Summary

  • Fernando Alonso stops on track but later goes second quickest, behind Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen

  • Sebastian Vettel set the fastest lap recorded at this circuit (1:17.182) on Thursday

  • Final day of Formula 1 testing

  • Session runs until 17:00 GMT

  • Get involved: What have we learned from testing? #bbcf1

  1. Thanks and goodbyepublished at 17:40 Greenwich Mean Time 9 March 2018

    And with that, that concludes our live text commentary for Formula 1 testing.

    But don't worry, it is not long before we are back with coverage of the first race of the season - the Australian Grand Prix, with first practice in two weeks' time.

    Thanks for joining us and for all your comments and jokes to keep us entertained.

    See you soon, bye for now.

  2. Alonso second on last day of testing - read the reportpublished at 17:36 Greenwich Mean Time 9 March 2018

    Andrew Benson
    BBC Sport’s chief F1 writer

    Fernando AlonsoImage source, AFP

    Fernando Alonso set the second fastest time on the final day of pre-season testing to end two difficult weeks for McLaren on a high.

    The two-time champion was 0.563 seconds slower than Kimi Raikkonen, who ensured Ferrari topped the times on both the final two days.

    The Finn's time was just short of team-mate Sebastian Vettel's on Thursday.

    McLaren still had problems - a turbo failure kept Alonso in the pits for five hours - but he managed 83 laps.

    It meant it was a relatively successful final day for McLaren, whose preparations for the season have been hit by a series of reliability problems throughout the eight days of running in Spain.

    Racing director Eric Boullier described all the problems as "minor issues", adding: "Very quickly we are going to get back to normal."

  3. More than 3,000 miles for Mercedespublished at 17:30 Greenwich Mean Time 9 March 2018

    And Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas have certainly put in a stint. They have driven 1,040 laps for a total of 4,841 km or 3,008 miles.

    Or the driving distance between London and Kazakhstan, if you prefer.

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  4. Let's get to racingpublished at 17:26 Greenwich Mean Time 9 March 2018

    Lewis Hamilton sums up everyone's thoughts when he says "testing, done, let's get to racing".

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  5. Not long to wait...published at 17:24 Greenwich Mean Time 9 March 2018

    Only two weeks before the first practice sessions for the Australian Grand Prix with the opening race of the season on Sunday, 25 March.

    Formula 1Image source, F1
  6. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 17:10 Greenwich Mean Time 9 March 2018

    #bbcf1

    Lex‏: Two weeks until we see if McLaren have real pace, keeping everything crossed

    Matthew Robinson: If only Alonso last lap time was real! Still a good end to a troubled week for McLaren. Thanks #bbcf1, external for the reporting. It’s kept me busy in work the last 2 weeks!

    Joanna Harran: Well Michael & Gary, it has been a pleasure. See you all in a few weeks when it’s the start of getting up at stupid-a-clock season

    It's kept us busy too! Glad to have you all with us.

  7. Today's timespublished at 17:09 Greenwich Mean Time 9 March 2018

    The final times...

    1. Kimi Raikkonen (Ferrari, hyper-soft, pictured) 1:17.221 - 157 laps
    2. Fernando Alonso (McLaren, hyper-soft) 1:17.784 - 93 laps
    3. Carlos Sainz (Renault, hyper-soft) 1:18.092 - 45 laps
    4. Daniel Ricciardo (Red Bull, super-soft) 1:18.327 - 92 laps
    5. Romain Grosjean (Haas, ultra-soft) 1:18.412 - 181 laps
    6. Valtteri Bottas (Mercedes, medium) 1:18.825 - 104 laps
    7. Brendon Hartley (Toro Rosso, hyper-soft) 1:18.949 - 156 laps
    8. Esteban Ocon (Force India, hyper-soft) 1:18.967 - 123 laps
    9. Charles Leclerc (Sauber, hyper-soft) 1:19.118 - 75 laps
    10. Sergey Sirotkin (Williams, soft) 1:19.189 - 105 laps
    11. Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes, super-soft) 1:19.464 - 97 laps
    12. Lance Stroll (Williams, soft) 1:19.954 -27 laps

    Kimi RaikkonenImage source, Getty Images
  8. Testing is finishedpublished at 17:03 Greenwich Mean Time 9 March 2018

    All done.

  9. Alonso fastest of everyone, but the lap is then wiped offpublished at 16:59 Greenwich Mean Time 9 March 2018

    Great drama.

    Alonso conked out early on today and is second. For a brief period of time it looked like being a crazy end to the end of testing.

    It flashes up 1:16.720 on the F1 timing app, which would have been the quickest time of the day, the quickest time of qualifying and an unofficial track record.

    But hold your horses. He cut a chicane so the time doesn't count.

  10. Postpublished at 16:53 Greenwich Mean Time 9 March 2018

    Less than 10 minutes left of testing. Still seven cars out there.

  11. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 16:46 Greenwich Mean Time 9 March 2018

    #bbcf1

    Alex Withington: Boom! Nice one Alonso and McLaren. Can't help but think there is a message here in these times late on from McLaren - either for potential sponsors or the media - or both.

    Joanna Harran‏: Well look at that..I think McLaren just like to keep us on our toes. When the car behaves it’s a belter.

    Gareth: Get in Alonso & McLaren!! That has made a dreary Friday afternoon in work much brighter. #flyingtangerine, external

    Fernando AlonsoImage source, Getty Images
  12. Alonso now secondpublished at 16:45 Greenwich Mean Time 9 March 2018

    How quickly things change.

    This morning was a miserable one for Fernando Alonso and Carlos Sainz. Now they are second and third respectively.

    Alonso records a time of 1:17.981 to jump up to second. There is a flurry of late activity with Sainz, Ricciardo, Bottas, Leclerc and Stroll all improving their times. Late drama in Spain.

  13. get involved

    Get Involved #bbcf1published at 16:43 Greenwich Mean Time 9 March 2018

    Your rubbish Formula 1 jokes

    Peter Stevens: What did one steering wheel say to another? We have a race on our hands.

  14. The transporterspublished at 16:38 Greenwich Mean Time 9 March 2018

    Dan Knutson
    F1 journalist in Barcelona

    Because the first four races of the season are “flyaways” the transporters will not be used again until the F1 circus returns here in May for the Spanish Grand Prix.

    TransportersImage source, Dan Knutson
  15. Sainz now secondpublished at 16:35 Greenwich Mean Time 9 March 2018

    This morning it looked like being a rubbish day for Renault, now they are sitting second with Carlos Sainz bolting down a 1:18.164 on the hyper-soft.

  16. Mercedes reach 1,000published at 16:32 Greenwich Mean Time 9 March 2018

    It has been a busy couple of weeks for Mercedes. A thousand laps and counting.

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  17. Almost time to gopublished at 16:28 Greenwich Mean Time 9 March 2018

    Dan Knutson
    F1 journalist in Barcelona

    The teams are starting to pack up things that will not be needed during the final hour of testing.

    Toro RossoImage source, Dan Knutson
  18. Sainz up to fourth, Hamilton down to 11thpublished at 16:26 Greenwich Mean Time 9 March 2018

    Some more late movement, this time coming from the Renault of Carlos Sainz.

    A gearbox problem? What gearbox problem? A good turnaround for Sainz, who goes fourth.

    Interestingly, Lewis Hamilton is now 11th out of the 12 who have set up a time. Only Lance Stroll has gone slower.

    Don't think Hamilton will be too bothered though.

    Carlos SainzImage source, Getty Images
  19. Ricciardo now secondpublished at 16:22 Greenwich Mean Time 9 March 2018

    He was third, now second.

    A late charge from Daniel Ricciardo, who had spent most of the day outside the top eight. His best lap now is 1:18.327, still well short of Kimi Raikkonen's 1:17.221.

  20. Ricciardo up to thirdpublished at 16:18 Greenwich Mean Time 9 March 2018

    We have not seen much of Daniel Ricciardo up until now in the times.

    But there, in the last hour, he jumps on to the super-softs and comes up with a time of 1:18.715, good enough to move up to third.

    Daniel RicciardoImage source, Getty Images