F1 Testing Day 2: Russell, Kubica Top Testing Times

[Paul Jeffrey]

Young British hopeful George Russell ended F1 testing in Budapest in fine style, topping the timesheets for Mercedes and setting a new circuit lap record.

Russell would have a very competitive second day of testing for his AMG Mercedes team, the British 20-year-old F2 championship leader and Mercedes reserve completing a commendable 116 laps earlier today, bolting on a set of Ultrasoft tyres late in the day to set an impressive 1:15.575, just 0.074 quicker than Ferrari driver Kimi Räikkönen, the Finn having a bumper day behind the wheel of his car with 131 laps on the clock, the exact same number as Red Bull junior Jake Dennis in third.

Following on from his fastest time yesterday, Antonio Giovinazzi would swap the scarlet of Ferrari for Sauber overalls today, the Italian setting a very solid 1:17.558 to end up fourth overall with 120 laps, ending two very productive days of running as he prepares for a potential full season debut in 2019.

Behind Giovinazzi would be Force India and their reserve driver Nikita Mazepin, the Russian delivering the least laps of any driver as he enjoyed more seat time in the pink car, having plenty of disturbances with two stoppages out on track for a range of mechanical issues.

Fan favourite Robert Kubica would end the day in sixth position with 103 laps to his name, the Polish driver rather interestingly setting a time that eclipsed anything the Williams drivers managed during the Hungarian Grand Prix race weekend, again laying down a very impressive marker in his bid to return to the Grand Prix grid in the near future.

Kubica would also have an opportunity to spend time with the new for 2019 specification front wing, delighting a large contingent of Polish fans in the grandstands across from the Williams pitlane, before eventually setting his quickest lap on the fastest Ultrasoft tyre compound.

Behind Kubica would be highly rated F2 championship challenger and McLaren junior Lando Norris, followed by Artem Markelov in the Renault and Toro Rosso drivers Sean Gelael, Pierre Gasly and Brendon Hartley, performing Pirelli testing duties, rounding out the rest of the times.

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[snyperal]

Lando or Russell for next year? Can't wait!

 

[racelover]

I bet Kubica would do a better job alone than both Williams regular drivers combine

 

[farjam]

I hope these 2019 version of front wings can solve some of the problems we had/have in 2017 and 2018... I think these front wings have even a better look than those with lots of loops and holes and vortex generators. looking forward to 2019 season

 

[gamer19]

WHY we don't have topic about THIS:
https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/force-india-f1-civil-war/3152310/
?
Pretty hot matter, isn't it ?

 

[Trebor901]

the Williams looks pretty cool with all that paint over it, would be nice to see some colour variety on the grid.

Hoping Williams can sort their problems out also, with Stroll looking like he is off to Force India i cant help thinking they are going to be struggling again last year and F1 just wouldnt be the same without the Williams name there.

 

[rubaru]

I'm very curious, with Kubica driving both the current wing and next season's wing on the same car, what's the difference in his lap times?

 

[Jimlaad43]

TFW flow-vis paint creates a better looking livery than the one currently on the car...

 

[Terry Rock]

TFW flow-vis paint creates a better looking livery than the one currently on the car...

I was just about to post that exact thing. Looks very cool.

 

[boomn]

I'm very curious, with Kubica driving both the current wing and next season's wing on the same car, what's the difference in his lap times?

I don't think anyone set lap times with the new wings. Mostly just installation laps and back to the garage, or a handful of slow flaps.

 

[tlsmikey]

Most exciting thing Williams has done all year is that paint job

 

[Steve Worrell]

That's the best livery I've seen since the Lola's in the mid 90s

 

[Eckhart von Glan]

the question is: will it be in f1 2019? track day with virtual flow paint on your virtual car? lol.
but it's interesting stuff, never heard about it before, makes a lot of sense: http://formula1-dictionary.net/flow_viz_paint.html

 

[mceci1]

Wait, you mean to tell me Williams problem isn't all the car. Kubica showed at least some pace. Why cant the current line up

 

[Sky]

even with a dodgy arm he's still got it.

 

[NDG]

Keeps popping in my mind the new front wings being wider, definitely more punctures and end-plates all over the place every single T1. Also Mclaren's crocodile winglets if that even help in aero, I'm no aero engineer but only their car has it when all other cars have some sort of diffuser to let air pass through while their seems to just drag it all over the car.

 

[Bernd Graf]

Man, Kimi is on-point! Best time to be a fan of the Iceman!

 

[Snowtouch]

The most shocking was that Kubica made best time of 1st sector till break. That said speaker on track during test. His long stints were all around 1.19.xxx and all very stable. Dont have exact times becouse it was hard to hear and screen with current lap times was off.