Testing – Barcelona Day 6: Bottas on Top, Times Drop

This final day of winter testing started with a blue sky, but a slight winter mist was present on the Barcelona circuit. Today, the teams focused on performance, and the lap times tumbled. Many drivers went out with C3 tires, like Sergio Perez, Carlos Sainz, and Daniil Kvyat.

Some off-track excursions are to be noted. Räikkönen spun at the chicane exit but fortunately without consequence for the Alfa Romeo. Romain Grosjean, on the other hand, went off the track and went through the gravel in the sequence of turns 7 and 8. Finally, Alexander Albon spun at turn 12, which caused a red flag. The Red Bull driver was stuck in the gravel.

At the end of the day, it was Valtteri Bottas who set the fastest time at 1:16.196 on C5 compounds. He surpassed Max Verstappen by 0.073s. Like last week, the Mercedes driver finishes this week at the top of the winter testing.

Special mention to Charles Leclerc who completed 181 laps today, equivalent to nearly 850 kilometers.

Results of the winter tests on Friday, February 28: