Formula 1: the Leclerc is the fastest in the testing at Budapest

Photo: Adrian Dennis, Agence France-Presse
The pilot of Formula 1 quebec Charles Leclerc

Budapest — The leader of the championship of Formula 2, Charles Leclerc, has signed the best time on board of his Ferrari on the Hungaroring, on Tuesday, on the occasion of the first of two test days of Formula 1 this week.

Under a blazing sun, while the thermometer showed 35 degrees Celsius, Leclerc has signed a time of one minute and 17,834 seconds. He has blown the first row driver-McLaren’s Stoffel Vandoorne, 0,088 second behind.

The pilot Mercedes Valtteri Bottas has passed the third time, while he was on a total of 155 laps, in order to provide information to the tyre manufacturer Pirelli. The hope of Mercedes George Russell has tested the program of the German team. Like Bottas, the driver of the GP3 has a lot rode, en route to the fourth time.

“Today, it was amazing ; I’ve waited for this moment with great anticipation, said Russell. It is the dream of all young drivers to drive a Formula 1 car. As soon as I found myself in the track, I immediately understood how worked the grip of the tires and the downforce aerodynamic. “

“I am very happy with my performance, he added. For my first experience in the car, I was able to do 119 laps, and I was not too far from Valtteri — I am very proud of it. “

Lance Stroll completed the top-5 for Williams, at 2.12 seconds Leclerc. Quebec has made the second highest number of laps with 137.

“We tried new things and it was good to spend time in the car. It was very hot, and it was physically demanding, so it has been a good year, noted Stroll. We’ll see if what we have tested here today will work in Spa [during the Grand Prix of Belgium], but we will need to spend more time on the track to see if the new parts work. Spa should suit our car because of its long, straight lines. “

A disaster for Williams

Williams has had a weekend of disastrous in Hungary. Stroll could not do better than a 14th place, while his team-mate, Paul di Resta — called reinforcement because of the health problems of Felipe Massa — could not complete the race.

The test driver for Force India Nikita Mazepin has followed in sixth place, ahead of the driver tester toronto Renault, Nicholas Latifi was seventh.

“It is a great experience of driving a Formula 1 car 2017, even when the temperatures are as hot as they were today,” said Latifi. After you have done the test Pirelli in Barcelona, I was really looking forward to get going again. The car performed well and I hope that I have given the team all the required information. […] All in all, it was a positive day. “

The testing will continue on Wednesday, while ex-F1 driver, Robert Kubica, will make its first laps on track at the edge of the car Renault.