Leclerc set the fastest time and beat Vettel

(Motorsport-Total.com) – Rookie Charles Leclerc posted the best result of the 2018 Formula 1 season. The 21-year-old took over from Sebastian Vettel, who set the fastest time on the SF71H. It was his first test as a Ferrari regular rider, faster than his new teammate. After the German was the fastest man with a time of 1: 36.812 minutes yesterday, Leclerc set a time of 1: 36.450 on Wednesday.

The test times, where the tires were in the center, but again with caution to enjoy. Leclerc therefore recorded a better time of almost 1.7 seconds later than Lewis Hamilton during his pole lap on Saturday at the same place. The world champion did not participate himself in the test, leaving Mercedes W09 both days to Valtteri Botta, who finished fourth on Wednesday.

The dangers were again from 9:00 to 18:00 local time (6:00 to 15:00 CET). And at Ferrari ran in this time – despite the best time – again not everything. After Vettel had already crashed once on Tuesday, Leclerc had to make an unexpected pit stop on Wednesday morning – without fail – because part of the side box of his Ferrari had been resolved.

Daniil Kwjat is back

Behind Leclerc, two new riders entered: the new Red Bull driver, Pierre Gasly (+1,466 seconds), who took over the RB14 from Max Verstappen, and the newcomer from Force India, Lance Stroll (+1,594). Bottas finished fourth, 1.998 seconds behind the Ferrari, but with 143 laps, the Finn was one of the busiest drivers of the day, covering more than two races.

At Renault, Artjom Markelow took R.S.18 from Nico Hulkenberg, because Daniel Ricciardo of his still Red Bull employer had no license to test this year for Renault. The Russian shot once in the morning but did not damage his car. In the end, he finished sixth at 2.140 seconds and 129 laps.

Daniil Kwjat (+2,412) was back at the wheel of Toro Rosso and was back for the first time driving the STR13. With 155 laps, he completed the most laps and almost three races. Behind him was Louis Deletraz (+2,619) in the Haas. On Tuesday, Pietro Fittipaldi was driving the VF -18, with both regular drivers Romain Grosjean and Kevin Magnussen bidding farewell in the winter.

Carlos Sainz for the first time in the McLaren

Williams, however, brought the two regular drivers for the 2019 season. Robert Kubica (+7.758) again shared the FW41 with George Russell (+2.352). Both finished at the end of the eleven and seven places. Meanwhile, Carlos Sainz (+2,097) made his debut in the McLaren MCL33. He completed 150 laps at the end of the day and finished fifth in his debut.

Antonio Giovinazzi (+3,985) replaced Kimi Raikkonen in Sauber and finished tenth. For him, it was not a trouble-free day: he stopped in the afternoon once in the tunnel at the pit exit and headed for a red flag. Interesting: the C37 had also hit Tuesday at the end of the day at Räikkönen and the Finn had to end the test with a premature mechanical defect.

Formula 1 is now saying goodbye to the winter break. It starts again in February, while the two weeks of testing before the start of the 2019 season are due from February 18th to 21st and from February 26th to March 1st.