, as FIA president Jean Todt responded to a question by calling the whole affair "nonsense". Nice.

MUST WATCH

It was a productive morning for Fernando Alonso, until this stoppage
47 laps on the board before an oil leak spoiled the fun ????
Can they turn it around this afternoon?#F1 #F1Testing pic.twitter.com/FuJzfr7VjO — Formula 1 (@F1) March 7, 2018