Pirelli F1 test: Vettel touches the bottom (twice), but the controls. Bottas guard Ocon "on the bench"

The dress is still used in the 21 races of the season that has just ended, but the shoes are already those of 2019. The first day of testing Pirelli ended today in Abu Dhabi with a huge amount of data obtained at the end of the season. Marathons: Simulated Grand Prix, or 55 laps with one or two pit stops, and fast laps with reduced fuel loads to compare the performance of the softest tires during qualifying simulations.

At the head of the chrono, concludes Sebastian Vettel, curiously the driver who made fewer laps among those who played all day testing: only 67. The German scored the fastest time of the day (1 # 36) "812 with hypersoft 2018), a time two seconds from pole position won by Lewis Hamilton on Saturday, but it was not the chronometric performance that was the goal of the tests, but the comparison of compounds to carefully badess what will change in 2019.

It was, however, a non-linear day like that of Vettel. In the morning, he climbed a first time on one of the sidewalks of Yas Marina circuit, thus damaging the fund. After a quick repair, Seb returned to the track but crashed against the barriers of Turn 1, breaking the rear wing. Another step, after which the Ferrari got the best time, but then encountered a new mistake (another pbadage on a sidewalk) that definitely put the fund out of use. At this point, the SF71H remained motionless in the longest pits, returning to the track only in the last fifteen laps.

Just as expected instead at Mercedes. Valtteri Bottas completed the work program in advance, about 30 minutes before the checkered flag, getting the time of the second day (1 "37" 231) with the "Compound 5", c & rd Hypersoft 2019 compound. They confirmed a very similar behavior between the 2018 tires and those that will be used next year, with greater resistance to overheating, a feature that was aimed at Fearing the dreaded blistering, nobody confirmed that he had to change the driving style to adapt to the new tires, both in the long run and during the simulations of qualifications.

Despite 120 laps, Bottas decided to continue testing tomorrow, a choice that disappointed (but in a disguise) Esteban Ocon, arrived in the Mercedes box in the afternoon to prepare for the call eventuality of the team. "It will be for next time," commented the Frenchman. The team asked him to be on the track tomorrow, as it is still possible to finish a few tries if Bottas finishes the program in advance. Valtteri was among others the only driver to use the 2019 helmet, built according to the latest specifications defined by the FIA ​​in terms of impact resistance.

Lance Stroll is without a doubt one of the most accentuated smiles at the end of the first of two test days. The Canadian completed the baptism driving Force India, getting into the car in the afternoon and was third overall (1 "37" 415 with Hypersoft 2018). the first round started with the VJM11 Stroll, he returned to the box with enthusiasm. "Another story," he murmured, evoking the comparison with Williams conducted until Sunday.This was a feeling Immediately for the happiness of Father Lawrence who decided to buy the team four months ago.Stroll completed 56 rounds by integrating Sergio Perez's work schedule in the morning (67 laps and fifth with Hypersoft 2019).

Obviously, a lot of attention has been devoted to Kimi Raikkonen's debut at Sauber. "Iceman", in white suit, traveled 102 laps collecting information, especially in race configuration. At the end of the day, the Finnish Sauber was silenced on the track due to a hydraulic problem, anticipating the end of the work program. Tomorrow, Raikkonen will hand over to Giovinazzi, as well as Sean Gelael (today 150 laps for Indonesian) to Daniil Kvyat on the Toro Rosso.

Also no problem the day in Williams, with George Russell and Robert Kubica who took turns behind the wheel. Not many laps (32 for the Pole, ten more for the Formula 2 champion) due to a power unit near the end of his mileage limit. Kubica closed in ninth place, just ahead of his teammate (0 "243 in between, both with hypersoft 2019) Tomorrow, the program is reversed between the two, with the Polish race on the track in the morning and the closure of Russell the afternoon.