Abu Dhabi testing | Russell tops day two, Leclerc crashes out
Mercedes’ junior driver sets the fastest lap of the second and final Pirelli testing day at Abu Dhabi. Ferrari’s season comes to an end in a crash by Charles Leclerc.
The sun sets on Formula 1 for the last time this year: the second day of Pirelli post-season testing officially closes the 2019 F1’s race action.
After a Day-1 led by the Mercedes of Valtteri Bottas, is once again a Silver Arrow the car that steps on top of the standings: George Russell stops the clocks on a time of 1:37.207.
122 laps and counting for @GeorgeRussell63 and W10 on Wednesday 👌
— Mercedes-AMG F1 (@MercedesAMGF1) December 4, 2019
He's quickest with a 1:37.204 - just 90 minutes left on the #F1Testing clock... ⏰👀 pic.twitter.com/0WOQYygrsX
Second on the board is Charles Leclerc. The Monegasque recorded a lap-time of 1:37.401. A mistake at turn 14 puts him into the barriers and forces Ferrari to and early end of the 2019 season. The driver was unharmed and walked back to the pits, while his #16 car was brought back to the garage covered by a red sheet.
Great effort by Racing Point’s Lance Stroll that sits in third just 0.495 away from George Russell.
Pierre Gasly pushes his Toro Rosso up to fourth place, on a time of 1:38.166. The Frenchman completed the most amount of laps among the field, with 146 under his belt.
2019 on-track action: Complete ✅@PierreGASLY ends Day 02 clocking a 1:38.166 and racks up the most amount of laps on 146! 💪 #F1 #F1Testing pic.twitter.com/Cp0D1M1gdh
— Toro Rosso (@ToroRosso) December 4, 2019
Carlos Sainz is fifth, 563 thousands of a second behind Gasly and 221 in front of Renault’s Esteban Ocon. Seventh at the checkered flag is Alex Albon. The Red Bull driver doesn’t improve his 1:39.181 time.
Fittipaldi, eight for Haas, fends off the Alfa Romeo of Antonio Giovinazzi (1:39.811), while Williams bottoms the standing.
Nicholas Latifi, on his debut, and Roy Nissany shared the car, with the Canadian sitting in tenth place (1:40.188) and the Israelian far behind in eleventh (1:43.892).
