F1 - General discussion and 2017

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Kimi Raikkonen has completed seven laps for Ferrari this morning, with a rather modest 1:22.704 leaving him in second place.

That time is some way short of Sebastian Vettels 1:19.024 yesterday - the quickest lap in Barcelona in eight years. Despite this pace, however, Lewis Hamilton believes the Scuderia have more in their locker and can beat Mercedes in 2017.

"I think Ferrari are bluffing and that they are a lot quicker than they are showing," Hamilton said. "They're very close to us. It's difficult right now to say exactly who is quicker. But they are very close, if not faster."
 
Ericsson improves to a 1m25.550s, Perez to a 1m22.970s. Both are on mediums.
Sainz leaps to second on a 1m22.638s in the Toro Rosso.

1 Hour in:

1 Stroll Williams 1m22.123s
2 Sainz Toro Rosso 1m22.638s
3 Raikkonen Ferrari 1m22.704s
4 Alonso McLaren 1m22.731s
5 Bottas Mercedes 1m22.809
6 Perez Force India 1m22.970s
7 Hulkenberg Renault 1m23.345s
8 Ericsson Sauber 1m25.550s
Hamilton Mercedes No time
Verstappen Red Bull No time
Massa Williams No time
Grosjean Haas No time
Palmer Renault No time

Ultra-soft tyres for Alonso but despite two personal bests in the first and second sectors and loses out in the last part of the lap and doesn't improve.

Ericsson does improve, to a 1m25.349s.
 
Hulkenberg, on super-soft tyres, flies to a 1m20.505s. That's comfortably the Renault's quickest time in testing so far.
 
We've rarely seen the Toro Rosso up the sharp end of the testing order this winter, but Carlos Sainz has popped into second place with a 1:22.638.

This test has proved a more reliable one for the STR12 after fairly comprehensive problems last week with Renault's engine and other parts. Twelve laps for Sainz so far.

Something fast coming up from Nico Hulkenberg...

The Renault goes quickest with a a lap of 1:20.505 on supersofts

That's Renault's quickest time of winter testing by almost eight tenths. Back in business after the engine issues at the start of the week?
 
Grosjean finds a second on his medium tyres with a 1m25.715s.

Will we see a McLaren this close to a Ferrari again in a race this season?
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Fernando Alonso has at least hammered round the Circuit de Catalunya more times than Raikkonen this morning.
 
So, Verstappen is the only driver yet to set a time.
That'll disappoint his fans who have appeared in the grandstands today with their very long #GoMax banner.

Raikkonen uses medium tyres to improve to third on a 1m22.261s.
 
1 Hulkenberg Renault 1m20.505s
2 Stroll Williams 1m22.123s
3 Raikkonen Ferrari 1m22.261s
4 Sainz Toro Rosso 1m22.638s
5 Alonso McLaren 1m22.731s
6 Bottas Mercedes 1m22.809s
7 Perez Force India 1m22.970s
8 Grosjean Haas 1m25.090s
9 Ericsson Sauber 1m25.349s

Here's a lap count so far:

1 Hulkenberg (19)
2 Stroll (26)
3 Raikkonen (11)
4 Sainz (17)
5 Alonso (14)
6 Bottas (3)
7 Perez (16)
8 Grosjean (17)
9 Ericsson (24)
10 Verstappen (4)
 
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Unusually, only three laps for Mercedes so far this morning.

But the team have confirmed there aren't any problems with the W08 and Valtteri Bottas is just getting ready to head back out now.

Verstappen has only done four with no official time.
 
An encouraging time for Hulkenberg, though perhaps what Renault need more is a reliable day for both themselves and their customer teams.

While Red Bull still to be coping, Renault and Toro Rosso's week's have been blighted by breakdowns.

"I think there's still a bit to understand," admitted Daniel Ricciardo. "I have confidence it will get better by the time we get to Melbourne.

Jolyon Palmer, meanwhile, whose day was cut short by an ERS problem yesterday, added: "We know the problem and we've got some fixes on the way for Melbourne."
 
Improvement there for Stroll, who posts a 1m22.916s on softs. Still 1.4s away from pacesetter Hulkenberg, although the German was on a step softer tyre.
 
Speaking of The Hulk, he's back on track now - making up for the lost time of yesterday, when Renault's ERS woes stopped him getting out - as is Perez in the Force India.

Ultrasofts for Hulkenberg this time, and he uses them to good effect as he improves to a 1m20.248s.

Perez meanwhile with an improvement on mediums, it's a 1m22.622s for the Mexican.
 
Good news Sauber fans - Ericsson is out on softs, and posts his best time of the morning so far, a 1m23.434s, on the yellow-marked rubber.
 
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We haven't seen a Renault car at the top of an F1 timesheet for a long, long time.
 
Now Bottas heads out on track for the first time in over an hour.

Softs for the Finn, and he goes second with a 1m21.678s.
 
Looks like Bottas has started a race sim now, his pace settling into the 1m22s.

Grosjean meanwhile goes quicker for Haas, Romain Grosjean moves up to seventh, with a lap time of 1:22.670.
Verstappen emerges from the pits.
 
Someone's in the gravel...
IT'S GROSJEAN!
Romain Grosjean is in the gravel!


Haas F1 Team ✔ @HaasF1Team
Red flag - @RGrosjean in the gravel.
 
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