Circuit: Catalunya, 4.655 kms
Driver: Daniel Ricciardo
Car: STR8 chassis number 01
Laps: 70
Best time: 1:23.718
Daniel Ricciardo had his second and final day at the wheel for this particular test session, continuing the programme begun yesterday. One of the key requirements of the STR8 was to give the drivers a more user-friendly car with a wider range of settings than its predecessor: with this in mind, today’s programme centred on experimenting with that wider range and evaluating different suspension set-up options. So far we have not experienced any reliability issues with the new car.
Daniel Ricciardo: “A very productive day, testing various suspension options, which was very interesting and has provided us with plenty of data to look at. Therefore it was not a day for the time sheets, but one during which we learned a lot. It’s been interesting evaluating the Pirelli tyres, which have different characteristics to those from last year, but we will need some higher temperatures before we get an accurate picture of how they perform. Now it’s down to Jean-Eric to carry on for the next couple of days, before I get my final two days of testing when we come back here in just over one week.”