Mercedes tops Red Bull on final day of test as Ricciardo outpaces Norris for McLaren
Normal service has resumed in Formula 1 with Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes-AMG topping the first pre-season test in Barcelona.
Hamilton waited until the final runs of the three-day test to unleash the best in his all-new W13 hybrid racer, clocking a time of 1 minute 19.138 seconds.
In an ominous sign for Benz’s rivals in season 2022, his new teammate George Russell was second quickest.
Despite giant changes to the cars for the coming title fight, including an all-new chassis package intended to create closer racing and easier passing, the pecking order at the end of the test looks remarkably unchanged with Benz ahead of Red Bull.
In good news for Australian fans, Daniel Ricciardo was quicker than his McLaren teammate Lando Norris as the pair ran on the same day for the first time.
Grand prix rookie Guanyu Zhou, who bought his way into the Alfa Romeo team, caused two stoppages and Pierre Gasly also crashed his AlphaTauri.
“It’s not been the easiest or smoothest running. The car is a lot different to drive than in previous years, as are the tyres,” says Hamilton.
“It was good to get a feel for the different tyre compounds but you never know where you are compared to the other teams on the first days of running.”
Most teams split their final-day running between their drivers, as one of the sessions was hit by rain, with Hamilton getting 89 laps to the 66 for Russell. Ricciardo had 80 laps to 52 for Norris.
Formula 1 testing will continue in Bahrain from March 10-12 ahead of the season-opener, still in Bahrain as the Australian Grand Prix moves back to third on the calendar from April 7-10.
Pre-Season Shakedown Barcelona – Day Three
- Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes – 1:19.138
- George Russell, Mercedes – 1:19.233
- Sergio Perez, Red Bull – 1:19.556
- Max Verstappen, Red Bull – 1:19.756
- Sebastian Vettel, Aston Martin – 1:19.824
- Charles Leclerc, Ferrari – 1:19.831
- Carlos Sainz, Ferrari – 1:20.072
- Alex Albon, Williams – 1:20.318
- Nicholas Latifi, Williams – 1:20.699
- Daniel Ricciardo, McLaren – 1:20.750
- Lando Norris, McLaren – 1:20.827
- Fernando Alonso, Alpine – 1:21.242
- Guanyu Zhou, Alfa Romeo – 1:21.939
- Pierre Gasly, AlphaTauri – 1:22.469
- Nikita Mazepin, Haas – 1:26.229
- Valtteri Bottas, Alfa Romeo – 1:30.433
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Keyword: Hamilton and Mercedes back on top