Hamilton takes Mercedes double to Barcelona

By setting the best time on the opening day of 2020 winter testing in Barcelona, Lewis Hamilton replied to his teammate Mercedes Valtteri Bottas, author of the initial mid-session reference.

Shod with hard Pirelli C2 tires, the six-time world champion clocked a very competitive time of 1'16''976 to eclipse the Finn's morning mark by 0''337, achieved with the medium C3 compound.

Sergio Pérez, and his Racing Point, whose shared DNA with the 2019 Mercedes can be visually appreciated, retains its place in the leading trio thanks to its morning time.

Despite a few spins, without consequence, Max Verstappen makes 168 rounds aboard the Red Bull RB16 with a Honda engine (day record for a single driver) and finished in 4th place, ahead of the other car powered by the Japanese manufacturer: theAlpha Tauri AT01 by Daniil Kvyat.

Carlos Sainz is in 6th position at McLaren and precedes Daniel Ricciardo, who relayed Esteban Ocon driving the Renault RS20 in the afternoon. The Norman finished this first day in 8th place, behind his Australian teammate.

George Russell climbs into the Top 10 aboard the Williams FW43 and ahead Lance stroll, who took over from Pérez aboard the RP20 after the break.

Unlike last year, Ferrari do not monopolize the top of the timesheet. We even have to wait for 11th place in the ranking of this Wednesday to find traces of Charles Leclerc. The Monegasque was only supposed to drive in the afternoon but he got behind the wheel early on to replace a Sebastian Vettel decreases.

For his official debut as a pilot F1 holder, Nicholas latifi grabs the 12th time at the controls of the FW43. The Canadian is ahead of the reservist Alfa Romeo Robert Kubica, who debuted the C39 in the morning, Kevin Magnussen and Haas VF-20, and Antonio Giovinazzi, who brings up the rear at 3”120 from the reference established by Hamilton.