Barcelona Test, Day 2

3rd & 7 37yd

@F1fan: I think so - these cars are supposed to shave about five seconds off last year's times. Pole here last year was a 1:22.000 flat. I doubt we'll see all five of those seconds disappear from lap times in the next two weeks as there's so much data to be gathered on tyres, the new cars, etc, but they'll keep dropping as the week goes on for sure.

by Nate Saunders 2/28/2017 11:13:52 AM
@nate, what's up at the ferrari garage? They seem a bit low on mileage compared to yesterday, when they were matching mercs by the lap

by Cin 2/28/2017 11:13:56 AM
@Cin: Yep, we haven't heard anything from Ferrari in a while. They're not the best at communicating with the media at the best of times, especially not when there are problems...

by Nate Saunders 2/28/2017 11:14:18 AM
I see Merc found the slow-mo button

by Nocturnalhunt3r 2/28/2017 11:16:47 AM
Here's a very cool shot of two of the grid's best-looking cars..

by Nate Saunders 2/28/2017 11:17:35 AM
We're approaching the final half hour and Lewis Hamilton is on an absolute flier...

by Nate Saunders 2/28/2017 11:22:30 AM
...But the three-time world champion backs off at the final sector, meaning we all got our hopes up for nothing. Hamilton yesterday remarked about how hard these tyres are and that they allow for much more pushing every lap. That would suggest that statement is true as he's been out there for a while.

by Nate Saunders 2/28/2017 11:23:36 AM
What's happening? Why isn't Renault out? And has McLaren been out since SV2's stoppage?

by Jason Arellano 2/28/2017 11:23:57 AM
@JasonArellano: They have been out for 29 laps. It's a better start this morning than it was yesterday. But then anything more than one lap would have been!

by Nate Saunders 2/28/2017 11:25:54 AM
by Haas F1 Team via twitter 2/28/2017 11:26:19 AM
by Craig Scarborough via twitter 2/28/2017 11:26:28 AM
The track is occupied by just Hamilton and Verstappen at the moment.

by Nate Saunders 2/28/2017 11:26:50 AM
From Laurence trackside: "Hamilton has just come past on soft tyres and was flat through Turn 9. The Toro Rosso appeared to ease off full throttle but was on much older medium tyres. Hamilton wasn't flat every time, but it's definitely possible and seems to depend on what the team/driver are trying to achieve from each lap."

by Nate Saunders 2/28/2017 11:28:47 AM
And another update: "Lewis flat again on the last lap. He did one lap on it, one off, one on it."

by Nate Saunders 2/28/2017 11:29:00 AM
Magnussen goes green in all three sectors and climbs to fifth. I didn't see when he flashed past but I suspect he's moved on to the soft tyres. Will confirm next time he flies past the media centre.

by Nate Saunders 2/28/2017 11:30:21 AM
Sounds like more problems at McLaren...

by Nate Saunders 2/28/2017 11:31:25 AM
Update from the team: "We lost power to the PU. At the moment we don't know what has caused the issue. We are currently changing the PU in order to investigate fully and identify the cause. We will update you when we have further information."

by Nate Saunders 2/28/2017 11:32:32 AM
Half of Honda's budget will go on testing engines... one a day, that's a record!!

by ralva8 2/28/2017 11:35:37 AM
Laurence from trackside says the Ferrari has not been flat through Turn 9 on Kimi's most recent run, but the Finn is on medium tyres and not really pushing. Magnussen was pushing on his latest lap and came through T9 as a tail wind was blowing, shark fin and T-wing both wobbling a fair bit.

by Nate Saunders 2/28/2017 11:36:31 AM
Nate, Perez didn't run again in the 2nd part of test 1. Did have any issue with the car?

by Ron 2/28/2017 11:36:56 AM
@Ron: There was an exhaust issue which kept him out of action for the whole afternoon.

by Nate Saunders 2/28/2017 11:37:14 AM
Lewis trying to bring testing alive! Wonder if he will take fan requests on Instragram for more hot laps???

by Siddhesh 2/28/2017 11:40:23 AM
We're into the final 20 minutes of the morning session.

by Nate Saunders 2/28/2017 11:40:33 AM
In all that Honda drama, Hamilton has improved again, lowering the benchmark to 1:20.863 - by far the quickest time we've seen in testing so far.

by Nate Saunders 2/28/2017 11:42:39 AM
Laurence says: "Lewis absolutely on it on the super-softs through Turn 9. Carried huge speed but nearly lost the rear on the exit as he went over the kerb."

So, a super-soft lap for the world champions.

by Nate Saunders 2/28/2017 11:43:26 AM
Cant a team have two cars prepared for testing. in case of one car failure, then can run the other car.

by jskathirvel 2/28/2017 11:43:32 AM
@jskathirvel: At this stage the team's will only have one car developed.

by Nate Saunders 2/28/2017 11:43:46 AM
Laurence says: "Big twitch for Kvyat in Turn 9 on mediums. Clearly pretty tricky this time round and still carried a lot of speed.

"Lewis had less drama this time round and still carried a lot of speed."

by Nate Saunders 2/28/2017 11:44:22 AM
@ Nate .. So the Honda engine has stopped again. Ain't the engines suppose to certain checking before they are installed in the car? Is it pure incompetence?

by Mcf1 2/28/2017 11:44:24 AM
@Mcf1: This question was asked to McLaren boss Eric Boullier in his media session yesterday. It's a very good point - it seems to be basic problems hurting Honda at the moment.

by Nate Saunders 2/28/2017 11:44:50 AM
Oh hello. We have a red flag....

by Nate Saunders 2/28/2017 11:45:43 AM
It's Ocon who has stopped at Turn 10. Laurence reports a puff of smoke at the rear as Ocon came through Turn 9. Says it "smelt pretty bad".

by Nate Saunders 2/28/2017 11:46:38 AM
Flatbed truck arrives on the scene of Ocon's stoppage...

by Nate Saunders 2/28/2017 11:51:06 AM
Nate back to my original question, are they lifting on Turn 9?

by Jason Arellano 2/28/2017 11:51:25 AM
@JasonArellano: Read downwards from here from the answer! Laurence has been stood at that corner for half an hour.

by Nate Saunders 2/28/2017 11:51:39 AM
Fernando was right.. it is very easy to blame things on Honda and rightly so.. I have already lost hope on Mclaren Honda. They will spend one quarter of the season fixing reliability and then the other quarter chasing performance. By which all the other manufacturers will be way ahead in the development race. 4th in the WCC doesnt seem very realistic.

by Mcf1 2/28/2017 11:51:49 AM
That red flag might just see us through to lunch. They'be got some seven minutes to remove the Force India from the circuit.

by Nate Saunders 2/28/2017 11:52:47 AM
I think these ridiculous testing bans are robbing F1 fans from seeing proper fight amongst the top teams.Engine manufactures should be allowed to rack up a huge amount of miles on the track - not just on the dyno. Honda and Renault are just suffering and by xtension, so are RBR and Mclaren.

by praj 2/28/2017 11:52:52 AM
Nate, I'll be glad if the testing days are over.... I 'm trying to work but I just can't stop following the live feed :-)

by ice edited by Nate Saunders 2/28/2017 11:53:00 AM
i share the same problem @ice

by Mcf1 2/28/2017 11:54:49 AM
How long will it take Mclaren to change the engine?

by Iain 2/28/2017 11:54:52 AM
@Iain: That's unclear at the moment. The team's update said it will send more information when it has some. Fortunately they have a one-hour lunch break to follow, so that will mitigate some of the lost running time, but looking at a minimum of half a day lost, and that's a good estimate.

by Nate Saunders 2/28/2017 11:56:32 AM
Afraid that Alonso will terminate his contract with Mclaren if this Honda are not preforming "upto" expected level within first 2 races

by Svolle 2/28/2017 11:56:35 AM
From Laurence trackside - the recovery job in full swing.

by Nate Saunders 2/28/2017 11:59:07 AM
We've hit midday but there's a note flashing on the timing screen - session extended by five minutes.

by Nate Saunders 2/28/2017 12:00:58 PM

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