Results 2nd day in-season testing in Spain

Oliver Turvey, Test Driver, McLaren MCL34

Yesterday was the last day of testing in Spain. It was the final in-season official test of the year. In 2 days all F1 teams were allowed to test their 2019 cars to the max, to try and close the gap to the super quick Mercedes W10.

The teams conducted plenty of useful work in warm conditions in Barcelona, with track temperatures generally in excess of 40°C during the afternoon. Even though Barcelona favours the harder end of the tyre spectrum, we also saw some teams testing the softer compounds in preparation for Monaco and Canada, which are up next.

As usual they had the full range of 2019 compounds available. Probably to see how they work with the latest car upgrades, all the teams followed their individual programmes. The teams used young drivers as well as established race drivers

Ferrari and Racing Point provided a car for Pirelli to assess 2020 prototype tyres. These were ‘blind’ tests, so that the teams and drivers did not know what they were testing to define next year’s tyre specifications.

20 year old Russian racer Nikita Mazepin tested for Mercedes. He completed his first day of testing at the wheel of the Mercedes W10 logging 128 laps. The Mercedes team continued with aero data collection and power unit work on Wednesday. They completing a long run programme in the morning before moving to single lap runs in the afternoon to allow Nikita to gain experience on the three softest tyre compounds

Antonio Fuoco, Ferrari's simulator driver and Charles Leclerc were driving for Ferrari. The Italian was working for the team, while the Monegasque driver was carrying out tyre development work for Pirelli. Fuoco ran both the C2 and C3 tyres. Ferrari was also trying out some specific components in a series of short runs, to continue the car’s development programme. The test allowed him to make a first hand comparison with driving in the simulator. Fuoco also concentrated on some long runs, which helped him to get a good understanding of the SF90.

Kevin Magnussen clocked 103 laps in the Haas VF-19. The Dane ending the morning session fastest overall with a best time of 1:18.101, set on the Pirelli C3 tires. An extensive afternoon run plan added a further 60 laps as Magnussen circulated exclusively on the C3 rubber to conclude testing at the 4.655-kilometer (2.892-mile), 16-turn track. His pre-lunch hot lap remained his fastest placing him seventh overall from 13 drivers participating.

At Mclaren we saw 2 young new drivers were at the wheel of the MCL34. Sergio Sette Camara and Oliver Turvey. They both gathered data on the aerodynamics of the car and did some set-up items in preparation for the coming races. The day’s running ended slightly earlier than planned due to an issue with the car.

Dan Ticktum was for Red Bull behind the wheel for the second and final day of the Barcelona test, completing a total of 79 laps. Taking over from Pierre Gasly, who ran yesterday, Ticktum continued development work in the RB15 running on both the C2 and C3 tyre.  Today’s running was Dan’s second day in the RB15, having made his testing debut last month at Sakhir in the test that followed the Bahrain Grand Prix.

Racing Point completed the final day with Nick Yelloly, who also drive on the first day in the RP19. Lance Stroll was behind the wheel of a second car to support the Pirelli testing programme.

Nikita Mazepin, private tester, Mercedes AMG F1 and Sergio Sette Camara, McLaren MCL34

At Toro Rosso Alex took over from Daniil and completed aero data gathering that kept them busy for most of the morning session. Before lunch time they managed to perform a couple of short runs on the C3 tyre compound for further tyre optimisation. On the engine side Toro Rosso had a similar programme to yesterday. The again worked on some items aimed at long term development and the also were looking at Power Unit settings to run at Monaco.

Kimi Raikkonen was behind the C38 for Alfa Romeo. He managed to go through all the different things they wanted to try. He tested the different compounds and worked on the set-up with a few different parts on the car.

Nikita Mazepin set the day’s quickest time for Mercedes (1:15.775) while running the most laps (128).

The only other tests during the season are private Pirelli tests to assess future tyres: focusing on next year’s 13-inch tyres until the summer, then exclusively on 18-inch tyres from September on wards.

Quickest times 2nd day 2019 test Spain

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