The first Formula 1 pre-season test session of the 2022 season is underway at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, as all ten teams attempt to put their new cars in their paces.
Despite the test being behind closed doors, Grandprix247 will endeavor to provide the readers with insights and information from the track in Barcelona.
First hour of the Barcelona test
Haas F1 Team officially presented their 2022 car, the VF22 in the Barcelona paddock with Nikita Mazepin on driving duty for the American outfit.
The #VF22 is officially unveiled ✨#HaasF1 pic.twitter.com/rY7EF71qCR
— Haas F1 Team (@HaasF1Team) February 23, 2022
Sebastian Vettel lead the proceedings being the first to drive out of the garage in the Aston Martin AMR22, with Lando Norris driving the MCL 36 out of the McLaren garage carrying aero rakes.
The first time on the board was registered by Mercedes’ George Russell, a 1:35, in the aero rake-donning W13.
The 2021 World Champion Max Verstappen was out on track as well, as the world got the chance to have a proper look at the real Red Bull RB18, featuring a radical sidepod design, and a pull-rod front suspension as opposed to the conventional push-rod shown on the launch car.
Another angle of the #RB18 out on track ? #F1 pic.twitter.com/DI2z5SDnep
— Oracle Red Bull Racing (@redbullracing) February 23, 2022
Alfa Romeo took to the track in their heavily camouflaged car, as the real one is yet to be revealed, with reserve driver Robert Kubica at the wheel.
??♂️ pic.twitter.com/iJLwX8EsW9
— Alfa Romeo F1 Team ORLEN (@alfaromeoorlen) February 23, 2022
With one hour into the test, all ten teams have had their cars running around the Spanish venue as Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc recorded a time of 1:21.718, around five seconds off the pole time recorded last year, but it’s advisable not to read much into that.
Buongiorno Tifosi ?
Here we go! @Charles_Leclerc #essereFerrari #F1Testing pic.twitter.com/tvirJiu8JL
— Scuderia Ferrari (@ScuderiaFerrari) February 23, 2022
Seven-time World Champion Lewis Hamilton was hanging around the paddock, playing “Inspector Seb”, and checking out the competition’s cars, especially that RB18 that seems to be turning heads around the Barcelona paddock.
Lewis Hamilton checks out all the cars on a pitlane walk…? pic.twitter.com/FEHN7X4Nqf
— Sky Sports F1 (@SkySportsF1) February 23, 2022
Hour two of the testing proceedings
Smooth running continues, no red flags, as testing enters the second hour of the morning session, all drivers keeping their cars on track.
A little over an hour into the testing (9:10 GMT), here is an update on lap times, keeping in mind that last year’s pole time achieved by Lewis Hamilton was 1:16.741.
1. Charles Leclerc – Ferrari – 1m21.178 – C2 tyre
2. Lando Norris – McLaren – 1m22.491 – C2 tyre
3. George Russell – Mercedes – 1m22.655 – C3 tyre
4. Yuki Tsunoda – AlphaTauri – 1m22.692 – C3 tyre
5. Max Verstappen – Red Bull – 1m23.038 – C2 tyre
6. Fernando Alonso – Alpine – 1m23.317 – C3 tyre
7. Sebastian Vettel – Aston Martin – 1m25.007 – C3 tyre
A little under two hours into the session, all cars seem to have been running reliably, with Max Verstappen topping the lap counter by 37 laps.
Into the third hour
Alfa Romeo and Haas had their running restricted, both teams contributing that to new car gremlins. Otherwise nothing major to be reported as the session continues to be red-flag-free.
As the testing activities entered the third hour of the morning session on Wednesday in Barcelona, the times registered by the drivers were as follows:
1. Charles Leclerc – Ferrari – 1m21.718 – C2 tyre
2. Max Verstappen – Red Bull – 1m22.246, C2 tyre
3. Lando Norris – McLaren – 1m22.382, C2 tyre
4. George Russell – Mercedes – 1m22.655 – C3 tyre
5. Yuki Tsunoda – AlphaTauri – 1m22.692 – C3 tyre
6. Fernando Alonso – Alpine, 1m23.317 – C3 tyre
7. Nicholas Latifi – Williams – 1m23.379 – C3 tyre
8. Sebastian Vettel – Aston Martin – 1m24.076 – C3 tyre
9. Nikita Mazepin – Haas, 1m28.255 – C2 tyre
George Russell manages to top the timing screens, almost halfway into the third hour of running with a 1:21.403, less the five seconds off the pole time his teammate achieved at Barcelona in 2021.
Verstappen meanwhile was racking up the laps, becoming the first driver with 50 laps under his belt, and that was almost two and half hours from the start of testing.
Alfa Romeo have had on four laps on the board in comparison…
Close till the end of the third hour of running, the times kept tumbling as Charles Leclerc regained the top spot from George Russell, with a 1:20.165, despite the latter’s improvement to 1:20.784.
Sheeesh ? pic.twitter.com/ctIt8VUtDW
— Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team (@MercedesAMGF1) February 23, 2022
The final hour of the morning session
As testing enters the final hour before the one-hour lunch break, here is the updated list of times recorded.
1. Charles Leclerc – Ferrari – 1m20.165 – C3 tyre
2. George Russell – Mercedes – 1m20.784 – C3 tyre
3.Lando Norris – McLaren – 1m21.173 – C2 tyre
4. Max Verstappen – Red Bull – 1m22.246 – C2 tyre
5. Yuki Tsunoda – AlphaTauri – 1m22.692 – C3 tyre
6. Fernando Alonso – Alpine – 1m23.317 – C3 tyre
7. Sebastian Vettel – Aston Martin – 1m23.328 – C3 tyre
8. Nicholas Latifi – Williams – 1m23.379 – C3 tyre
9. Nikita Mazepin – Haas – 1m26.455 – C2 tyre
Also Verstappen will be gunning for a century of laps, as he is already on 65, with one hour to go before lunch.
The #RB18 laying down some rubber ? pic.twitter.com/Qk00YPgDPt
— Oracle Red Bull Racing (@redbullracing) February 23, 2022
With 35 minutes left of the morning session, Sebastian Vettel climbed to fourth in the AMR22, with a 1:21.551.
POV: You’re on the pitwall at @Circuitcat_eng. ? pic.twitter.com/hKUaUeC9FB
— Aston Martin Aramco Cognizant F1 Team (@AstonMartinF1) February 23, 2022
In the afternoon session, Lewis Hamilton will take over from George Russell at Mercedes, Alex Albon from Nicholas Latifi in the Williams, Mick Schumacher from Nikita Mazepin at Haas, and Lance Stroll from Sebastian Vettel in the Aston Martin.
Valtteri Bottas is supposed to take over from Robert Kubica at Alfa Romeo, the Polish driver confined to the team’s garage, his lap counter only at four.
Haas are the slowest team out there, with 13 laps only, as team owner Gene Haas is reportedly present at the track following the proceedings.
With 30 minutes to go before the break, Red Bull have amassed 71 laps followed by 68 for Mercedes, and 66 for Ferrari. Some solid running for the Big Three. Hopefully a three-way fight for the title this year.
Robert Kubica emerged from the Alfa Romeo garage with 20 minutes remaining from the morning testing session, while Fernando Alonso was doing some under-the-radar running racking up 47 laps up to now.
4️⃣7️⃣ laps so far this morning. One more run before we break for lunch. #F1Testing pic.twitter.com/762QuBAChQ
— BWT Alpine F1 Team (@AlpineF1Team) February 23, 2022
Here are the times and number of laps for each driver at the end of the morning test session:
1. Charles Leclerc – Ferrari – 1m20.165 – C3 tyre – 80 laps
2. Lando Norris – McLaren – 1m20.474 – C3 tyre – 50 laps
3. George Russell – Mercedes – 1m20.784 – C3 tyre – 77 laps
4. Sebastian Vettel – Aston Martin – 1m21.276 – C3 tyre – 52 laps
5. Yuki Tsunoda – AlphaTauri – 1m21.638 – C3 tyre – 44 laps
6. Max Verstappen – Red Bull – 1m22.246 – C2 tyre – 80 laps
7. Fernando Alonso – Alpine – 1m23.317 – C3 tyre – 54 laps
8. Nicholas Latifi – Williams – 1m23.379 – C3 tyre – 66 laps
9. Nikita Mazepin – Haas – 1m24.505 – C2 tyre – 20 laps
10. Robert Kubica – Alfa Romeo – 1m25.909 – C3 tyre – 9 laps
Report in progress…
2022 cars out on track ???
— Sky Sports F1 (@SkySportsF1) February 23, 2022