BARCELONA TEST 1 DAY 3 – Hulkenberg fastest as Mercedes rack up the miles further
Nico Hulkenberg was fastest on the third day of pre-season testing at the Circuit de Catalyuna – Barcelona for Force India. The German set the fastest lap of the day a 1:23.110 on the super soft tyres.
The time was set on the super soft tyres which are slower than the ultra soft tyres with him only two tenths slower. Yesterday Sebastian Vettel led on the same type of tyre. Romain Grosjean continued the impressive start for Haas going second fastest.
Hulkenberg told Sky Sports News “I wouldn’t get too excited at these early stages. Today we tried a bit more to see and test where our package stands at the moment more that the competition.”
Kimi Raikkonen was third fastest for Ferrari. However, it was not plain sailing for the Fin due to fuel system checks, but had a productive afternoon, clocking up close to 80 laps and finishing third on the timesheets, fractionally ahead of the Renault of Kevin Magnussen.
Magnussen also suffered technical problems but managed to get into triple digits. The majority of his laps were completed during the afternoon.
Nico Rosberg was faster than his team-mate Lewis Hamilton on track after Mercedes opted to split the driving over the next two days. Hamilton completed the most mileage on track bringing the teams total to 162 more than all the other teams.
Rosberg warned his rivals “We haven’t shown our cards yet. We’re still holding back – and for sure the car is quick. The opposition also seems to be quick, so how quick we are nobody knows for now but we are confident.”
Carlos Sainz was the busiest driver completing 162 laps for Toro Rosso which was 46 more than Magnussen.
Rio Haryanto’s first appearance as a F1 driver for Manor ended in twelfth fastest five seconds off the pace. Red Bull’s Daniil Kvyat was narrowly ahead of the Williams of Felipe Massa and McLaren’s Jenson Button.
Button could only managed 51 laps the fewest of any driver after a hydraulic leak brought his running to an end. Haryanto caused the only red flag of the day.
Testing Day Three
- Nico Hulkenberg, Force India, 1:23.110, supersoft tyres, 99 laps;
2. Romain Grosjean, Haas, soft tyres, 1:25.874, 82 laps;
3. Kimi Raikkonen, Ferrari, 1:25.977, medium tyres, 77 laps.
4. Kevin Magnussen, Renault, 1:26.014, soft tyres, 111 laps;
5. Nico Rosberg, Mercedes, 1:26.084, medium tyres, 74 laps;
6. Carlos Sainz, 1:26.239, medium tyres, 161 laps;
7. Felipe Nasr, Sauber, 1:26.392, medium tyres, 115 laps;
8. Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes, 1:26.421, medium tyres, 88 laps;
9. Daniil Kvyat, Red Bull, 1:26.497, medium tyres, 74 laps;
10. Felipe Massa, Williams, 1:26.712, medium tyres,109 laps;
11. Jenson Button, McLaren, 1:26.919, medium tyres, 51 laps;
12. Rio Haryanto, Manor, 1:28.249, 78 laps;
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