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Formula 1

Barcelona F1 test day three

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Russell pits the Williams after an install lap.
Raikkonen followed Russell out, so we also have Vettel, Verstappen and Ricciardo on track.
Verstappen also joins the track.
Russell is on the red C4 tyres in the Williams.
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The Williams has been rolled into the pits. George Russell is saddled up and pulls the car onto the track.
Vettel is straight out now the session is green.
Green flag
The Haas has been dropped back off at the pits. We are green.
The Haas is back on the flatbed. Name a more dynamic duo. We'll wait.
Grosjean is all smiles as he arrives back to the Haas garage. Now he's chatting with engineers.

Deja vu. This is becoming a consistent factor of testing.
In the meantime, here's the customary 'F1 car with aero paint' picture (Motorsport Images)

In the meantime, here's the customary 'F1 car with aero paint' picture (Motorsport Images)

Grosjean has his helmet off and is chatting to the marshals. Hopefully this will be a simple put the car on the flatbed truck and bring it back to the pits so we can get going again.
Grosjean had four push laps, all in the 1m19s, supplemented by some cool down laps while he was out on the C3 tyre.
Gary Anderson
As they prepare to send the FW42 out for its first lap, Williams will be working on the small details with wheels on, making sure the brake ducts are clear. Checking the bodywork fits. Any grinding you hear from the garage at this stage could be a bodywork cutout that’s too close to a suspension component. It’s very easy to damage bodywork or even other parts that way. There will be these small things that need to be tidied as everything is designed to be so compact.
Red flag
That's the second time today the Haas has ground to a halt. And the third time this week.
Crash
Grosjean has stopped on track.
Verstappen's time was less than a tenth off his personal best from this morning, which currently has him fifth overall.
On track: Raikkonen (C2) Grosjean (C3), Verstappen (C3).
Edd Straw
Down at the entry to Turn 1, the Haas is looking very planted and there’s not much to complain about there. The Alfa carries in good speed but Raikkonen has struggled a bit with the rear in the exit of the right hander. Improved third time round though.
Raikkonen remains consistently in the high 1m22s for Alfa Romeo.
That 1m38.445s is likely a cool-down lap for Grosjean.
Verstappen joins the circuit. Grosjean and Raikkonen are already out.
Raikkonen is on the C2 tyre and the last two laps have been in the 1m22s.
Scott Mitchell
I can hear mechanics working away and some tools being used behind the screen at Williams. Movement in and out of the garage now as team personnel buzz about.
The roar beneath us means Lewis Hamilton is taking over the Mercedes.
Grosjean's second lap is a 1m19.519s. Fractionally down on the last lap.
Grosjean's first flier is a 1m19.358s, and that already puts him eighth in the order!
Romain Grosjean is the first driver out on track, taking the car for the first time since Monday. he's on the C3 tyre.

Kimi Raikkonen is close behind. The morning pacesetter is on C2 tyres.
Williams Watch: We're in position and waiting for the FW42 to appear

Williams Watch: We're in position and waiting for the FW42 to appear

It's still overcast and cooler than it has been the last couple of days at the Circuit de Catalunya.
There's no instant takers to the circuit.
Green flag
Green flag!
Ferrari had a Mercedes-like first day of testing and has continued to impress through the week so far. Lewis Hamilton's had his say on his likely rival's showing

Hamilton: Ferrari looks 'very, very strong' right now

Lewis Hamilton has conceded that Ferrari looks 'very, very strong' right now, but he says it is not unusual for his Italian rival to hit the ground running in testing.

Hamilton: Ferrari looks 'very, very strong' right now
Less than two minutes to go until the session is back underway.
Scott Mitchell
Big news for Williams: George Russell is getting in the car now. The FW42 will be on-track "as soon as possible".

Williams's pre-season testing programme will finally be able to begin once the "finishing touches" are completed in the garage.
There's engines firing up in the pitlane. That means we're almost ready for more action.
Autosport
Until Kimi Raikkonen went fastest this morning, Ferrari had dominated the top times in pre-season testing so far.

But what about the teams in the pack behind?

In this video, Gary Anderson and Jack Benyon join Glenn Freeman to discuss the reality behind the results so far and the teams that may be in trouble.

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A key correction from this morning: Raikkonen set his fastest time on the softest C5 tyres, not the C4s, which are also red. Funnily enough, once the tyre is turning it's pretty hard to tell the difference between ones that have red writing and red lines on them, and the ones that just have red writing on them. Anyway, here's the photographic proof that he was on the C5s (Motorsport Images)

A key correction from this morning: Raikkonen set his fastest time on the softest C5 tyres, not the C4s, which are also red. Funnily enough, once the tyre is turning it's pretty hard to tell the difference between ones that have red writing and red lines on them, and the ones that just have red writing on them. Anyway, here's the photographic proof that he was on the C5s (Motorsport Images)

By: Geoff Creighton

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