Verstappen ends final pre-season test in P2: “Want and must keep improving”

Published on 10 March 2017 by Mike Motilall

Max Verstappen finished the final day of pre-season testing, prior to the start of the season, in second. The 1:19.438 from the morning session, proved to be unbeatable after lunch for the Dutchman. An issue with the RB13’s turbo kept Verstappen for quite a while in the garage in the afternoon. At the end of the afternoon, the issue was solved and the youngster still managed to pull off 38 laps. Bringing his total to 71 laps today. Kimi Raikkonen’s time, a 1:18.634 set in the early session, was eventually the fastest time from the entire eight days of pre-season testing.

Are you worried about the problems? “No, I am not worried. We test in order to put everything to the test and I am confident that Renault will be able to solve matters before Melbourne. It is not a major issue”, Max explains to Verstappen.nl. “It was for us the most important thing today to be able to check today's balance compared to that of yesterday's. It has certainly improved, but can always be better. It was a positive day. The performance is ok for now, but we want and of course must keep improving.”

How different are the tyres compared to last year? “Most of the grip has to do with the increase of downforce, but the tyres don’t degrade as much compared to last year. That is always nice for us drivers, so we are able to push more.”

Do you expect surprises during your first race in Australia? “No, I don’t expect any major surprises. During tests you never actually show what you are capable of. It is about improving the car and getting in a good shape for Melbourne. Now it’s not about qualifying laps. We need to wait and see, because even after Melbourne we still won’t know where we stand. We will definitely keep working hard to improve the car.”

Lewis Hamilton, Pascal Wehrlein and Jolyon Palmer take over control from their team mates in the afternoon session, that seems to be struggling to get up to speed. After almost every team went hunting for the fastest lap time in the morning session, but after lunch they seem to be taking their time. With an almost Summery 23 degrees, Perez is the only one during the first half hour to briefly venture out. As time passes by, more and more drivers head out on track. The shorter runs done in the morning session, have been replaced for longer runs at race pace in the afternoon.

After a positive early session for Verstappen, during which he clocked the fastest time for Red Bull Racing in this pre-season winter testing, things are not going so well in the afternoon. The first part of the session sees the RB13 in the pit box. The team is checking the turbo and is busy getting the car ready to get back out on track.

The first red flag in the session is triggered by Kimi Raikkonen. The Fin spins at the chicane and the Ferrari needs to be retrieved from the track. When all is clear, Verstappen, with only an hour-and-a-half on the clock, gets out on track for the first time after lunch. On a set of the soft compound tyre, he commences a 14 lap run. His lap time, in the 1:25’s, is showing that the Dutchman is not pushing.

In the final hour, Carlos Sainz halts on the straight at start/finish and brings out the red flag. When his Toro Rosso has been retrieved after about some fifteen minutes, Verstappen heads out again on the softs and is again running in a constant pace in the 1:25’s. At the end of the day, he has a total of 71 laps to his name. The 1:19.438 from the morning session proves to be good enough for the second spot, behind of Kimi Raikkonen. The Fin manages to top the leaderboard with a 1:18.634 before lunch. The fastest time done during the entire pre-season testing

However, the day comes to end on a sad note when it is announced that John Surtees, 1964 Formula 1-worldchampion, passed away at the age of 83. Verstappen.nl offers their condolences to the family and wishes them all the best.

Pre-Season Test 2 - Circuit de Barcelona-Cataluyna - Friday 10 March 2017

RESULTS DAY 4 – Afternoon

1	 K. Räikkönen  	 Ferrari	1:18.634	SS	111
2	 M. Verstappen	 Red Bull	1:19.438	SS	71
3	 C. Sainz        Toro Rosso	1:19.837	US	132
4	 V. Bottas       Mercedes	1:19.845	SS	53
5	 L. Hamilton     Mercedes	1:19.850	US	54
6	 N. Hülkenberg   Renault	1:19.885	US	45
7	 S. Pérez        Force India	1:20.116	US	128
8	 J. Palmer       Renault	1:20.205	US	43
9	 L. Stroll       Williams	1:20.335	S	132
10	 R. Grosjean     Haas    	1:21.110	US	76	
11	 F. Alonso	 McLaren	1:21.389   	US	43
12	 M. Ericsson	 Sauber  	1:21.670	SS	59
13	 P. Wehrlein	 Sauber 	1:23.527	S	42