F1 pre-season tests: Hulkenberg puts Renault in first place as the first week comes to an end



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Nico Hulkenberg's pre-season tests were relatively quiet – at least until the German came out of nowhere on the last day of the first week to record the fastest time ever recorded in Barcelona this year: 1m 17,393.

Hulkenberg dominated an unusual standings at the end of Day 4 – at least according to last year's Shape Guide – with Alexander Albon's Toro Rosso in second place and his Renault teammate at Hulkenberg, Daniel Ricciardo in third place.

It was not quite positive for the German, who finished his afternoon in the pits after stopping on track with an undiagnosed problem on his R.S.19. Indeed, despite its record performance, Renault recorded fewer laps on the last day than any other.

Behind the leading trio, the two Mercedes drivers finally gave us a glimpse of the pace that many people believe to be in their W10 – despite Valtteri Bottas' media comments during the midday break of Day 4, indicating that the balance from his new knife. They finished fourth and fifth, Bottas ahead of Hamilton.

His rival Charles Leclerc – the fastest of day 2 – finished the day in sixth place, although his best time was set with the average C3 Pirelli tires, while Hamilton was in the C4 and the top four on the C5. more flexible.

Trials Day 4: A late stop at Hulkenberg brings out the reds

Handicapped by reliability problems throughout the test, Haas had a good day on Day 4, with more than 200 laps between Kevin Magnussen (back in the cockpit after the team had solved the problems. head restraints on Tuesday) and Romain Grosjean. .

The day was less lenient for Antonio Giovinazzi, who pulled out the red flags twice in the last 10 minutes of the session when his Alfa Romeo C38 stopped on the track. At this point, however, the Italian had 154 laps, eight more than Red Bull's Pierre Gasly, who made the most on another day during which Red Bull was unassuming but confident about the progress made with his Honda engine.

Arrived late in Barcelona, ​​Williams was trying to make up for lost time. Robert Kubica and George Russell spent part of their race with a large aerodynamic rake attached to their cars as the team tried to unlock the secrets of their FW42. On the other hand, Kubica had a rather chaotic return on the front line. The Pole had two rounds, while blocking Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc at different times of the first session of the day.

So hat to Renault for finishing the first week in Barcelona, ​​but expect more from Red Bull, Ferrari and Mercedes during the second week of February 26th.


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