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Formula 1

Barcelona F1 test day two

Live Standings

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Summary

  • Raikkonen quickest, but causes first red flag
  • Perez had led morning ahead of Ricciardo
  • Intrigue over Mercedes's steering wheel
  • Vettel makes first test appearance

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Checkered flag
Driver, Team, Time, Tyre
Perez,Racing Point,1m17.347s,C3
Ricciardo,Renault,1m17.749s,C3
Albon,Red Bull,1m17.912s,C2
Gasly,AlphaTauri,1m18.121s,C2
Russell,Williams,1m18.266s,C3
Leclerc,Ferrari,1m18.335s,C3
Hamilton,Mercedes,1m18.387s,C1
Grosjean,Haas,1m18.496s, C3
Raikkonen,Alfa Romeo,1m17.091s,C5
Norris,McLaren,1m18.474s,C2
Bottas, Mercedes, 1m19.307s, C2
Vettel, Ferrari, 1m18.154s, C4
Ocon, Renault, 1m18.557s, C2
Autosport
Thanks everybody for tuning in today - we'll be back tomorrow from 7:45am with live updates from the final day of the first test, as well as all the reaction from the paddock as the teams scramble to understand the latest piece of Mercedes trickery. Goodnight!
News
As promised, here's LUKE SMITH's report on the day's events, as Kimi Raikkonen set the fastest time before bringing out the day's only red flag.

Barcelona F1 testing: Raikkonen tops day two, causes first red flag

Kimi Raikkonen ended the second day of Formula 1 pre-season testing fastest for Alfa Romeo before causing a red flag, as Mercedes debuted its new dual-axis steering system

Barcelona F1 testing: Raikkonen tops day two, causes first red flag
Information
Our technical consultant TIM WRIGHT has worked for both Alfa (in its previous guise as Sauber) and Renault in the past, and he'll be bringing us his thoughts on how the cars looked trackside to give some context to the numbers below.

1 Raikkonen 1m17.091s
2 Perez 1m17.347s
3 Ricciardo 1m17.749s
4 Albon 1m17.912s
5 Gasly 1m18.121s
6 Vettel 1m18.154s
7 Russell 1m18.266s
8 Leclerc 1m18.335s
9 Hamilton 1m18.387s
10 Norris 1m18.474s
11 Grosjean 1m18.496s
12 Ocon 1m18.557s
13 Bottas 1m19.307
Romain Grosjean topped the lap charts, doing 158 tours of the circuit before clunking the wall at Turn 4

Romain Grosjean topped the lap charts, doing 158 tours of the circuit before clunking the wall at Turn 4

Alfa Romeo, Racing Point and Renault locking out the top three is probably not what we were expecting today, but headline times in testing don't win you many prizes. Raikkonen's best lap is the second-quickest of the test so far, behind only Hamilton's best effort from yesterday.
So, what did we learn today? Mercedes's trick steering system has been the main story in town today, and the team was on to clear 200 laps today before Bottas's electrics packed up.
Checkered flag
And that's that for day two! Raikkonen top, from Perez and Ricciardo - the full report will be on your doorsteps soon.
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And the running has resumed for the final six-and-a-half minutes. Ocon, Gasly, Albon, Vettel and Norris are all on-track.
Raikkonen's stranded car, surrounded by a number of other cars.

Raikkonen's stranded car, surrounded by a number of other cars.

Raikkonen is out of the car, and has been escorted back to the pitlane in a circuit vehicle.
Red flag
It's our first red flag! Raikkonen has stopped on track on the run to Turn 9, cementing his place at the top of the timing boards.
Information
We're into the final 25 minutes, for those of you still with us! Norris, Gasly and Perez are still out on track doing their runs - while Grosjean is officially done for the day.
It's only testing! Norris hits traffic in the shape of Pierre Gasly, who really doesn't fancy conceding track position. Having been run out of road, Norris escapes to the pits to avoid the AlphaTauri driver.
Alfa Romeo fans will certainly be cheered by that effort from Raikkonen. It was a so-so first year for the team formerly known as Sauber under its new name last year, with Raikkonen's fourth place at Interlagos the closest to scoring the marque's first F1 podium since Monza 1984. Riccardo Patrese was the lucky man, especially so given it was only the fourth time he reached the finish that year.

Alfa Romeo fans will certainly be cheered by that effort from Raikkonen. It was a so-so first year for the team formerly known as Sauber under its new name last year, with Raikkonen's fourth place at Interlagos the closest to scoring the marque's first F1 podium since Monza 1984. Riccardo Patrese was the lucky man, especially so given it was only the fourth time he reached the finish that year.

Information
Word from Mercedes: Bottas apparently has an electrical issue, hence his inability to continue.
How's this for a testing livery? No frills, no...anything, really. Just a Jaguar R1 enrobed in a British Racing Green scheme. Noice.

How's this for a testing livery? No frills, no...anything, really. Just a Jaguar R1 enrobed in a British Racing Green scheme. Noice.

Information
Meanwhile, Mercedes confirms no further running for Bottas.
Crash
Grosjean's had our first proper oopsy, spinning at Turn 4 and hitting the wall backwards! He's recovered to the pits, but today's highest mileage-coverer will be slightly chastened by that issue.
Either Raikkonen has had an argument with a crate of Dulux, or Alfa Romeo are conducting studies into aero efficiency. We'll leave you to decide which.

Either Raikkonen has had an argument with a crate of Dulux, or Alfa Romeo are conducting studies into aero efficiency. We'll leave you to decide which.

Stopwatch
Raikkonen now goes fastest! 1m17.091s is the time, C5 is the tyre.
Some quicker times have finally happened this afternoon - Vettel has thrown in a 1m18.154s on a set of C4s, while Albon pops up to P4 with a good lap on C2s.
Another testing livery lost to the sands of time: BAR's first ever car in 1999 had a glossy blue finish, before its dual-livery concept was scrapped for the infamous zip...

Another testing livery lost to the sands of time: BAR's first ever car in 1999 had a glossy blue finish, before its dual-livery concept was scrapped for the infamous zip...

Information
There's just one more hour to go, and then we'll be two-thirds of the way through test one! That's flown by.
Autosport
Of course, the day's major talking point has been the 'DAS' system in use on the Mercedes. We've had a good look at it, and had a bash at answering some key questions.

Mercedes' DAS: What is it, how does it work, and is it legal? - F1 - Autosport Plus

Mercedes sent its rival F1 teams, the media and fans into overdrive when its front wheels were caught turning inwards in response to a steering input from Lewis Hamilton. Here we examine the tech behind the device that has caused so much commotion

Mercedes' DAS: What is it, how does it work, and is it legal? - F1 - Autosport Plus
Information
With a little over an hour of running left today, here's a reminder of how the times are looking - and it's pretty for those in pink.

1 Perez 1m17.347s
2 Ricciardo 1m17.749s
3 Gasly 1m18.121s
4 Albon 1m18.155s
5 Russell 1m18.266s
6 Leclerc 1m18.335s
7 Hamilton 1m18.387s
8 Vettel 1m18.431s
9 Grosjean 1m18.496s
10 Raikkonen 1m18.508s
11 Norris 1m18.537s
12 Ocon 1m18.557s
13 Bottas 1m21.248s
Perambulating, yes, but still rather rapid. Here's Albon's Red Bull testing our snapper's panning abilities.

Perambulating, yes, but still rather rapid. Here's Albon's Red Bull testing our snapper's panning abilities.

There are six cars perambulating around the circuit: Perez, Albon, Gasly, Russell, Vettel and Grosjean.
Updates from TIM WRIGHT in the pitlane: The doors are closed at Mercedes - so there does appear to be a problem! That puts the 200-lap milestone in jeopardy...
Our long-haired Grand Prix Editor - otherwise known as Alex Kalinauckas - has spotted Arthur Leclerc wearing full Ferrari Driver Academy kit in the paddock. He’s also just been announced as one of Venturi’s drivers for the FE rookie test.
Our technical consultant Tim Wright has been keeping a watchful eye on Bottas's running - apparently, the Finnish driver had seven more laps on his run to do, but he's pulled into the garage and got out of the car. First hints of trouble at Merc?
While we were scouring the earth for the best testing liveries, we missed Bottas going two tenths faster than his previous best. Nobody else is out there improving as it stands.
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And a bonus livery: since we've seen Pedro de la Rosa in the paddock, here's his Arrows A21 from pre-season testing in 2000.

And a bonus livery: since we've seen Pedro de la Rosa in the paddock, here's his Arrows A21 from pre-season testing in 2000.

Let's take another quick trip down memory lane for some testing livery fun - 2015's Red Bull dazzle-camo. Phwoar.

Let's take another quick trip down memory lane for some testing livery fun - 2015's Red Bull dazzle-camo. Phwoar.

Bottas also posted a 1m19.595s to stay bottom, but close up to the times of the rest.
Mercedes looks set to clear 200 laps today; Bottas has added 68 laps so far to Hamilton's 106, which should make, hang on...carry the one...174 laps. Jeepers.

By: Geoff Creighton

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