2018 pre-season testing thread

[Santozini]

Daniel Ricciardo is doing a longer run on the medium compound. His lap times: 1:24.1, 1:22.9, 1:22.3, 1:21.9, 1:21.9, 1:21.9, 1:21.5, 1:21.4, 1:21.7, 1:21.3 and 1:21.0

[KingLoe]

That Ferrari sound

[Gerhardsa]

Alonso back in the car. Prob only a systems check before lunchtime

[Morteza]

Alonso back in the car. Prob only a systems check before lunchtime

And he's off

[bauc]

Hopefully all 4 wheels stays on this time

[Sieper]

any shots of the rear suspension? Or of the crew repairing?

[Anthropolyte]

Guessing a faulty part, or someone made a mistake when tightening that wheel - some comments over on autosport suggest it could have been torque settings, but the part we saw earlier did look remarkably like a failed hub. Guess we'll find out at some point. Not long to go until lunch... hopefully Alonso will put some proper laps in this afternoon.

[Jolle]

https://twitter.com/LukeSmithF1/status/ ... 1891081216

Doubt it.

Part of the wheel hub had come out with the wheel nut still on it

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DW8zYECWkAAK-t2.jpg

Isn't that just the nut? with the holes at the bottom where it's retained in the wheel (the nuts these days stay on the wheel instead of in the gun when they change), cone on top to catch the gun more easy and the ribs to turn it?

[Anthropolyte]

Also that photo up there really does show the car off. I'd say it's my favourite looking car on the grid.

[Sieper]

It looks fantastic in the deep orange and even deeper purple. Loving the car.

[TwanV]

https://twitter.com/LukeSmithF1/status/ ... 8351895552

gave me a chuckle

[F1NAC]

Lunch break RIC on top, from BOT and RAI

[Anthropolyte]

Lunchtime. Lots of very reliable looking laps out there (with the exception of McLaren)... Somewhat predictable top three. Good to see Renault in the fight though.

I wonder if we'll see any race simulations this afternoon... wouldn't be surprised if Mercedes did their usual thing and obliterated the field with 150+ laps on their first day.

[Henne]

That McLaren does look amazing on track.

I hope they found the Hub issue and get some decent laps in.

Also, any issues with Sirotkins's car? No times yet?

[F1NAC]

That McLaren does look amazing on track.

I hope they found the Hub issue and get some decent laps in.

Also, any issues with Sirotkins's car? No times yet?

Sainz and Sirotkin will drive in afternoon so no times from them yet