Sebastian Vettel puts Ferrari in the lead in Barcelona

After the presentation salvo of several single-seaters this morning in the Barcelona pit lane, the drivers entered for this first day of 2016 pre-season testing came into action from 9 a.m., on a track that was still tricky following the downpours that fell in the region before the start of this inaugural session.

Quickly, Daniel Ricciardo (Red Bull) took the lead with the RB12 on intermediate tires, leading after an hour in 1'38″188 just ahead Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes). The three-time world champion was subsequently the first to increase the pace, setting a new benchmark in 1'25″409 which held until the end of the second hour of riding.

It is finally Sebastian Vettel who concludes the morning at the top of the hierarchy with the Ferrari SF16-H in 1’24″939. A time close to the 2015 pole position of Nico Rosberg (Mercedes) established in 1'24″681.

Behind the German, Lewis Hamilton is at 0″470, the two world champions being the only ones to have crossed the bar of 1’26 per lap. On the other hand, Hamilton was by far the most diligent on the track with 66 laps on the clock of his W07 Hybrid. Valtteri Bottas (Williams) climbs into third position behind the wheel of the FW38.

Daniel Ricciardo places his RB12 in fourth position ahead of the Toro Rosso de Carlos Sainz. Jenson Button (McLaren) follows in sixth position ahead of the 34 Sauber C2015 of Marcus Ericsson. Romain Grosjean (Haas) takes eighth place, after causing the only red flag of the session, after the loss of the front wing of the VF-16.

Alfonso Celis Jr, Force India development driver, sets the ninth fastest time aboard the VJM09 and precedes Jolyon Palmer (Renault) and Pascal Wehrlein (Manor) who waited until the last ten minutes to set his first timed lap of the day.

Barcelona Ranking Day 1 (morning):

1. Sebastian Vettel (Ferrari): 1’24″939 (36 laps)
2. Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes): 1’25″409 (66)
3. Valtteri Bottas (Williams): 1’26″091 (43)
4. Daniel Ricciardo (Red Bull): 1’26″704 (20)
5. Carlos Sainz (Toro Rosso): 1’27″180 (35)
6. Jenson Button (McLaren): 1’27″691 (35)
7. Marcus Ericsson (Sauber 2015): 1’28″165 (36)
8. Romain Grosjean (Haas): 1’28″399 (13)
9. Alfonso Celis Jr (Force India): 1’29″406 (21)
10. Jolyon Palmer (Renault): 1’31″151 (15)
11. Pascal Wehrlein (Manor): 1’33″455 (8)

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