Barcelona Tests 2018

18h

The third day of winter testing of the 2018 F1 season will be remembered forever. The teams hardly took to the track this Wednesday due to the snowy conditions encountered (see photos). The session only started at noon and concluded at 18 p.m.

Only five drivers took to the track. Fernando Alonso (McLaren) was the most diligent with 11 laps covered at the end of the session when the conditions were preferable even if the track remained very wet. The Asturian completed the only time of the day in 2'18''545 with wet tires, almost a minute behind the benchmark set the day before by Sebastian Vettel (Ferrari).

Daniel Ricciardo (Red Bull) also left the pits briefly, as did Brendon Hartley (Toro Rosso), Marcus Ericsson (Sauber) and Robert Kubica (Williams).

If the prospect of postponing the day was raised, McLaren Team Principal Éric Boullier indicated that two teams had vetoed it while the teams had to be unanimous for the decision to be accepted.

The weather should be a little more favorable this Thursday morning before deteriorating again in the afternoon when further showers are expected. The teams should therefore take advantage of the first part of the day to complete the laps even if rain is forecast during the night.

Barcelona Winter Test Results – Day 3

1. Fernando Alonso – McLaren – 2'18''545 – 11 laps 2. Daniel Ricciardo – Red Bull – 2 laps 3. Brendon Hartley – Toro Rosso – 2 laps 4. Marcus Ericsson – Sauber – 1 lap 5. Robert Kubica – Williams – 1 round

18h

Alonso returns to the pits with 11 laps on the clock:

18h

Alonso crossed the finish line under the checkered flag which concluded a very strange day of testing.

18h

2:18.545 for Alonso who improves. 10 rounds for the Bull of Asturias!

17h

Alonso remains the only author of a time with around ten laps completed.

17h

17h

Alonso in action with the McLaren MCL33:

17h

The Barcelona press room is in delirium. Alonso has just set the first time of the day with a time of 2'21"268... just over a minute from the previous day's benchmark.

17h

Alonso is the first driver of the day to complete a lap, a quarter of an hour from the checkered flag.

17h

Alonso remains the most diligent of the day with 5 installation laps completed… All with just over 20 minutes to go before the end of the session.

17h

McLaren observes that the color of the rain tires suits its livery well. Here, Alonso behind the wheel of the MCL33:

16h

Alonso prepares to return to the track, the rain having just stopped above the Circuit de Catalunya.

16h

The rare images of the day of cars on the track:

16h

The installation of the Toro Rosso before its first outing of the day:

16h

The track remains completely wet, but the conditions finally seem passable.

15h

Hartley becomes the 5th driver to take to the track today:

15h

With just over 2 hours to go before the end of practice, no time has yet been set today.

15h

Kubica leaving the pits on his Williams FW41:

15h

Kubica takes to the track at the wheel of the Williams FW41:

14h

Bottas looks at the stand of his former team Williams:

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