Barcelona F1 test two day three
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Ahead of Charles Leclerc’s first season as a Ferrari F1 driver, our partner Pitstop Betting is offering odds of 1/2 that he will win a race this season and 5/2 that he will outscore team-mate Sebastian Vettel.
We'd say our assumption was a fair one. Leclerc sets a new fastest time of all in the first sector.
He's just four thousandths shy of his previous best in sector two as well.
Stopwatch
There it is - another fastest lap from the Ferrari driver. 1m16.361s is Leclerc's new benchmark.
Leclerc pits after that single-lap effort, but is replaced on-track by another C5-shod car - Gasly's Red Bull.
The Renault is out again. Let's see if the team's tyre choice is any more conventional this time.
Gasly's first sector time is three tenths down on Leclerc's benchmark.
The Red Bull isn't any faster in the second sector either.
Gasly completes a 1m17.300s lap - so no improvement on this occasion.
Albon has been lapping in the low 1m23s on this run, but sneaks into the 1m24s on this latest lap.
Hulkenberg is on unmarked tyres as Norris heads back out.
Another short run for Gasly, who pits to be taken back into the Red Bull garage.
Its C3s for Norris on this run. Hamilton has been told this is his final lap.
Leclerc is back out for one final run, and sets a new fastest time in the first sector. You'd hate to be getting a session report ready right now, wouldn't you?
Stopwatch
It's another marginal improvement for Leclerc, who gets down to a 1m16.231s. That again looked as though it was on the C5.
A sighting of Leclerc as he pits from that latest run confirms beyond doubt he was on C5s. Albon is also in, while Hamilton has driven through the pits as we approach the end of the session.
Albon and Leclerc also drove through the pits, as it happens.
Checkered flag
Norris and Hulkenberg both squeeze over the line for one final flying lap each, but the red lights are now on down the main straight - that's lunch.
Leclerc, Albon and Hamilton have all returned to the pits.
Our impaired view of Giovinazzi's Alfa being recovered a few minutes ago
As was the case yesterday, cars have been shown a green flag at the end of the pitlane and been allowed to go back out. Leclerc appears to have taken up that offer.
Leclerc did indeed head back out and is following the safety car around. Magnussen also took to the track, but has returned to the pits.
Information
The first session of the day comes to a close. This was the final lap count for each driver.
Hamilton - 85
Albon - 75
Hulkenberg - 73
Norris - 66
Leclerc - 56
Magnussen - 53
Giovinazzi - 49
Russell - 45
Gasly - 44
Stroll - 37
Hamilton - 85
Albon - 75
Hulkenberg - 73
Norris - 66
Leclerc - 56
Magnussen - 53
Giovinazzi - 49
Russell - 45
Gasly - 44
Stroll - 37
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Leclerc has finally come back to the pits now.
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Autosport
Ferrari's Charles Leclerc topped the opening session of Thursday's Barcelona pre-season test
Autosport
Following a crash for Sebastian Vettel caused by a mechanical issue on Wednesday, Ferrari has now revealed just what the problem was.
McLaren has endured a torrid time in recent years, but could 2019 signal the revival it has been longing for?
Ready for another round of 'watch cars go by, figure out which tyre'? We certainly are. Just under 10 minutes to go until the afternoon session kicks off.
Expect Bottas to replace Hamilton in the Mercedes and Ricciardo to drive the Renault.
Remember Ferrari altered its driver line-up so Leclerc will stay in the car this afternoon.
Remember Ferrari altered its driver line-up so Leclerc will stay in the car this afternoon.
Fernando Alonso was back in the paddock this week, as McLaren announced he would take up an ambassadorial role with the team and will test its 2019 car.
Autosport's Ben Anderson and Scott Mitchell explain the background to this story, plus what it tells us about Alonso's motivation and how serious he still is about F1 despite not being on the grid this year
Autosport's Ben Anderson and Scott Mitchell explain the background to this story, plus what it tells us about Alonso's motivation and how serious he still is about F1 despite not being on the grid this year
Will we get an idea of how Ferrari and Mercedes stack up this afternoon?
Green flag
And we go green for the start of the session.
And no-one rushes out to start proceedings. Clearly a long lunch strategy at work.
We can hear a few pitguns at work. It's all very exciting.
No pitguns now, it's very quiet.
Finally, a car! Russell heads out on track.
Good thing too, because we had been passing the time counting how many 'Go Max' banners we could see in the grandstand.
For the record, it's nine.
For the record, it's nine.
Just like that, we have two cars. Racing Point send Stroll out for a...stroll.
By: Geoff Creighton
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