Merc and Ferrari pick up the pace

Day three of the first winter test session of 2017 saw both Mercedes and Ferrari pick up the pace at Circuit de Catalunya.

Both Valtteri Bottas for Mercedes and four-time Formula One World Champion Sebastian Vettel for Ferrari set times of under 80 seconds at the Barcelona track.

Bottas’ time of 1minute 19.705s was the fastest time on track in eight years as the new Formula One cars show their potential to be faster and more aggressive than in recent times.

Bottas set that time on Ultrasofts, whilst also setting a time of 1minute 19.838s on the supersofts.

Vettel’s fastest time of 1minute 19.952s was set on the soft compound tyre, once again making Ferrari’s pace look almost on par with Mercedes.

Once again Mercedes impressed with the mileage that they completed in the car.

On day one they completed 439.128 miles, on day two they achieved 485.856 miles and on day three between Bottas and three-time Formula One World Champion Lewis Hamilton they completed another 491.130 miles.

‘It’s been a great test so far, I’m loving driving the car.’ Hamilton told Sky Sports.

Ferrari also completed good mileage with Vettel completing 139 laps [over 400 miles].

Vettel said: ‘in terms of performance it’s very early to tell, There is still a lot of work to do.’