The first week of pre-season tests, in Barcelona, wraps up on Thursday (Feb. 25th), and Ferrari’s evolution is very clear. Sebastian Vettel was the fastest in two out of four days of testing, setting a best lap time of 1min22s810.
While the four-time world champion stepped on it, Mercedes – winner of the two previous championships – focused on longer testes. For Lewis Hamilton, an avowed fan of Ayrton Senna, testing the car’s reliability was a priority. The Briton took 156 laps on the first day and posted a best time of 1min25s409.
On the second day, Nico Rosberg drove for even longer than his teammate. He took 172 laps, covering almost 800 km, which would amount to about three full F1 races.
The Barcelona track joined the F1 calendar in 1991, the year in which Senna became a three-time champion. The Brazilian raced there three times. All of his triumphs in Spain were achieved in Jerez de la Frontera, where part of the 2015 F1 tests was held. In Jerez, Ayrton won twice (1986 and 1989), and scored four pole positions ) 1986, 1988, 1989 and 1990)
Tests in Barcelona continue until next Tuesday (Mar. 1st). The season starts on March 20th, in Australia.