Johnny Cecotto Jr led the way in the morning session at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, but it was Nobuharu Matsushita who set the best lap of the day in the afternoon as the first test since the GP2 Series was re-branded as the FIA Formula 2 Championship got underway on Monday.
Venezuelan Cecotto hit the front in the morning for the Italian Rapax team, with his lap of 1:29.239 coming in dull conditions at the Spanish circuit, but sunshine greeted the teams for the afternoon session, and Matsushita lead an ART Grand Prix 1-2 ahead of team-mate Alexander Albon with a time of 1:29.061.
All ten teams were present at the test, with the only two seats yet to be confirmed being filled by ex-Formula 1 racer Roberto Merhi at Campos Racing and by Sergio Canamasas at Trident.
Oliver Rowland was second fastest in the morning session for his new team DAMS, with Matsushita third ahead of the second Rapax of McLaren Junior Nyck de Vries, while Norman Nato rounded out the top five on his return to Pertamina Arden.
Luca Ghiotto was sixth fastest for Russian Time ahead of the second DAMS of Nicholas Latifi, while the top ten was rounded out by Charles Leclerc (Prema Racing), Albon and Sean Gelael (Arden).
Nato finished best of the rest behind Matsushita and Albon in the afternoon session, with Racing Engineering’s Gustav Malja fourth ahead of Cecotto, while Louis Delétraz (Racing Engineering), Rowland, Artem Markelov (Russian Time), Leclerc and Ghiotto completing the top ten.
Nobuharu Matsushita set the best time of the day in the afternoon – Credit: Alastair Staley/FIA Formula 2
Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya Test 1 Day 1 AM Times
[table id=1795 /]
Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya Test 1 Day 1 PM Times
[table id=1796 /]
