Sebastian Vettel OK after crashing into barrier
McLaren's Carlos Sainz sets fastest 2019 testing time but then breaks down
Alonso becomes McLaren ambassador, Sirotkin named as Renault's reserve driver
Afternoon session 13:00 to 17:00
Testing finishes on Friday
Get involved: Your reaction to Alonso becoming McLaren ambassador #bbcf1
Lewis Hamilton is moving his way up the rankings. He has only been in the car for 13 laps, but is already the seventh quickest man today with a time of 1:19.071 - ahead of Kimi Raikkonen, Sergio Perez, Robert Kubica and Daniel Ricciardo.
Your reaction to Fernando Alonso becoming a McLaren ambassador
Rhydian: Like it or not Alonso is a talented driver who knows his way around a Formula 1 car. His input could be invaluable for McLaren.
Anthony Phillips: Fernando, now a McLaren ambassador and testing the car, is this a thinly disguised insurance policy should Carlos or Lando fail to deliver.
Rachel T: Smart move by Alonso on the ambassador role - as soon as that McLaren looks like a race winner he will be elbowing his way right back into a race seat!
Another big stint has come over at Haas with Romain Grosjean approaching the 70-lap mark already.
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Some much-needed time on track for the Williams pair over the past two days. Robert Kubica is up to the 60-lap mark today and George Russell got to 119 yesterday.
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So, Alonso is not "missing driving the car" would suggest there is no hope of a dramatic full F1 return in 2020.
But, the Spaniard also said this...
“I feel at the peak of my career so being at home is a waste of time and possibilities for everyone. I am doing different iconic races now because I feel at the best moment of my career and I hope to win as many races as I can and keep involved in the F1 life in case.
“I am probably stronger than ever now at 37, physically, mentally and knowledge of different driving styles. I feel very competitive in any series I jump in so I will keep going the next couple of years and see what races will make an impact and race those.
"If one day F1 arrives the moment I can be competitive and be winning, I cannot be relaxed at home, I need to keep updated and the way to keep updated is to be involved somehow.”
Fernando, you tease.
Earlier today it was announced that Fernando Alonso would become a 'McLaren ambassador' a role that will see him doing some testing later this year.
He has been asked why he is not in the car testing this week. He says: “It’s not crucial. The cars are very sensitive to everything, to tyre compound, temperature, etc. Even if I test the car I cannot have maybe the wide range of operation of that car.
“I don’t miss driving the car, to be honest. I know they (the drivers) have a very complex programme of testing. They need answers in the morning, in the afternoon they do a race simulation, it is a very valued time for the race drivers at the moment. If I spend time driving the car, they are lacking the time and I (would) feel bad so this week - I am not missing testing.”
#bbcf1
Gavin Button: I'm not getting carried away with McLaren's times just yet but honestly just relieved that they don't look as bad as they were last year. That Carlos Sainz time was quicker than the fastest time at last year's testing!
JJ Jackson: Impressed with the rookies so far. No major calamities and a couple of tasty laps towards the top of the boards (albeit fleetingly in some cases).
JGriffin: Sainz faster than the fastest time from 2018 Barcelona testing - significant?
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Remember last year's snow? Well, it's sunny now.
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A few driver changes in the afternoon. Nico Hulkenberg is in the Renault, Lewis Hamilton is in the Mercedes and Charles Leclerc is in the Ferrari, well he should be, but we're not sure after Vettel's crash was because of a "mechanical issue".
Carlos Sainz was fastest, he had a problem. Sebastian Vettel was second, he had a problem. Max Verstappen was third, he had a problem.
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And we're back.
We're going to take a break for a bit, but we'll be back in time for the afternoon session, which starts at 13:00 GMT.
See you again then for more fast laps, red flags, crashes and drama.
Back soon.
Tyres
Sainz and Kubica C4 (second softest)
Grosjean, Ricciardo C2 (second hardest)
Everyone else C3 (medium)
That is all for the morning session, and a very lively session at that. There were red flags caused by Carlos Sainz and Max Verstappen, although both returned.
Sainz's incident saw a loss of water pressure and came just after he set a lap of 1:17.144, the single fastest lap in any of the testing sessions in 2019.
The big talking point of the session though was a crash for Sebastian Vettel, who went on at Turn Three and into the barrier with what Ferrari have called a "mechanical problem".
He has not been seen on track since, but has been to the medical centre and is unhurt.
Robert Kubica has shaved his best lap down to a 1:19.991, meaning everyone of the 10 drivers so far today has gone under one minute 20 seconds, apart from Daniel Ricciardo whose best in his Renault is a 1:22.597, but he is preferring a data-gathering long run (68 laps and counting at the moment).
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Your reaction to Fernando Alonso becoming a McLaren ambassador
Lester Mak: So Fernando Alonso is becoming a McLaren Ambassador. I'm really excited. I predict in the future he'll be announced non-exec chairman of McLaren like Niki Lauda is at Mercedes.
Or, alternatively...
Just Mick: Alonso becomes McLaren ambassador. Do McLaren's drivers and engineers need Alonso's advice? A bit patronising
Discuss. Send us your thoughts on Alonso becoming a McLaren Ambassador (a role that will also see him doing some testing later in the year). Paving a way for a full return next year?
The home fans in Barcelona are getting to see a Spanish driver top of the times. Carlos Sainz has just reached the 50-lap mark, with only Max Verstappen (65), Valtteri Bottas (62) and Daniel Ricciardo (58) having been in the car for longer.
McLaren seem to have sorted out their earlier issue of a loss of water pressure, shortly after Sainz set the best time from anyone in 2019 testing.
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We haven't mentioned Kimi Raikkonen much today. He's done 32 laps and is in sixth spot in his Alfa Romeo with a 1:19.194 to move above Racing Point's Sergio Perez.
More from Ferrari on that Sebastian Vettel crash.
The team says: "We foresee that the car will not go out on track for a few hours."
Still no explanation of what the "mechanical problem" was.
Image source, AFP