Private Testing – Barcelona, Day 2: Best Time for Jolyon Palmer
Jolyon Palmer sets the best time on this final day of testing. The English driver outruns Pascal Wehrlein in the Mercedes and GP2 driver Pierre Gasly. Esteban Ocon clocks the 6th fastest time of the day in the Force India.
The Lotus test driver set the fastest time in this final private testing session in his Lotus.
On super-soft tires, the English driver beat Pascal Wehrlein with a time of 1:26.080. The German Mercedes driver clocked a time of 1:26.497. Although he missed the first practice session due to illness, he still managed to complete 137 laps during the day, the most of anyone. Over the two days of testing, only Nico Rosberg managed to do more, with 146 laps in total.
Good news for our Frenchmen, after a very productive day at Toro Rosso, Pierre Gasly completes the podium of the day on Red Bull with a time of 1:26:683. After testing the Lotus, Ferrari, and Mercedes during the winter break, Esteban Ocon tested the Force India on this day. He ranks 6th with a time of 1:27:620. The new Mercedes protégé completed 94 laps during the day.
Only two official drivers were present during this last day of testing: Jenson Button in a McLaren-Honda and Carlos Sainz Jr in a Toro Rosso. The English driver had a productive day with 100 laps completed, with a best time of 1:26.927, placing him just off the podium. Carlos Sainz Jr ranked 8th, but the Toro Rosso recorded a time of 1:27.997 with 126 laps completed.
A future private testing session will take place at the Red Bull Ring, right after the Austrian Grand Prix. Here is the full schedule for the day:
| No. | Driver | Team | Time | Gap | Laps |
1 | Palmer | Lotus F1 Team | 1:26.080 | 87 | |
2 | Wehrlein | Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team | 1:26.497 | +0.417 | 137 |
3 | Gasly | Infiniti Red Bull Racing | 1:26.683 | +0.603 | 75 |
4 | Button | McLaren Honda | 1:26.927 | +0.847 | 100 |
5 | Lynn | Williams Martini Racing | 1:26.967 | +0.887 | 52 |
6 | Ocon | Sahara Force India F1 Team | 1:27.520 | +1.440 | 94 |
7 | Gutierrez | Scuderia Ferrari | 1:27.930 | +1.850 | 119 |
8 | Sainz Jr. | Scuderia Toro Rosso | 1:27.997 | +1.917 | 126 |
9 | Marciello | Sauber F1 Team | 1:28.829 | +2.749 | 75 |
