14 | 05 | 2019 Test Barcelona

 Montmelò – Two days on from the Spanish Grand Prix and Scuderia Ferrari Mission Winnow was back on track for the first of two days of testing in Barcelona. Charles Leclerc was on duty working for the team, while Sebastian Vettel was running another SF90 for a Pirelli tyre test.

Morning. Sebastian did 58 laps in the morning, setting a best time of 1’18”425. Charles worked on a comparison and development programme. The Monegasque driver took to the track trying some updates and running comparison tests to continue gathering data and information relating to the car’s handling. Charles did 66 laps, the best in a time of 1’17”322, using the C3 tyres.

Afternoon. Both SF90s were on track again in the afternoon, working until the end of the nine hour session. Sebastian completed a further 75 laps, making a daily total of 133, equivalent to 619 kilometres. Charles did a further 66, for a total of 132. Sebastian’s best time was the one he set in the morning, whiles Charles got down to a 1’16”933 on the C2 compound tyres. Quickest was today was Valtteri Bottas in 1’15”511.

  Bildergalerie

Foto © www.motorsportpics.de | Jerry Andre

12 | 05 | 2019 GP Spanien | A lesson from which to learn

 Scuderia Ferrari Mission Winnow leaves the Spanish Grand Prix with a fourth and fifth place finish, which definitely did not live up to expectations. It is an even greater incentive to work flat out during the two days of testing at this same Circuit de Catalunya-Barcelona this coming Tuesday and Wednesday.

Start. Sebastian got an excellent start, to the extent that he managed to come round the outside of Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas at the first corner. But the German slightly locked his wheels, which saw him run wide, letting Max Verstappen slip past. On lap 11, with Vettel struggling having flat-spotted a tyre after the start, he switched positions with Leclerc. The German then pitted on lap 19, fitting the Medium tyres. Six laps later it was Leclerc’s turn to pit and he went for Hards.

Lap 35. On the harder tyres, Charles did not have the grip he would have liked and Sebastian soon caught up to him. Once again therefore, the positions were inverted, on lap 35. Five more laps and Vettel made his second stop, taking on another set of Mediums. He came out of pit lane behind Pierre Gasly, but he got by immediately, while Verstappen was also making a second stop, leaving Leclerc in third.

Safety Car. On lap 45, a collision between Lando Norris and Lance Stroll brought out the Safety Car, which meant the team had to change Charles’ strategy, as he would not have been able to fend off Verstappen on the hard tyres, so he was brought in for a set of Mediums, rejoining fifth. In the closing stages, Sebastian was unable to attack the Dutchman and finished fourth ahead of his team-mate.

Test. Scuderia Ferrari Mission Winnow and the other nine teams are staying on in Barcelona for two days of testing with both the SF90s. On Tuesday, Charles will be at the wheel for the team, while Sebastian will be working for Pirelli. On Wednesday, Charles will take over for the tyre supplier, while Antonio Fuoco will drive for the team test.

Sebastian Vettel #5
“Today we more or less maximized our result. It was obviously a disappointing race for us as we were hoping to be a lot faster. After the start, I had a go at the cars in front, but flatspotted a tyre and compromised my own race. You don’t win the race at the first corner, I know, but I thought at least we can mix things up with Mercedes and have a bit more of a fight with everybody. Charles and I tried not to interfere with each other and work together as much as we could. It’s still very early in the season and we are taking it race by race, but I think we can only come back from where we are now as the whole team is working flat out.”

  Bildergalerie

Foto © www.motorsportpics.de | Jerry Andre

11 | 05 | 2019 GP Spanien | Harder than expected

 Qualifying for the Spanish Grand Prix proved harder than expected for Scuderia Ferrari Mission Winnow. Sebastian Vettel will start from third on the grid, with Charles Leclerc fifth, when the lights go out at 15.10 to start the 49th Spanish Grand Prix, here at the Barcelona-Catalunya circuit.

Q1. The pair of SF90s comfortably made it through to Q2. Sebastian used one set of Soft tyres improving with each lap from 1’18”068 to 1’17”823 and then to 1’17”425. Charles did the same, going from 1’17”835 to 1’17”727 and then to 1’17”388.

Q2. The second part of the session saw the German set a time good enough to get into Q3 on his very first run. Sebastian posted an excellent 1’16”667, although Charles made a mistake, running wide at one corner, slightly damaging his car. He was unable to improve on 1’17”511. The Monegasque driver went back on track in the final minutes with a new set of red tyres, to get through to the final part with a 1’16”714.

Q3. In the top ten shoot-out, Sebastian did two runs on two sets of tyres, while Charles had to wait for repairs to be carried out on his car, doing two timed laps on the same set of tyres. Vettel posted a 1’16”272, but did not improve on his second run. Charles did a 1’16”613 and then got down to a 1’16”588.

Tomorrow. Sebastian will start behind Valtteri Bottas and Lewis Hamilton, with Max Verstappen alongside him. Charles shares the third row with sixth placed Pierre Gasly.

Sebastian Vettel #5 “We are happy but we’re not happy. By that, I mean that the car is well balanced and I think the updates we have brought have helped with the driveability of the car. However, it’s obvious that we are still not where we want to be, because we are very quick down the straights, but we are losing too much time through the slower corners. The result of all that is that we are not in front and so we have to continue to work hard. Nevertheless, I think that having a well balanced car means we can have a good race, so I’m ready to give it my all tomorrow.”

  Bildergalerie

Foto © www.motorsportpics.de | Jerry Andre