Finish driver Valtteri Bottas was fastest for Williams on the final day of pre-season testing in Barcelona as McLaren’s reliability problems continued.
Bottas bettered team-mate Felipe Massa’s time from Saturday on the supersoft tyres, but was still someway off Mercedes’ best on the slower soft tyres in Barcelona in 1min 23.063sec.
– #Quiz360: WIN Dh250 to spend at Legends Sports Bar
– On The Radar, March 2-8: Beach Ultimate, Julius Baer Gold Cup Polo
– VIDEO: Fernando Alonso’s doctor says Mclaren driver is ‘fine’ after crash
Nico Rosberg’s time of 1min 22.792sec from Friday remained the benchmark across eight days of testing at the Circuit de Catalunya with the first Grand Prix of the season in Melbourne now just two weeks away.
“It was a really good day and a great way to finish the test,” said Bottas, who finished fourth in last season’s drivers’ championship.
“One of the main points we have learnt is that the FW37 is very reliable. The car we are taking to Melbourne is very competitive and should make for an interesting start to the season.”
So that’s winter testing completed for us. Next stop for the guys is @ausgrandprix Well done team! #weareracing pic.twitter.com/CcTqi8MNvf
— WILLIAMS RACING (@WilliamsRacing) March 1, 2015
Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel was second quickest when also running on the supersoft compound with Brazilian Felipe Nasr in third.
Rosberg concentrated on mileage over speed for Mercedes as he completed a mammoth 148 laps in only the seventh fastest time.
“Today was a good day and, overall, that was a very interesting test here in Barcelona,” said the German. “After this test we can be happy. We are very optimistic. Now, I look forward to flying to Australia and getting back to racing.”
By contrast, McLaren’s inability to put their MP4-30 through its paces ahead of the opening Grand Prix of the season in Melbourne in two weeks’ time continued.
A slow start but steady progress on the final day of pre-season testing: http://t.co/k6RtS3yfee Next stop, Melbourne. pic.twitter.com/r9I9AJ8NbZ
— McLaren (@McLarenF1) March 1, 2015
Jenson Button could only muster 30 laps and was also way off the pace set by the leaders despite running on the soft tyres – he was over two seconds behind Bottas.
“Looking back at the last four weeks, our winter test programme has been difficult,” said McLaren’s racing director Eric Boullier.
“Even if it’s likely to be a difficult start to the season, we know we can develop hard and fast, and that we’ll surely unlock the huge potential that lies within the car.”
Pastor Maldonado suffered a heavy crash early in the afternoon session to end Lotus’ day early, but the Venezuelan was able to walk away unhurt.