*** Winter Testing #2 - Barcelona ***

[suffolk009]

The second preseason test, the first at Barcelona, starts on Thursday.

It seems McLaren are having a filming day (maybe two?) before the test starts.

@JensonButton
Lovely weekend in MC with wifey @jessybondgirl followed by a road trip to Circuit de Barcelona for filming pre test.

[007 VXR]

another 4 days ?

[anonymous-user]

Filming day slang for trying to actually get the thing to run day?

[thegreenhell]

It makes sense for them if they're going to be running around slowly and doing limited mileage anyway while sorting out basic teething problems. Hopefully they can get the car to run properly and do some meaningful performance work during the test proper.

[suffolk009]

McLaren just tweeted that they are doing a second film day today.

[RobGT81]

Is that pretty much what Mercedes did weeks ago at Silverstone?

[andyps]

RobGT81 said:

Is that pretty much what Mercedes did weeks ago at Silverstone?

Yes, they had a filming day before the first test. It got snowed off in the afternoon though, at least McLaren shouldn't suffer that issue.

[Nigel_O]

Seems Susie Wolff will be testing at Barcelona - hope she does well

[007 VXR]

Have they started yet? Any PHs there ?

[London424]

Morning all!

So Kimi is only 2 seconds off the pole position time from May last year and I'm guessing these cars aren't even nearly running a Quali spec.

[Teppic]

Times as of 09:21

1. Raikkonen, Ferrari, 1:27.523, 16 laps
2. Button, McLaren, 1:28.182, 11 laps
3. Wehrlein, Force India, 1:29.510, 10 laps
4. NAsr, Sauber, 1:30.087, 12 laps
5. Hamilton, Mercedes, 1:30.429, 11 laps
6. Wolff, Williams, 1:32.600, 11 laps
7. Maldonado, Lotus, 1:51.454, 5 laps
8. Verstappen, Toro Rosso, No time, 5 laps
9. Ricciardo, Red Bull, No time, 2 laps

The McLaren is going pretty well so far. They seem to be on top of the niggles they suffered in Jerez.

[007 VXR]

Teppic said:

The McLaren is going pretty well so far. They seem to be on top of the niggles they suffered in Jerez.

Great to see

[Tyre Tread]

Loving these updates guys. Thanks for reporting for us.

[Teppic]

I mis-read the Autosport update:

Autosport said:

09:35 Red flag.

09:36 That's Maldonado just before Turn 4. He'd just gone out in the Lotus again, and hasn't made it as far this time...

09:37 Maldonado's out of the stricken E23 and peering over it, before turning away frustrated.

Two support vehicles are already on the scene.

I initially though it said he was peeing over it.

[London424]

Just in addition to my 2 second comment earlier. The pole time was set on Mediums...Kimi is on Hards.

All very impressive stuff!

[Sammo123]

Mercedes have just announced that Hamilton is unwell and won't be continuing testing today. They are getting the car ready for Pascal Wehrlein to drive this afternoon. I wonder who's driving the Force India this afternoon then?

[anonymous-user]

Poor LH. The media will be speculating like mad about what "unwell" means.

So the Ferarri 11 lap run with a fast lap at the end was on hards? Potentially impressive.

[Teppic]

Sergio Perez is apparently at the circuit for a media event, so he may be drafted in for testing duties.

It seems that Raikkonen's fastest time has been deleted, so Jenson is currently quickest!

[Teppic]

Raikkonen now fastest on a 1m28.064s, putting him 0.118s ahead of Button.

[anonymous-user]

Do they normally erect screens around a car when it comes in? Normally just in front of the garage if they're revealing parts of the car? Hope he's alright.