Antonio Giovinazzi set the early pace for Alfa Romeo as the second test ahead of the new Formula 1 season got underway in Spain.
The Italian had been setting strong sector times throughout the morning only to falter in the final technical part of the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya.
However, with 15 minutes to go, finally had enough in hand to beat long-time leader Pierre Gasly with a 1m18.589s using the C4 Pirelli tyres.
Gasly though was able to continue Red Bull’s momentum from last week and would set the team’s fastest time of the year so far as they continued on the C3 tyre, the middle of the five compounds available.
Charles Leclerc had a tricky morning for Ferrari, as checks with the cooling system limited the Monegasque to only 28 laps. He would still show good pace however in third, just 0.004s behind the Frenchman.
After a steady start to pre-season last week, Racing Point appears ready to up the pace with Lance Stroll fourth using a developmental version of the C3 rubber that Gasly and Leclerc both set their personal bests with.
Last week’s running was limited by a lack of spare parts for the RP19 so 44 laps during the first four hours is one of the better totals the former Force India outfit has managed so far.
The race to be the marathon man in the morning, however, was between Kevin Magnussen in the Haas and Lewis Hamilton in a heavily upgraded Mercedes.
Both ran neck-and-neck right up until the end when the Dane squeezed an extra flying lap in to make it 84 to the world champion’s 83.
Magnussen would also be fifth fastest just ahead of George Russell in a much better day for Williams as they appeared quite competitive on the C3 Pirellis.
In a week where making up for lost distance will be key though, let’s hope 46 laps is just a platform to a busy afternoon.
Alex Albon was a steady seventh for Toro Rosso with Hamilton eighth as he focused on testing the raft of new aero parts that have been brought to the W10.
Nico Hulkenberg led the lap count for much of the morning before being overhauled late on, but 80 laps still represent a very solid morning for Renault.
Lando Norris would bring up the timing screens in the McLaren, with the Briton also responsible for the only red flag of the morning having gone off into the gravel at Turn 3.
A full look at the morning standings from Barcelona can be seen below:
