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Formula 1

Barcelona F1 test day one

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Ricciardo does a 1m22.086s, but remains fourth, less than eight tenths off the pace. Stroll is now fifth on a 1m22.903s.
After matching Alonso's time exactly, Stroll has now gone six tenths faster with a 1m23.523s, moving the Williams up to seventh.
Ricciardo moves up to fourth on a 1m22.729s, moving ahead of Grosjean.
Now it's a 1m24.202s from Stroll, exactly the same as Alonso's time from the morning.
Autosport
Though Sauber's bringing out the rear at this early stage, it ought to be a game-changing year for the now Alfa-backed and even more strongly Ferrari affiliated team. GARY ANDERSON was impressed with his first look at the new design:

Why Sauber-Alfa is already on another level - F1 - Autosport Plus

With greater Ferrari support, one of its prodigies in the driver line-up and the return of the Alfa Romeo name in a 'technical' support capacity, Sauber has high hopes for 2018 - and they look justified

Why Sauber-Alfa is already on another level - F1 - Autosport Plus
Stroll improves to a 1m25.108s, which keeps him eighth.
Ericsson gains another couple of seconds, but he's still marooned at the bottom of the times.
Bottas hasn't been hanging about... (LAT Images)

Bottas hasn't been hanging about... (LAT Images)

Carlos Sainz Jr will be taking over the currently pacesetting Renault from Hulkenberg this afternoon, but in the meantime he's watching from the pitwall while wearing snazzy Prost-1983-yellow shoes (LAT Images)

Carlos Sainz Jr will be taking over the currently pacesetting Renault from Hulkenberg this afternoon, but in the meantime he's watching from the pitwall while wearing snazzy Prost-1983-yellow shoes (LAT Images)

Ericsson improves to a 1m32.952s now, but he's still a way off catching any of the others.
Bottas weaving along the straight, trying to get some heat into those medium tyres. Track temperature is still only 16 degrees C, air temperature a chilly 8 degrees.
Hartley and Stroll join the fun now, as Ericsson sets his personal best of 1m34.901s and stays 10th.
Ricciardo and Bottas also back on track.
Green flag
Green flag. Ericsson straight out on track in the Sauber.
The clear-up operation at Turn 4 is finished, shouldn't be long until we're green again. Just under 90 minutes away from lunch.
Something to watch while the clear-up goes on - here's what an onboard lap looks like with the halo, courtesy of Robert Kubica and Williams during the weekend's filming runs:

Video: Williams FW41's track debut from Kubica's POV

Robert Kubica was in action on Sunday as Williams gave a track debut to its 2018 Formula 1 car.

Video: Williams FW41's track debut from Kubica's POV
Turn 4 is a hive of activity right now. We count four vehicles as well as the flatbed down there, not including the Force India itself.
Here's a look at the stranded Force India on the circuit cameras

Here's a look at the stranded Force India on the circuit cameras

Mazepin has become beached in the gravel, pointing the wrong direction. Hard to tell yet if the VJM11 has sustained damage, though.
Recovery vehicles are already en route to meet the stranded Force India.
Crash
Mazepin has stopped at Turn 4.
Red flag
Red flag. We aren't sure who is responsible for that one...
Information
One snippet from the Force India briefing - looks like Sergio Perez will get an extra day of running in lieu of unwell test driver Latifi.

When asked by Autosport what the plan would be, team chief operating officer Otmar Szafnauer replied: "Depends on what the weather does, but probably Sergio".
Just Bottas and Mazepin circulating right now, both on mediums.
We'll have plenty more on Force India's hopes for the season ahead on Autosport and motorsport.com shortly after its chiefs addressed the press in the wake of its new car launch this morning.
Another contender for the day's most attention-grabbing sensor kit so far is this contraption attached to the Ferrari earlier (Sutton Images)

Another contender for the day's most attention-grabbing sensor kit so far is this contraption attached to the Ferrari earlier (Sutton Images)

Bottas heads back out, having lost his place at the top of the times, and the lap count, during that spell in the garage.
Red Bull just had some trouble wheeling the car back into the garage. The small trolley that is slotted under the car seemed to get stuck on something, so they had to lift the car again, free it and then try again.
From a little earlier, when the McLaren had all its wheels - Renault-powered McLaren meets its engine swap buddy, the Honda-powered Toro Rosso (LAT Images)

From a little earlier, when the McLaren had all its wheels - Renault-powered McLaren meets its engine swap buddy, the Honda-powered Toro Rosso (LAT Images)

Raikkonen finds more time with a 1m21.986s, but stays third. Ericsson now on the board in 10th place with a 1m39.563s.
Raikkonen duly improves to a 1m22.038s, but lost out in the middle sector. He was tucked up behind Ericsson's Sauber as he crossed the start/finish line.
All eyes on Raikkonen as the Finn does a purple first sector...
Stroll improves to a 1m25.219s, which keeps him eighth.
Raikkonen now moves into third place with a 1m22.799s, clearing Grosjean and Ricciardo.
A view of Raikkonen's Ferrari from above in the pits a little earlier (LAT Images)

A view of Raikkonen's Ferrari from above in the pits a little earlier (LAT Images)

By: Geoff Creighton

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