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F1 2020, Barcelona Test 1: Raikkonen ends fastest from Perez on Day 2

20/02/2020

Alfa Romeo Racing ORLEN’s Kimi Raikkonen used the fastest tyre to end up fastest on Day 2 of F1 pre-season test at Barcelona from Racing Point’s Sergio Perez.

Having showed good pace on Day 1, Perez continued his form on Day 2 at F1 Circuit de Catalunya-Barcelona, where he topped the morning session and looked good to stay on the top until a late lap from Raikkonen (1m17.091s) on the C5 compound.

Raikkonen eventually ended up the fastest which included a spin and a stoppage right towards the end of the day to cause test’s first red flag, with Perez (1m17.347s, C3) second from Renault’s Daniel Ricciardo (1m17.749s, C3), who drove in the morning session. Red Bull Racing’s Alexander Albon (1m17.912s, C2) was fourth.

It was Albon’s first time in the 2020 F1 car as well, as AlphaTauri’s Pierre Gasly (1m18.121s, C2) finished fifth despite the early spin for the Frenchman. Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel (1m18.154s, C4) finally made an appearance in the afternoon session to be sixth.

The German was to run on the first day of F1 test but since he was unwell, Charles Leclerc got the first chance. Williams’ George Russell (1m18.266s, C3) ended up seventh with Leclerc (1m18.335s, C3) in eighth, having run in the morning session.

Russell’s run was slightly curtailed due to problems but they were able to fix it up. Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton (1m18.387s, C1) was next up in ninth as he ran in the morning session with the ‘Dual Axis Steering’ which raised several questions.

McLaren’s Lando Norris (1m18.474s, C3) rounded out the Top 10 with Haas’ Romain Grosjean (1m18.496s, C3) in 11th, as his day came to an early end after a crash at Turn 4 but he managed to limp back into the pits.

Renault’s Esteban Ocon (1m18.557s, C2) was 12th with Mercedes’ Valtteri Bottas (1m19.307s, C2) rounding the 13 drivers to run on Day 2 – both taking over the car in the afternoon. The Finn had a spin as his day ended early with an ERS issue.