With Alonso watching, McLaren's Norris fastest in F1 testing
With Fernando Alonso watching from the pits, British rookie driver Lando Norris set the fastest time in his McLaren on Tuesday to start the final week of preseason testing in Formula One.
Norris' good run came on a relatively slow day for Mercedes and Ferrari, as both teams faced reliability issues.
Norris is part of the new McLaren lineup that also includes Spaniard Carlos Sainz. They are replacing Stoffel Vandoorne and two-time world champion Alonso, who left F1 after four seasons with the English team.
McLaren driver Lando Norris of Britain jumps from his car on the side of the track during a Formula One pre-season testing session at the Catalunya racetrack in Montmelo, outside Barcelona, Spain, Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2019. (AP PhotoJoan Monfort)
It has been a promising start for McLaren in 2019, with the team producing its best preseason performance in several years. It was able to run more laps in last week's sessions than in both weeks a year ago.
It wasn't a trouble-free day for Norris, though, as he twice faced mechanical problems at the Barcelona-Catalunya Circuit.
His time of 1 minute, 17.709 seconds, which came on the faster tire compound, was three tenths of a second slower than Nico Hulkenberg's lap with Renault last week, the fastest so far this season. Pierre Gasly was second fastest with Red Bull on Tuesday, ahead of Lance Stroll of Racing Point.
Haas driver Kevin Magnussen of Denmark steers his car during a Formula One pre-season testing session at the Catalunya racetrack in Montmelo, outside Barcelona, Spain, Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2019. (AP PhotoJoan Monfort)
Sebastian Vettel was fourth with Ferrari, with teammate Charles Leclerc seventh after being kept in the garage for a long time as the team investigated a cooling problem with his car.
Ferrari had enjoyed a smooth first four days of testing last week, showing good pace and reliability.
Valtteri Bottas was only 11th fastest with Mercedes on Tuesday, just ahead of teammate and defending world champion Lewis Hamilton. Bottas was stuck in the garage for most of the afternoon as the team had to change a power unit because of an oil pressure problem.
Motor racing fans watch as a Ferrari takes a curve during a Formula One pre-season testing session at the Catalunya racetrack in Montmelo, outside Barcelona, Spain, Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2019. (AP PhotoJoan Monfort)
Mercedes tested new aerodynamic parts to try to gain some speed compared to last week's sessions.
Williams, which started testing later than the other teams because a delay with its 2019 car, managed to run 119 laps with rookie George Russell.
Testing will continue through Friday at the Barcelona-Catalunya Circuit, home to the Spanish Grand Prix in May.
Ferrari driver Sebastian Vettel of Germany steers his car during a Formula One pre-season testing session at the Catalunya racetrack in Montmelo, outside Barcelona, Spain, Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2019. (AP PhotoJoan Monfort)
The season-opening Australian Grand Prix is on March 17.
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Ferrari driver Sebastian Vettel of Germany drives in the pit lane during a Formula One pre-season testing session at the Catalunya racetrack in Montmelo, outside Barcelona, Spain, Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2019. (AP PhotoJoan Monfort)
Renault driver Daniel Ricciardo of Australia drives in the pit lane during a Formula One pre-season testing session at the Catalunya racetrack in Montmelo, outside Barcelona, Spain, Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2019. (AP PhotoJoan Monfort)
Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton of Britain steers his car during a Formula One pre-season testing session at the Catalunya racetrack in Montmelo, outside Barcelona, Spain, Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2019. (AP PhotoJoan Monfort)