Nico Hulkenberg was the fastest man on day 3 of the Formula 1 pre-season testing in Barcelona today. The Force India driver set the fastest time in the morning session before clocking the fastest time of the day in the afternoon session with a 1m 23.110s lap.
Day 3 Testing Times (unofficial)
1 Nico Hülkenberg (Force India), 1.23.110 (Supersoft tyres) – 99 laps
2 Romain Grosjean (Haas), 1.25.874 (Soft) – 82 laps
3 Kimi Raikkonen (Ferrari), 1.25.977 (Medium) – 78 laps
4 Kevin Magnussen (Renault), 1.26.014 (Soft) – 111 laps
5 Nico Rosberg (Mercedes) 1.26.084 (Medium) – 74 laps
6 Carlos Sainz Jr. (Toro Rosso), 1.26.239 (Medium) – 161 laps
7 Felipe Nasr (Sauber), 1.26.392 (Soft) – 115 laps
8 Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes), 1.26.421 (Medium) – 88 laps
9 Daniil Kvyat (Red Bull), 1.26.497 (Medium) – 74 laps
10 Felipe Massa (Williams), 1.26.712 (Medium) – 109 laps
11 Jenson Button (McLaren), 1.26.919 (Medium) – 51 laps
12 Rio Haryanto (Manor), 1.28.429 (Medium) – 78 laps
New team, Haas F1 elevated their performance with Romain Grosjean on the wheel, setting the second fastest time behind Hulk. Third place was taken by Kimi Raikkonen who was driving the new Ferrari SF16-H for the first time today. Renault had a good day with Kevin Magnussen finishing fourth, a minor glitch hit the team but Magnussen made it back to the field before setting an incredible 111 laps.
Mercedes opted to use a different strategy today allowing both drivers to take turns on the wheel. Nico Rosberg set the fastest time for the team during the morning session while Lewis Hamilton managed an eighth place in the afternoon session, their total laps totaled to 161, same as Carlos Sainz in the Toro Rosso. Sainz finished the day in sixth place behind Rosberg.
Elsewhere, McLaren suffered a hydraulic leak in the MP4-31 with Jenson Button on the wheel, the Brit managed to record 51 laps and settled in 11th place on the timesheet. Indonesian driver Rio Haryanto finished in 12th.
