Spanish GP
Circuit de Catalunya
ended
4 days ago
That concludes our coverage of P3 on the McLaren.com Pitwall. Please join us later for what promises to be a thrilling qualifying hour.
4 days ago
The top 10 in P3: 1) VET, 2) MAL, 3) KOB, 4) WEB, 5) PER, 6) ALO, 7) VER, 8) Jenson, 9) RAI, 10) ROS, 16) Lewis.
4 days ago
Hamilton: "I did a faster out-lap then, and I felt that towards the end of the lap the rears were beginning to slide a bit."
4 days ago
Pit » HAM: "You are the fastest of anyone in sector 1. Your pace is good."
4 days ago
Both cars are back in the pits, neither having got a properly clear lap on the option tyre. Interesting qually session ahead!
4 days ago
Pit » HAM: "Okay, Lewis. Your pace is very good at the moment. Unfortunately, there's a lot of traffic out there at the moment."
4 days ago
Hamilton: "Box this lap."
4 days ago
Pit » HAM: "Your pace is very good, Lewis. You are the fastest of anyone in sectors 1 & 2."
4 days ago
Lewis does a 1m24.7s first lap.
4 days ago
Pit » BUT: "The car behind is PET. He's on a timed lap, let him through."
4 days ago
Jenson does a 1m23.9s lap, but hit traffic in the final sector.
4 days ago
Pit: "Guys, let's get ready for pitstops please."
4 days ago
Pit » HAM: "You're going to be joining the track just ahead of PER. He has a 7s gap behind him."
4 days ago
Lewis is on the move too. This will be the team's first indication about quali this arvo.
4 days ago
Jenson heads out for his option run.
4 days ago
The option tyres are being fitted to both cars. The general consensus in the paddock is that the option tyre is worth 1s per lap.
4 days ago
Pit » HAM: "We've got another 3-4 mins before we need to head out on the option."
4 days ago
12 minutes to go in the session. Expect to see people working on their qualifying set-ups from now...
4 days ago
Pit » BUT: "Looking through the out-laps yesterday on the option tyre, you were the fastest of everyone. It doesn't need to be quite so hard today."
4 days ago
Pit » HAM: "These tyres can come off now."
4 days ago
Hamilton: "The rear tyres are sliding around quite a bit."
4 days ago
Pit » HAM: "Box this lap."
4 days ago
Pit » BUT: "A new option tyre will resolve many of these issues."
4 days ago
Pit » HAM: "KAR is behind, watch out for him."
4 days ago
Lewis is back out, following changes to the front wing and a new steering wheel.
4 days ago
4 days ago
Jenson returns to the pits.
4 days ago
Pit » HAM: "That's a very positive start to the day, particularly when you consider these tyres did three hard laps yesterday."
4 days ago
Hamilton: "The car feels quite good today. What stopped me going faster was sliding at the rear, the rear tyres feel weak."
4 days ago
30 minutes gone: 1) PER, 2) MAL, 3) VET, 4) ALO, 5) Lewis, 6) VER, 7) ROS, 8) KOB, 9) RIC, 10) RAI, 16) Jenson.
4 days ago
Lewis heads to the pits, where he'll have a steering wheel change.
4 days ago
Jenson's first flying lap is a 1m26.151.
4 days ago
Hamilton: "One more lap."
4 days ago
Jenson's now on-track as well.
4 days ago
Lewis's first flying lap is a 1m29.1s - 16th fastest.
4 days ago
Pit » HAM: "You've got PET behind you, on a timed lap. There's a six-second gap behind him."
4 days ago
Pit » HAM: "Be careful of the cars around you as you join the track. The best gap is going to be behind Perez."
4 days ago
Lewis heads out of the garage for his first proper run of the day.
4 days ago
Pit » HAM: "Let's go. We've changed some settings on the clutch, so we'd like to try another launch on the way out."
4 days ago
Pit » HAM: "The track will be clear soon, so we can look to go in a moment."
4 days ago
Pit » HAM: "Grosjean has stopped on-track. I'm going to wait and see what happens before sending you out."
4 days ago
Pit » HAM: "It looks like cars are starting to go out. We should look at going out soon for our first run."
4 days ago
The Circuit de Catalunya falls silent. Not a single car on-track at the moment. 11 minutes gone.
4 days ago
Hamilton: "Everything's fine."
4 days ago
Pit » HAM: "How was the car?"
4 days ago
Lewis completes his install lap as well.
4 days ago
Pit » BUT: "Some feedback on that stop for you: you were 100mm long and 100mm to the right of centre."
4 days ago
Jenson does a practice pitstop on his return to the pitlane.
4 days ago
Pit » BUT: "Box this lap, Jenson."
4 days ago
Jenson heads out for his first run of the day.
4 days ago
4 days ago
Pit » BUT: "Good morning Jenson, radio check."
4 days ago
Pit » HAM: "Hopefully a fairly standard P3 session for us. We'll start with an install lap on the prime tyres from yesterday."
4 days ago
Hamilton: "Radio's fine."
4 days ago
Pit » HAM: "Radio check Lewis."
4 days ago
Green flag: P3 is underway.
4 days ago
Time for the drivers to get suited and booted. The mercury's already nudging 29 degrees, so it's going to be warm in the cockpit today.
4 days ago
Tyres are going to be critical here. Jenson's in deep conversation with one of the Pirelli guys...
4 days ago
Both drivers are in the garage, looking fresh and raring to go. You can tell from Jenson's suntan that the weather's been good in Monaco!
4 days ago
Having pored over the data last night, we've made a few set-up changes to both cars. We'll find out in a moment how we're set...
4 days ago
Good morning from Barcelona! Welcome of our live coverage of FP3 on the McLaren.com Pitwall. It's scorchio at the Circuit de Catalunya!
4 days ago
That concludes our coverage of Friday free practice from the Circuit de Catalunya. Be sure to join us again tomorrow for P3 and quali!
5 days ago
Jenson's fastest time was a 1m23.399s - two tenths faster than second-placed Vettel. Lewis was fourth on 1m23.909s.
5 days ago
So, the order at the end of P2 in Spain is: 1 BUT 2 VET 3 ROS 4 HAM 5 RAI 6 GRO 7 WEB 8 SCH 9 KOB 10 HUL.
5 days ago
Pit » BUT: "That's the chequered flag."
5 days ago
That's the end of an extremely busy session!
5 days ago
Pit » HAM: "Pace is still looking good, Lewis."
5 days ago
Pit » HAM: "Pace in first sector is very good."
5 days ago
Pit » HAM: "Gap behind is six seconds to Senna."
5 days ago
Pit » BUT: "That last lap was a 1m30.3s."
5 days ago
Pit » BUT: "Lewis's last lap was a 1m30.1s."
5 days ago
Pit: "Get ready for pitstops. please guys."
5 days ago
Pit » HAM: "Time to find: two tenths in the last sector."
5 days ago
Both drivers are running through a detailed list of points with their engineers.
5 days ago
With one hour of P2 completed, the top 10 is: 1 BUT 2 VET 3 ROS 4 HAM 5 RAI 6 GRO 7 WEB 8 SCH 9 KOB 10 HUL.
5 days ago
Pit » HAM: "Understood. Box this lap."
5 days ago
Hamilton: "Box this lap."
5 days ago
Pit » HAM: "To confirm: we still have yellow flags at Turn Three."
5 days ago
Pit » HAM: "Marshals are on the side of the track - yellows at Turn Three."
5 days ago
Pit » BUT: "Yellows at Turn Three. Car stopped and marshals on the circuit. Yellows ahead."
5 days ago
Pit » HAM: "You are strong in the final sector. Two tenths of Jenson in the middle sector."
5 days ago
Pit » BUT: "Debris and stones on track at exit of Turn Four."
5 days ago
Pit » BUT: "This pace is good."
5 days ago
Pit » BUT: "Jenson, Vettel is now on lap 12 and doing 1m31.7s."
5 days ago
Looks like the majority of cars are switching over to their long-run programmes.
5 days ago
Both cars are now out on track.
5 days ago
Pit » BUT: "Di Resta is in front on high-fuel - he's lapping in the 1m30s."
5 days ago
Pit » HAM: "We'll be heading out again shortly."
5 days ago
Jenson's out again on the Options.
5 days ago
#socialfriday @sirtyro "Can Lewis change gear ratios if he thinks they are wrong?" Yes, ratios are limited but can be changed b4 parc ferme
5 days ago
Jenson's first lap on the Option is a 1m23.399s - fastest overall.
5 days ago
Pit » HAM: "You are second-quickest of everyone, although not everyone has run the Option yet."
5 days ago
Pit: "Lewis is box this lap and stopping on his marks and laying rubber."
5 days ago
Pit » BUT: "Car in front is Massa. Car behind is Grosjean, he left the pits with you."
5 days ago
Hamilton: "Box this lap okay."
5 days ago
Pit » HAM: "Box this lap. Confirm."
5 days ago
Lewis goes a step faster: 1m23.909s.
5 days ago
Pit » HAM: "Alonso three seconds behind - the gap is behind him. 10 seconds."
5 days ago
That's a 1m24.027s for Lewis on the Option - second fastest behind Vettel.
5 days ago
Pit » BUT: "So we'll try the Option next, which we believe is worth more than a second per lap."
5 days ago
#socialfriday @kasupa: "Apart from the higher nose, are there other upgrades installed on the MP4-27?" Yes, nose is only a minor part of it.
5 days ago
Pit » HAM: "Big gap behind Maldonado - he's on the pit straight now."
5 days ago
Lewis is out on the Option tyre now.
5 days ago
Out goes Lewis.
5 days ago
Pit » BUT: "Box this lap. You are clear behind."
5 days ago
So there's about a 1.5s difference in pace between the Prime and Option tyre!
5 days ago
Pit » BUT: "Drive straight out please Jenson."
5 days ago
Pit » HAM: "Some cars are already on Options and are going quickly."
5 days ago
Just a reminder - there's quite a step between the Prime and Option. It's a double-step: Pirelli Hard to Soft (ie: no medium)...
5 days ago
#socialfriday @SpeedracerF1: "Is data from previous cars/races used for current races or new car?" Residual data is always useful, yes!
5 days ago
Lewis seems pleased with the changes made to the car - he's debriefing with Andy Latham.
5 days ago
Jenson has currently set a 1m26.179s best - he's 11th.
5 days ago
So Lewis immediately gets down to business and sets a 1m25.123s best - third fastest.
5 days ago
Pit » BUT: "Watch out for Webber close behind."
5 days ago
Pit » HAM: "Gap behind now four seconds to Petrov."
5 days ago
Pit » HAM: "Eight seconds behind to Petrov - he's on a timed lap."
5 days ago
Pit » BUT: "Eight-second gap behind - it's Rosberg."
5 days ago
Pit » HAM: "Grosjean right beside you when you join the track. Clear behind."
5 days ago
Hamilton: "It's quite difficult to get out of the garage."
5 days ago
So has Lewis.
5 days ago
Jenson's just left the pits.
5 days ago
#SocialFriday @LeighDChapman: "Do the drivers know the others set up on the car?" Yes, all data is shared between the two. Total equality.
5 days ago
Both drivers are strapped in and the engineers are running through the changes made between sessions.
5 days ago
Welcome back to our live coverage of Barcelona practice - it's now P2. www.mclaren.com/formula1
5 days ago
That concludes our coverage of P1 from the Circuit de Catalunya. Be sure to rejoin us for P2 this afternoon!
5 days ago
Fastest time of the morning was a 1m24.430s (ALO). BUT was fourth on 1m24.996s and HAM eighth on 1m25.252s.
5 days ago
Top 10 at the end of P1 at Barcelona is: 1 ALO 2 VET 3 KOB 4 BUT 5 BOT 6 SCH 7 GRO 8 HAM 9 RAI 10 HUL.
5 days ago
That's the end of this morning's session.
5 days ago
Pit » HAM: "There will be time for one more lap."
5 days ago
Still no improvements to our boys' best times: Jenson fourth (1m24.996s) and Lewis eighth (1m25.252s).
5 days ago
Pit » HAM: "Final sector very good on the last lap. Main time to find in the middle sector."
5 days ago
They'll start learning it in the simulator at MTC, but they all pick it up really quickly once they get to the track itself. It's their job!
5 days ago
#socialfriday @stephensmith71: "When a new track appears on the calendar, how do the drivers go about learning braking points and gearing?"
5 days ago
#socialfriday @eddy856: "Are the track engineers the same for every race? Or do you change them for every race?" Same for every race.
5 days ago
And Lewis is now out on track too.
5 days ago
Pit » BUT: "Still a large gap behind."
5 days ago
Out goes Jenson.
5 days ago
And any other notable team members you'd like to see on Twitter? No promises, mind...
5 days ago
We all know @paddylowe is Twitter's newest superstar - but Jonathan Neale says can you find him on Twitter? He's tricky to find...
5 days ago
Okay, McLaren Racing MD has issued a challenge to all our Twitter followers...
5 days ago
#socialfriday @HarvRM asks: "How do the drivers keep hydrated during races in hot climates?" Easy, a special formulation @lucozadeuk drink!
5 days ago
Both drivers now debriefing with their engineers.
5 days ago
Pit » HAM: "We obviously caught a little bit of traffic on that lap..."
5 days ago
With one hour gone, Barcelona's P1 order is: 1 VET 2 KOB 3 BUT 4 BOT 5 SCH 6 GRO 7 HAM 8 RAIK 9 VER 10 MAS.
5 days ago
Hamilton: "Box this lap."
5 days ago
Jenson's now P3: 1m24.996s.
5 days ago
Pit » BUT: "Still a large gap behind."
5 days ago
Lewis goes quicker too - a 1m25.252s - sixth.
5 days ago
Jenson improves to a 1m25.380s on his next lap - that's seventh fastest.
5 days ago
And a 1m28.074s for Lewis. 18th.
5 days ago
That's a 1m27.684s for Jenson. Currently 17th.
5 days ago
Pit » HAM: "There is some debris down by the pit exit. You may have already seen it. It's not on the racing line."
5 days ago
Pit » HAM: "Gap behind Vettel is 15 seconds. Suggest we use that."
5 days ago
Pit » BUT: "Just a warning: there is track debris offline."
5 days ago
Pit » HAM: "Vettel two seconds behind us now."
5 days ago
Pit » HAM: "There's a 15-second gap behind the car behind."
5 days ago
Pit » BUT: "Large gap behind to Glock. Large gap behind."
5 days ago
Likewise, Lewis leaves the pits too.
5 days ago
Jenson's just left the pits - let's see if he starts setting some lap times soon.
5 days ago
It's a blanking strip to simulate potential sight-lines for next year's car.
5 days ago
#socialfriday @Pani_Tsouris asks: "What is the horizontal bar mounted halfway up from the nose? Does this not obstruct the drivers' view?"
5 days ago
Jenson's just popped in to give us his impressions of the session. He thinks there's a couple of drivers doing a v good job so far!
5 days ago
Mike Negline, one of the wisest and most dependable members of the team, is giving us all a running commentary this morning!
5 days ago
For those asking: 47 people is across both cars. The rake test monitors airflow - it's a useful measuring device. All teams use them.
5 days ago
Nosebox queries: as with any test item, it's evaluated on a Friday before we decide to race it. Not all make it - the nature of the beast!
5 days ago
#socialfriday @Martino_Lopez asks: "How many team members at the track this weekend?" F1 regs only allow 47 to work on the car at the track.
5 days ago
As you saw already, Lewis did a rake test this morning and Jenson tested the nosecone. Expect to see it switch to Lewis's car in due course.
5 days ago
Our engineers will build a programme to incorporate all the new items. With two great drivers, there's no need for a hierarchy...
5 days ago
#socialfriday @ashley3one3 asks:"How does the team decide which driver tries things like the new nose first?"
5 days ago
Let's hope those changes bear fruit this weekend.
5 days ago
As with every team, we're trying to improve in every area - we've looked at personnel and procedures and made some detail changes.
5 days ago
#socialfriday @Darrel_H0dges asks: "What have you done to try and ensure the same pit stop mistakes don't happen in Barcelona?"
5 days ago
With both drivers about to jump out for 15-20 minutes, it seems like the perfect time to send us your #socialfriday questions!
5 days ago
Pit » BUT: "You can hop out for 20 minutes or so while we get ready to do our first run."
5 days ago
Jenson's debriefing with his team of engineers.
5 days ago
Pit » HAM: "You're welcome to hop out for a bit if you want."
5 days ago
For those asking, yes, we ARE doing #socialfriday today. If you have a question for us, send it @thefifthdriver. Best ones answered!
5 days ago
Pit » BUT: "Straight out please, Jenson."
5 days ago
Jenson makes a quick stop for a routine nose box change.
5 days ago
Pit » HAM: "A good clear track behind you - at least 30 seconds."
5 days ago
Pit » BUT: "Okay Jenson, box this lap. Stop on your marks."
5 days ago
Pit » BUT: "Car behind is Pedro - he left the pits with you."
5 days ago
Jenson's out again.
5 days ago
... and both are running line-of-sight tests - that's the little strip you might be able to see on top of the chassis.
5 days ago
Lots of investigative work going on today: Lewis's car features a diffuser rake...
5 days ago
Both drivers back in the garage.
5 days ago
Pit » HAM: "Once past please Lewis"
5 days ago
Hamilton: "Turn Four..."
5 days ago
Lewis has just left the garage. Jenson, by contrast, is back in after a quick install.
5 days ago
Pit » BUT: "That's loud and clear for me."
5 days ago
5 days ago
Pit » BUT: "Radio check Turn Four."
5 days ago
Pit » HAM: "Loud and clear Lewis."
5 days ago
Hamilton: "Radio check?"
5 days ago
It's great to be back in Europe - this is where the season should really find its rhythm.
5 days ago
And the session's just gone live.
5 days ago
Welcome to the first race of the European season! We've been enjoying a lovely @absolutetaste brekkie in the Brand Centre!
5 days ago
Pit: "Can we have the power on in the car please?"
5 days ago
5 days ago
Pit » BUT: "Good morning Jenson. Radio check."
5 days ago
Good morning from a beautifully sunny Barcelona! Glad you're with us today! www.mclaren.com/formula1
5 days ago
Make sure to join us right here for commentary & data LIVE from the track - P1 starts at 9am UK TIME on Friday.
5 days ago
Just hours 'til P1 of the Santander Spanish GP kicks off at the Circuit de Catalunya!
5 days ago
Check out the Hilton HHonors Santander Spanish GP Race Guide http://youtu.be/0RC7QU68ibk
5 days ago
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