The final day of Formula One pre-season testing for 2020 has concluded, and it was Valtteri Bottas who reigned supreme at the conclusion of the afternoon session.For most of the session, Daniel Ricciardo had topped the timing sheets, setting a 1m 16.276s early in the morning session.
That was until Bottas set a faster time after fitting the softest compound tyre (C5) midway through the session, to better the morning benchmark.It was a more positive outing for Max Verstappen, who set the second-fastest time on the C4 tyre, suggesting there is more pace within the Red Bull RB16.
However, it has proven to be unstable at the rear, with multiple spins during pre-season testing, including one for Alexander Albon in the morning session at turn 12. This kept the British-born Thai driver in the garage for much of the session, limiting his lap count to just 59. Behind Ricciardo was the Ferrari of Charles Leclerc, who posted 177 laps throughout the day and setting a best time of 1m 16.360s to go fourth-fastest.Troubles for the Haas team continued as Romain Grosjean had a brief excursion through the gravel trap at turn seven in the morning session.
Kevin Magnussen would be hampered by clutch issues – limiting the Dane to just 29 laps in the afternoon session.With testing over, the season opener in Melbourne on March 15 is the next stop in the Formula One schedule.
