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Formula 1

McLaren fastest in F1 testing again, Red Bull causes red flag

by Matt Beer
2 min read

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McLaren topped a second straight Formula 1 pre-season test session at Barcelona as Daniel Ricciardo pipped Carlos Sainz’s Ferrari late in the Thursday morning session.

Ricciardo put in a 1m20.355s immediately after a red flag to retrieve the Red Bull of Sergio Perez.

That car had come to a halt on the approach to the final chicane, having suffered what was believed to be a gearbox problem, prompting the first red flag of 2022 F1 testing.

Sainz had been quickest for most of the morning up to that point, but ended up denied by two tenths of a second. He had the highest mileage tally of the morning at 71 laps.

Pierre Gasly completed the top three for AlphaTauri.

What Williams described as a “small pump issue” cost Alex Albon an hour of running but he still achieved 47 laps and fourth fastest time ahead of Lance Stroll’s Aston Martin.

Haas had a more successful start to day two, Mick Schumacher getting in 65 laps and going sixth quickest.

But fellow Wednesday struggler Alfa Romeo fared little better.

The team flew in new parts to try to cure what is understood to be a severe porpoising problem.

Despite that, Valtteri Bottas only made sporadic appearances and did just 20 laps. His lunchtime media session was cancelled.

Last year’s title rivals were down the order – Perez’s time before his problem placing him eighth but Lewis Hamilton a further place back for Mercedes.

Esteban Ocon’s Alpine brought up the rear, but did cover 66 laps.

Day two times

1. Ricciardo (McLaren) 1m20.355s, C3, 65 laps
2. Sainz (Ferrari) 1m20.546s, C3, 71 laps
3. Gasly (AlphaTauri) 1m20.764s, C3, 61 laps
4. Albon (Williams) 1m21.531s, C3, 47 laps
5. Stroll (Aston Martin) 1m21.920s, C2, 55 laps
6. Schumacher (Haas) 1m21.949s, C3, 66 laps
7. Bottas (Alfa Romeo) 1m22.288s, C3, 21 laps
8. Perez (Red Bull) 1m22.412s, C2, 38 laps
9. Hamilton (Mercedes) 1m22.562s, C2, 40 laps
10. Ocon (Alpine) 1m23.280s, C2, 66 laps

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