In Barcelona, Vettel Fastest Ahead from Hamilton
Selasa, 23 Februari 2016 - 02:38 WIB
In Barcelona, Vettel Fastest Ahead from Hamilton
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BARCELONA - Ferrari's racer, Sebastian Vettel set the fastest time, ahead of world champion Lewis Hamilton, as Formula 1 pre-season testing started in Barcelona. Vettel's best lap was 0.47 seconds quicker than Hamilton, doing little to diminish the sense that Ferrari may offer a closer challenge in 2016.
Red Bull's Daniel Ricciardo was third fastest, a further 0.6secs behind, with Williams' Valtteri Bottas fourth. Jenson Button managed sixth fastest for McLaren-Honda, 1.8secs off the pace.
Nevertheless, Vettel alternated fastest times with Mercedes' Hamilton throughout the day, giving the impression that Ferrari have, as promised, made a significant step forward this season.
"Ferrari are looking strong already and definitely we are expecting them to be a big threat," Hamilton's team-mate Nico Rosberg.
However, Mercedes were as imposing as ever. Hamilton managed more than 150 laps - twice as much as any other car - and was fast throughout the day. The world champion, gunning for his third consecutive title and his fourth in all, said he was "very satisfied" with his first day in his new car.
"It is a great start to the first day of testing. To get it to perform as well as it has with the least amount of problems, the guys have done a great job," Hamilton said.
"It feels very much the same as last year's. It is an evolution so it doesn't really feel any different, but that is a good thing. It feels good and we have had lots of laps so far." he said.
Red Bull's Daniel Ricciardo was third fastest, a further 0.6secs behind, with Williams' Valtteri Bottas fourth. Jenson Button managed sixth fastest for McLaren-Honda, 1.8secs off the pace.
Nevertheless, Vettel alternated fastest times with Mercedes' Hamilton throughout the day, giving the impression that Ferrari have, as promised, made a significant step forward this season.
"Ferrari are looking strong already and definitely we are expecting them to be a big threat," Hamilton's team-mate Nico Rosberg.
However, Mercedes were as imposing as ever. Hamilton managed more than 150 laps - twice as much as any other car - and was fast throughout the day. The world champion, gunning for his third consecutive title and his fourth in all, said he was "very satisfied" with his first day in his new car.
"It is a great start to the first day of testing. To get it to perform as well as it has with the least amount of problems, the guys have done a great job," Hamilton said.
"It feels very much the same as last year's. It is an evolution so it doesn't really feel any different, but that is a good thing. It feels good and we have had lots of laps so far." he said.
(rnz)
