Kimi Raikkonen walks off with best lap time at end of last test in Barcelona – Formula 1 news
Lotus driver Kimi Raikkonen set the fastest lap time on the final day of the last pre-season test held at the Circuit de Catalunya, Barcelona.
Lotus had to miss the second test because of some technical issues in their new car, the E20 but the performance of the car on track during the last day of the final test had definitely proved out to be quite encouraging for the team. Raikkonen had shown
a remarkable drive on the track and set the best time of 1 minute and 22.030 seconds after completing 121 laps during the day.
Ferrari driver Fernando Alonso set the second best time of 1 minute 22.250 seconds after completing 115 laps during the day. Alonso’s performance during the last two days of the test had created positive feeling for the team after a long struggle with the
aerodynamics of the car.
Bruno Senna of Williams followed Alonso with the best time of 1 minute and 22.296 seconds. Furthermore, Senna handed over the car to Pastor Maldonado during the evening session and Maldonado ended as the ninth fastest driver of the last day.
Force India driver Nico Hulkenberg completed 101 laps during the day and was able to set the fourth quickest time of the day of 1 minute 22.312 seconds. Hulkenberg was followed by Kamui Kobayashi of Sauber who was the fifth fastest driver during the test
with his best time of 1 minute 22.386 seconds after completing 72 laps.
However, the car stopped while doing the race simulation during the evening session due to some problem in the car’s engine. Therefore, Sauber team would need to work hard for the first Grand Prix starting at Melbourne, Australia.
Lewis Hamilton made the day more productive for McLaren after completing 115 laps during the day while he set the sixth fastest time of 1 minute 22.430 seconds.
Caterham driver Vitaly Petrov was quite impressive on the track during his test drive and he set seventh best time of 1 minute 22.795 seconds after completing 101 laps. Petrov was followed by Michael Schumacher who completed a century of laps with his best
time of 1 minute 22.939 seconds.
Pastor Maldonado was ninth after completing 48 laps with his fastest time of 1 minute 23.347 seconds and was followed by Daniel Ricciardo of Toro Rosso who set the tenth best time of 1 minute 23.393 seconds after the completion of 100 laps.
Sebastian Vettel of Red Bull Racing mostly remained absent from the track during the test day and set the eleventh best time of 1 minute 23.608 seconds after the completion of 23 laps.
However, the team would definitely ensure the best of the performance for the season opener on March 18, 2012 at Melbourne.
Tags: