F1 Test: Charles Leclerc and Ferrari set early pace in morning session of Day 1

F1 Test: Charles Leclerc and Ferrari set early pace in morning session of Day 1. Charles and Ferrari set early pace.

The first Formula 1 pre-season testing session ahead of the 2022 championship got underway today at the Circuit de Catalunya in Barcelona, as the ten Formula 1 teams were eager to hit the track and gather as much data as possible about the the new generation of cars.

Chilly but sunny conditions greeted the field for the start of the three-day event this morning, which the first testing session in Barcelona is considered by Formula 1 as “a lower key, pre-testing shakedown “, ahead of the “official pre-season test” which will be held in Bahrain next month.

Scuderia Ferrari, Mercedes and Red Bull have all amassed impressive lap tallies, while the Monegasque driver alsp topped the standings after the first four hours of testing, with a personal best lap time of 1:20:165 on the C3 Pirelli tyres. As always in this stage of testing, we stress that the times are not so important – but mileage in cars that are completely new is crucial. Still, Charles puts Ferrari top on the opening morning in Barcelona and the Maranello team thus take the top spot honours as the morning session comes to close on the opening day.

Charles Leclerc finished ahead of Lando Norris’ McLaren, while George Russell was third for Mercedes, with world champion Max Verstappen in sixth, after opting not to use the same softer tyres that his rivals tried out.