Bottas completes first week of testing with fastest time

After the first chase of the clock this morning of Valtteri Bottas (Mercedes), no one came to dislodge the Finn from first place in the honorary ranking of this first week of winter testing F1 2020 in Barcelona.

Alone Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) came within a little less than eight tenths of his teammate, holder of the reference in 1’15″732, with the same compound of red C5 tires, the softest provided by Pirelli. But the other drivers entered in this last session were clearly not looking for the time.

Behind the two Mercedes, we therefore find Esteban Ocon (Renault), 2nd this morning, and therefore 3rd at the end of the day, which always precedes Lance stroll (Racing Point F1) and Daniil Kvyat (Alpha Tauri). Antonio Giovinazzi (Alfa Romeo), the most diligent with 152 laps today, ahead of Daniel Ricciardo (Renault), the Red Bull de Max Verstappen, the AlphaTauri of Pierre Gasly and Alex’s second RB16 Albon.

Ricciardo did not have as smooth a session as that of his teammate Ocon, since the Australian caused one of the two red flags of the afternoon after a loss of power on his R.S.20.

 SESSION STOPPED

A spot of bother for Danny Ric as his RS20 suddenly loses power #F1Testing pic.twitter.com/4WWjzxpT1i

- Formula 1 (@ F1) February 21, 2020

Carlos Sainz (McLaren), Romain Grosjean (Haas) and Sebastian Vettel (Ferrari), victim of an engine problem this morning on his SF1000, follow in the ranking ahead Lando Norris (McLaren).

After an engine change following a technical problem this morning, Nicholas latifi (Williams) was able to return to the track at the end of the day and finished penultimate in the ranking this Friday ahead of Kevin Magnussen. The Dane from the Haas F1 Team was the big loser of this session, after leaving the track following a puncture.

RED FLAG

Problems for K-Mag – the Haas driver goes into the barriers at Turn 7 #F1Testing pic.twitter.com/E5E4HAvbKo

- Formula 1 (@ F1) February 21, 2020

The American team quickly indicated that Magnussen would not return to the track, blocking his clock at just four short laps, and causing a serious loss of time on the track.

All the information and the complete analysis of these tests, carried out by our special correspondents in Catalonia, will be found in issue 2256 of AUTOhebdo, available from Monday evening in digital version, and from next Wednesday on newsstands.

In the meantime, don't forget that our F1 2020 Guide is available in digital version and on newsstands.