PREMA Racing’s Oliver Bearman leads the way in the afternoon session, with Andrea Kimi Antonelli close behind.
The first day of Formula 2 testing saw a flurry of activity at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, with PREMA Racing’s Oliver Bearman emerging as the fastest driver in the afternoon session. Despite a series of red flags disrupting the morning session, Victor Martins of ART Grand Prix set the pace. The day also marked the F2 debut of Andrea Kimi Antonelli, who impressed with his performance. Let’s dive into the details of the eventful day of testing.
Morning Session: Red Flags and Early Leaders
The morning session got off to a rocky start when Oliver Goethe’s Trident car came to a halt just before Turn 6, resulting in the first red flag of the day. Once the session resumed, Juan Manuel Correa of DAMS took the early lead with a time of 1:38.388. However, the red flags made frequent appearances, with Goethe’s Trident and Enzo Fittipaldi’s Van Amersfoort Racing car both encountering issues and causing stoppages.
Despite the interruptions, Jak Crawford of DAMS set the pace with a time of 1:37.845, becoming the first driver to break into the 1:37s. However, his session was cut short when he came to a halt at Turn 8, prompting another red flag. As the morning progressed, Victor Martins of ART Grand Prix showcased his speed, eventually topping the timesheets with a time of 1:36.852. Zane Maloney of Rodin Carlin followed closely behind, trailing Martins by 0.3 seconds.
Afternoon Session: Oliver Bearman Takes Charge
The afternoon session saw Oliver Bearman of PREMA Racing assert his dominance, setting the quickest time of the day. Bearman’s time of 1:36.092 on the soft Pirelli tires put him at the top of the leaderboard, 0.165 seconds ahead of Andrea Kimi Antonelli, also from PREMA Racing. Antonelli, making his F2 debut, showcased his talent and adaptability, impressing with his performance throughout the day.
Conclusion: A Promising Start to F2 Testing
The first day of F2 testing at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya provided a glimpse into the talent and potential of the young drivers. Despite the frequent red flags that disrupted the morning session, Victor Martins of ART Grand Prix showcased his speed and consistency. Meanwhile, Oliver Bearman of PREMA Racing stole the show in the afternoon, setting the fastest time of the day. The debut of Andrea Kimi Antonelli added an extra layer of excitement, as the young driver proved his ability to adapt to the F2 machinery. As the testing continues, it will be intriguing to see how these drivers and teams evolve and prepare for the upcoming F2 season.
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