Giovinazzi quickest on fifth day of testing in Barcelona
Published on 26 February 2019 by Mike Motilall
Antonio Giovinazzi topped the board on the first morning of testing during the second week of off-season testing in Barcelona. The Italian lapped the track 56 times and set a 1:18.589. He barely stayed ahead of Pierre Gasly (1:18.647, with 61 laps) and Charles Leclerc (1:18.651, with 29 laps). They set their times on the yellow medium tyre as oppose to the Alfa Romeo-driver who used the red C4-tyres.
It’s nine o’clock as the second and final week of testing officially gets underway in Bareclona. Almost over half the teams immediately head out for an installation lap, including Williams. The Grove based team, has still some catching up to do. The FW42 only saw some action for the first time on the third day of testing.
It is still a bit chill at first on Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya with the temperature just below ten degrees. However, the sun slowly but surely starts shining brighter, causing the track- and air temperature to start rising.
Halfway the morning session, Aston Martin Red Bull Racing-driver Pierre Gasly is the quickest on the mediums with a 1:18.647. Max Verstappen’s team mate also has 24 laps to his name. Lewis Hamilton is by then the most productive driver having done no less than forty laps.
Moments later, the first red flag is a fact. McLaren's first timer Lando Norris has halted entering Turn four. After a brief delay, the session is quickly resumed.
The rest of the morning session goes by without a hitch. Nico Hülkenberg and Lewis Hamilton are with respectively 80 and 83 laps the two most productive drivers. Pierre Gasly laps the track 61 times in his RB15. The one to top the board is Antonio Giovinazzi, who manages to do a 1:18.589 in his Alfa Romeo on the red C4-tyres.
After luch, Valtteri Bottas will take over at Mercedes from the reigning world champion Lewis Hamilton. At Ferrari and Renault the other drivers will also have their turn behind the wheels. This means that Charles Leclerc and Nico Hülkenberg will move over for Sebastian Vettel and Daniel Ricciardo, who will get some action during the afternoon session. At 14.00 hrs. the action on the Barcelona track will be resumed.
Pre-Season Test 2 - Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya - Tuesday 26 February 2019
