Following his formula of regular work, the team Mercedes
she has divided the second day of testing at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya
between its two pilots. Lewis Hamilton has been at the controls of the Mercedes
W08 in the morning session, while Valtteri Bottas has taken over from
his team-mate for the afternoon. The current champion has completed a total
of 66 laps with a best time of 1:20.983, while the finn
completed 102 laps as a result of the first simulation
career that has completed the training of German at the Catalan track.
Lewis Hamilton has ended the morning session as the pilot
faster on the track with the 1:20.983 that has been marked with tires superblandos,
record that would only be surpassed by Kimi Räikkönen for the afternoon: “Today has
been a day of really positive. It has been a morning easy and we started with
good foot. In the end, yesterday was a day to wash off the cobwebs of the body, the
be the first day in the car. Cost a little more acclimated to normal and
to get the maximum out of the car. I did not complete many laps today, I would have
wanted to do more. Even so, I felt comfortable in the car“.
More analytical, the british driver explained: “I Think we have
taken steps forward in the development. My fastest lap was pretty clean and
for the site. All in all, we have not exploited the full potential of the car, so that
that is good to keep progressing. The tires hold up more than before,
so we will be able to tighten more and ride more aggressively lap after lap.
The car is more physical than last year and faster in the curves.
Physically I’m fine, but it is only half a day of testing. I have trained for
much more during this invierno“.
Valtteri Bottas has not
paid great attention to the times and has focused all their work in complete
the first mock of the race of the Mercedes W08. After about 70 turns, the work
has not been completed for the finn, who at the end has closed the afternoon session
with 108 laps: “I Think that has been another good day of testing. We have
completed a lot of laps and we finished all of the tasks that
we had planned on. I’ve worked on a race simulation this afternoon, and although it has not
been easy because of the wind, I am sure we can learn a lot
the information collected”.
In fact, Bottas has had a
little scare for the day with a spinning top on the ninth curve. Luckily
to the interests of the Finnish, just grazed the wall with the W08: “I Suffered
a small spinning top, but it was nothing serious. I lost the back with a blow of
wind’s pretty surprising. Are tests and you have to find the limit. It is
interesting to learn more about the car, and not just what I say for me, also for
the team. All the work you have done at the level of configuration is very
valuable. There are still two days ahead and I’m eager to continue
working”.
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