Lewis Hamilton in the Ferrari set the fastest lap time on day two in the morning session of the 2025 Formula 1 pre-season testing, which was interrupted by rain.
Running was limited for the second day due to a factor outside the teams’ control as the weather impacted the first part of the morning session.
After Wednesday’s power cut, the rain affected the team’s run plans in the opening hours, but drivers were still able to go out on track on the slicks to begin with.
George Russell set the early pace in the Mercedes with a 1:30.379s before Hamilton went quicker with a lap time of 1:30.080s.
The rain continued to fall down until the track wasn’t suitable for dry tyres, with teams returning back to the garage.
Haas and Aston Martin were the only teams who opted to bring wet-weather tyres, and just before the halfway mark, Esteban Ocon returned to the track in the Haas on the intermediate tyres.
With two hours to go, Hamilton topped the timing sheets, with Carlos Sainz second in the Williams followed by Russell.
Russell, who completed the most running in the morning session with 71 laps, momentarily went fastest before the seven-time World Champion set a lap time of 1:29.670s.
Oscar Piastri in the McLaren made a slow start to the day, and the Australian made contact with the Sauber of Nico Hulkenberg at Turn 8 with just over half an hour to go.
Hamilton went quicker again, with a fastest lap time of 1:29.379s, which saw him end the morning session as the quickest driver.
In the final few minutes of the session, the red flag was brought out as the FIA ordered a test of the Virtual Safety Car system, to be followed by two formation laps and a practice start.
Russell ended up in second with a lap time of 1:29.778s followed by Sainz in third with a 1:30.090s.
Pierre Gasly in the Alpine finished fourth with a 1:30.430s and Fernando Alonso in fifth with a 1:30.700s for Aston Martin.
Yuki Tsunoda set a 1:30.793s in the Racing Bulls to finish sixth ahead of Piastri, who set a lap time of 1:30.821s.
Liam Lawson, with only 28 laps completed for Red Bull, set a lap time of 1:31.233s in eighth.
The New Zealand racing driver spent most of the session in the garage due to a loss of engine water pressure.
Hulkenberg ended in ninth with a 1:31.457s and Ocon rounded out the top 10 with a 1:33.071s.
Like on Wednesday, the remaining 10 drivers on the grid will take to the track for the afternoon session which begins at 15:00 local time, 12:00 BST.
Discussion about this post