First day of the second F1 test
Problems for McLaren and Mercedes bring out red flags
Testing Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday in Barcelona this week
Alfa Romeo of Giovinazzi tops morning session
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Michael Emons
Of our 12 that have set a time, the best laps have all been on the C3 medium compound, apart from Giovinazzi (C4, second softest), Hamilton (C2, second hardest) and Ricciardo (C2, second hardest).
Valtteri Bottas, no time.
It's all happening. The Red Bull of Pierre Gasly has just gone quicker than the Ferrari of Sebastian Vettel and into the lead.
Both drivers have set their best times on the medium compound, the C3 tyre, with Gasly smashing a 1:17.715, nearly five tenths faster than Vettel's 1:18.206.
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That's why we're here.
Good news for McLaren. Lando Norris had to stop earlier on because of a "loss of hydraulic pressure" in the morning session, but has been going round for a fair bit of time now without too many problems. He's up to 65 laps for the day, although he's still the slowest of the 12 to set a time.
Valtteri Bottas, remember, conked out on his first lap and has not been seen on the track ever since.
And the "red car" is now in the lead.
Sebastian Vettel jumps to the top with a 1:18.206. It has only taken 14 laps, with a red flag in the middle for Valtteri Bottas. It is certainly a good day for Ferrari and a bad one so far for Mercedes, as their mechanics are still trying to figure out why Bottas' car stopped.
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Kevin Lloyd: It seems that everyone euphemistically talks about "the red cars" in the same way that actors talk about "the Scottish play" to avoid bad luck. If a team accidentally refer to them by name are they doomed to lose the championship?
It appears that way, Kevin. Don't mention the F-word.
Whenever Fernando Alonso turns up at any Formula 1 event, he will attract huge interest and here he is battling through the media and the autograph hunters in Barcelona.
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Mill Felt: Mercedes with a whole new aeropackage this week, does that mean they were wrong last week? McLaren still the same slow as last year it looks.
Valtteri Bottas' W10 is covered up in a sheet to stop rival eyes studying the car, soon to be off the back of a truck and ready to be investigated.
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And Ricciardo just could not wait to get out there, as this clip shows...
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The track reopening sees Gasly, Vettel, Norris and, for the first time today, Ricciardo, get out there.
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Stewart: 'Valtteri, it's time to show everyone what you can do. You're not just making up numbers at Mercedes. You're there to win. You can be champion.' REDFLAG TURN 3 - Bottas stops on track.
Bottas' car has been collected up and is heading back to the pits, so away we go again.
He's done 61 laps so far today and is currently sitting second in the times, but Pierre Gasly is ready for some more.
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Valtteri Bottas, no time.
That red flag obviously means Sebastian Vettel has had to retreat back to the pits as well. He's only done three laps but is already faster than Lewis Hamilton, Nico Hulkenberg and Lando Norris.
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The recovery vehicle is now collecting Bottas' car. A terrible start to the afternoon for him and Mercedes.