Vettel best time on Thursday, engine problem for Hamilton

Can engine reliability become a source of concern for teams powered by Mercedes ? After the repeated problems having struck Williams ; after the battery problem which shortened the first day of work of Valtteri Bottas last week ; it's the turn of Lewis Hamilton to be betrayed by German mechanics.

The six-time world champion, who had taken over from his Finnish teammate at midday on Thursday, was only able to cover 14 laps in the afternoon before stopping his W11 on the side of the track at the turn. 6.

The star manufacturer quickly revealed that an anomaly in oil pressure had led to a safety cut-off of the powertrain. Hamilton therefore finished 13th and last in a ranking dominated by Sebastian Vettel, a first for Ferrari in the heart of a winter that had hitherto been discreet, not to say complicated.

Nothing to get excited about, however, since the quadruple world champion was running on the softest C5 Pirelli tires during his best lap, which remains more than a second off the benchmark set by Bottas in the first week (1'1'). '16 against 841'1''15).

Vettel, who had a very productive day with 144 laps, is ahead of theAlpha Tauri de Pierre Gasly, author of 138 rotations for his last day of riding before Melbourne.

Racing Point continues to show promising potential with the 3rd fastest time Lance stroll. The Canadian precedes his compatriot and rookie Nicholas latifi.

The Williams driver takes in his wake the McLaren de Lando Norris, Red Bull de Verstappen, who made a mistake in the morning, and the Mercedes of Bottas, also guilty of leaving the track this morning.

The Top 10 is completed by Esteban Ocon (Renault), Kevin Magnussen (Haas), And Alexander albon (Red Bull). Next Daniel Ricciardo (Renault) and Antonio Giovinazzi (Alfa Romeo).

The 2020 winter tests will resume on Friday morning at 09:00 a.m. for the 6th and final day of testing in Catalonia before the first Grand Prix of the season in Australia (March 13-15).