News

Ocon wraps up Renault 'pre-season' test with double race distance run at the Red Bull Ring

Share
Esteban Ocon of

On Tuesday Daniel Ricciardo was back behind the wheel on a Formula 1 car for the first time since February as Renault carried out a private test at the Red Bull Ring – and on Wednesday it was his team mate Esteban Ocon's turn to get some track time.

With the drivers and cars having been out of action since winter testing, some of the teams have been running test sessions to blow off the cobwebs ahead of the delayed start to the F1 season with the Austrian Grand Prix next month.

Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas both had a day back at the wheel of Mercedes' 2018 car at Silverstone last week, with Ferrari planning a similar run for Charles Leclerc and Sebastian Vettel.

MUST-SEE: Bottas gets back on track in 2018 car as Mercedes step up 2020 preparations

With the teams prevented from running their current cars at private tests – with the exception of the two 100km filming days each team is allowed every year – Ricciardo ran the 2018 Renault on Tuesday, completing 115 laps of the Red Bull Ring. And on Wednesday, Ocon went even better, clocking up 143 laps of the Austrian circuit.

After his run, Ocon wrote on his Instagram channel: "I’ve missed this so much, 145 laps done ahead of the Austrian Grand Prix feeling fresh, feeling ready, and more," adding the hashtag "#F1isBack".

Meanwhile, Renault's midfield rivals Racing Point were also running today, using one of their filming days to stretch the legs of their 2020 car, the RP20, on the National Circuit layout at Silverstone, with Lance Stroll behind the wheel.

And AlphaTauri also plan to run their new car on a filming day at Imola on June 24, ahead of the season-opening Austrian Grand Prix at the Red Bull Ring on July 5.

TECH INSIGHT: How much will the cars have changed since testing when they arrive in Austria?

Share

YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE

Coming Up

Coming Up

FeatureF1 Unlocked

HINCH’S HEROES: Who stood out for Indycar star James Hinchcliffe at the Australian Grand Prix?