Raikkonen shows serious pace for Ferrari on last day in Barcelona

Kimi Raikkonen clocked the fastest time at this year’s pre-season tests in Barcelona after the morning part drove the fastest lap on the track Catalunya in the last nine years and the supersoft tires and thus concluded impressive testing for Ferrari, which many declare favorites before the start of the new season of Formula 1.

Raikkonen became the first driver who has raced in the Barcelona circuit under 1:19 after the supersoft clocked 1: 18.634, almost four tenths faster than team-mate Vettel managed yesterday on ultrasoft. Kimi drove a total of 111 laps for Ferrari although he caused red flag during the afternoon.

The Finn clocked the best time of testing 20 minutes before the end of morning part, and although he later tried and ultrasoft he didn’t further improved during although he again dropped below 1m19.

Verstappen was second fastest on the supersoft with fastest time ever for Red Bull, eight tenths slower than Raikkonen on the same tyres, and Carlos Sainz showed promising speed in the Toro Rosso with the same power unit as Red Bull with four tenths behind their sister team. Spaniard clocked 132 laps, just as Lance Stroll, most of all drivers on last day.

Bottas was fourth fastest with only 53 laps for Mercedes, and Hamilton was fifth with one lap more which means Mercedes had total of only 107 laps, their lowest figure in eight days (second worst day was 135 laps).

Perez in Force India VJM10 drove 128 laps and finished second and a half behind Raikkonen while Palmer was eighth in the Renault with just 43 laps, fewest of all drivers.

Lance Stroll had a very good day for Williams with a total of 132 laps and with 1.701 seconds behind Raikkonen.

Romain Grosjean was tenth in the Haas VF-17, two and a half seconds with 76 laps, but with two problems with the car that interrupted his day.

Fernando Alonso again had problems with his car after MCL32 stopped and caused a red flag twice durig the morning part. Spaniard finished 11th for McLaren Honda (+2.755 s) using ultrasoft tyres, with just 43 laps (next team Red Bull had 71).

Ericsson was the faster of the two Sauber drivers, three seconds behind Raikkonen, and Wehrlein was nearly two seconds slower. The Swiss team collected a total of 101 laps on final day.

The season starts with the first free practice session, which is scheduled on March 24 at 02:00, Central European Time (CET).

DAY 4 RESULTS

2017 TESTING OVERVIEW

GALLERY