TNT Sports
F1 testing 2022: McLaren's Lando Norris sets the fastest lap time in Barcelona pre-season opener
By
Published 23/02/2022 at 18:53 GMT
Lando Norris set the pace on the opening day of Formula One testing in Barcelona. He improved later in the day to set the fastest time ahead of Ferrari pair Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz. Mercedes' morning runner George Russell came fourth and seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton was fifth. Reigning champion Max Verstappen came ninth but was able to rack up 147 laps.
Image credit: Getty Images
The 2022 Formula One season began on Wednesday as Lando Norris topped the timesheets on the opening day of pre-season testing in Barcelona.
Ferrari's Charles Leclerc got off to a strong start and led for most of the day. After swapping over with Carlos Sainz at lunch in Ferrari's F1-75, they were the leading pair for most of the day. Combined they raced for 153 laps which was more than any other team.
But later in the day Norris set the pace with a time of 1:19.568, which was over half a second clear of Leclerc, on the softer C4 tyres which proved a difference maker.
Mercedes pair George Russell Lewis Hamilton finished fourth and fifth. Hamilton aborted a lap which looked more promising on the sector times.
Max Verstappen, who controversially won the championship for the first time in his career last year, did 147 laps in Red Bull's RB18 which was the most of any driver and finished up in ninth.
Red Bull, Alpine, Williams, Mercedes, AlphaTauri, Aston Martin and McLaren all completed more than 100 laps.
Haas and Alfa Romeo both had setbacks. Haas completed 43 laps while Alfa Romeo did just 32.
Zhou Guanyu, Esteban Ocon, Daniel Ricciardo, Pierre Gasly and Sergio Perez are yet to take the wheel with two more days of testing still to come.
DAY ONE TEST TIMES
1. Lando Norris (McLaren) 1:19.568, C4, 102 laps
2. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) 1:20.165, C3, 80 laps
3. Carlos Sainz (Ferrari) 1:20.416, C3, 73 laps
4. George Russell (Mercedes) 1:20.784, C3, 77 laps
5. Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) 1:20.929, C3, 50 laps
6. Sebastian Vettel (Aston Martin) 1:21.276, C3, 52 laps
7. Yuki Tsunoda (AlphaTauri) 1:21.638, C3, 120 laps
8. Fernando Alonso (Alpine) 1:21.746, C3, 146 laps
9. Max Verstappen (Red Bull) 1:22.246, C2, 147 laps
10. Valtteri Bottas (Alfa Romeo) 1:22.572, C3, 23 laps
11. Alex Albon (Williams) 1:22.760, C3, 66 laps
12. Mick Schumacher (Haas) 1:22.962, C3, 23 laps
13. lance Stroll (Aston Martin) 1:23.327, C3, 67 laps
14. Nicholas Latifi (Williams) 1:23.379, C3, 66 laps
15. Nikita Mazepin (Haas) 1:24.505, C2, 20 laps
16. Robert Kubica (Alfa Romeo) 1:25.909, C3, 9 laps
Advertisement
Advertisement