Daniel Ricciardo took the lead in 2022 after a strong performance on the official day of Barcelona.
The Australian arrived too hot for the style of teammate Lando Norris a day after the British powertrain passed the timesheet on the first day of testing.
Norris said on Thursday he feared McLaren’s early effects would raise unfair and unjustified expectations of the team this year.
And then Ricciardo finished the first consultation of Day 2 as the fastest driving force on the circuit.
The 32-year-old was even faster in the last consultation of the moment and eventually finished third, Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and Alpha Tauri’s Pierre Gasly.
The damage would possibly already be done in the first session.
“Lando Norris was bored of being P1 because other people are going to communicate about McLaren, so he will surely furiously oppose Daniel Ricciardo now that he dominates the morning session,” Formula 1 reporter Chris Medland said on Twitter.
Norris is the fastest with just 0. 1 seconds ahead of Leclerc.
In the first two days of the four-day event, Ricciardo was fourth fastest overall.
He also completed 126 laps, the highest number of the moment on Day 2, Gasly.
Norris can watch the hype exercise come even before he leaves the station.
“Productive, annoying day, I’m P1,” he posted on Twitter.
“Now I’m going to think we’re fasting and soooo exaggerated. Omegalul.
Despite Norris’ calls, Mercedes powertrain George Russell has recognised McLaren as one of the cars to watch this year.
“Some teams, a red team and an orange team in particular, look very, very competitive,” Russell said, according to skysports. com.
“[Mercedes] is in fact not ahead, pretty sure of that. We all know we’re in other programs, yet we know, from the average of all the other careers, that we’re them right now. So let’s wait and see.
“The championship was not won in the pre-season tests in Barcelona, but neither day has been intriguing at the moment. “
Ricciardo said earlier this week that he was licking his lips at what the McLaren looked like.
“The more years you do, the less excited you are and the more excited you are about racing,” he told reporters.
“It’s the most excited thing I’ve been in a long time to do the winter testing. “
He was still excited after getting the steering wheel for the first time.
“One day from many angles,” he told his team.
“I think the reliability is excellent. He’s in the team and everyone who worked hard to put this car together, so thank you so much to them. They’re wonderful enough to build a new car with the logo, put it on the right track and do it. “it looks so good, thank you very much to them.
“Both days lasted more than a hundred laps, which for Lando and me gives us more opportunities to be informed about the car and get ahead, very satisfied with that. We have smart strengths and we just want to keep running in some of the spaces where we have can improve.
Meanwhile, Formula 1 world champion Max Verstappen said at the verification event that he believed former FIA racing director Michael Masi had been “thrown on a bus” after being sent off after last season’s dramatic last Grand Prix in Abu Dhabi.
Masi fell after making a number of questionable decisions last season, with Verstappen able to overtake Lewis Hamilton on the final lap to clinch the title.
“I think it’s not right,” Verstappen said when asked about the resolution to remove Masi.
“Everyone is looking to make work more productive, everyone may need help.
“Just like us drivers, we have the whole team, we make it ourselves. For me, it’s very unfair what happened to Michael: he was thrown under the bus. “
“(The fact that) he was fired like this in the first position for me is unacceptable. And now, essentially (to) get him fired, it’s incredible. Sorry for Michael. Verstappen said he texted Masi to offer his support.
The Formula 1 pre-season moment begins on March 10 in Bahrain before the first race of the year at the Bahrain Grand Prix, which begins on March 18.
Full qualifying, effects of Formula 1 Test Day 2
1. Charles Leclerc (MON/Ferrari) 1 min 19,689 s (79 laps)
2. Pierre Gasly (FRA/AlphaTauri) 1:19. 918 (147)
3. Daniel Ricciardo (Australia/McLaren) 1:20. 288 (126)
4. George Russell (GBR/Mercedes) 1:20. 537 (66)
5. Carlos Sainz (ESP/Ferrari) 1:20. 546 (71)
6. Sebastian Vettel (GER/Aston Martin) 1:20. 784 (74)
7. Sergio Perez (MEX/Red Bull) 1:21. 430 (78)
8. Nikita Mazepin (RAF/Haas) 1:21. 512 (42)
9. Alexander Albon (THA/Williams) 1:21. 531 (47)
10. Guanyu Zhou (CHN/Alfa Romeo) 1:21. 885 (71)
11. Nicholas Latifi (CAN/Williams) 1:21. 894 (61)
12. Lance Stroll (CAN/Aston Martin) 1:21. 920 (55)
13. Mick Schumacher (GER/Haas) 1:21. 949 (66)
14. Esteban Ocon (FRA/Alpine) 1:22. 164 (125)
15. Valtteri Bottas (FIN/Alfa Romeo) 1:22. 288 (21)
16. Lewis Hamilton (GBR/Mercedes) 1:22. 562 (40)
— with AFP