Grosjean sets fastest lap of the week in Barcelona F1 test

The final day of the first Barcelona Formula One test is over, with Romain Grosjean setting the fastest time of the day for Lotus.

Today’s running was overshadowed by Fernando Alonso’s crash just before lunch that brought the morning session to a shuddering halt. His McLaren-Honda MP4-30 left the track at the exit of Turn 3, clipped the concrete wall on the inside of the track and ran for a fair distance along the grass towards Turn 4.

Although there was only apparently slight damage to the right-rear corner and a wrecked front wing of the car, he was airlifted to hospital after receiving treatment by the side of his car and in the circuit’s medical centre.

Alonso had just set a 1m27.956s lap before the incident, which stood as the eighth fastest time of the day. McLaren hoped to repair the car for Jenson Button, but then elected to end its day early.

Carlos Sainz Jr also suffered an off at Turn 3 after lunch, hitting the tyre barrier and removing his Toro Rosso’s front wing too. That crash ended his running.

At the top of the times, Grosjean used super-soft tyres to set his fastest lap, a 1m24.067s.

Nico Rosberg recorded a superb 1m24.321s on the medium-compound tyres that were two steps harder than Grosjean’s rubber. Rosberg also completed the most laps of the day at 129, despite spinning into the gravel in the morning.

Daniil Kvyat was third fastest for Red Bull, ahead of Sauber’s Felipe Nasr. Valtteri Bottas was fifth fastest for Williams, ahead of Sainz.

Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel (after a quiet day), Force India’s Nico Hulkenberg and Alonso rounded out those who set a time.

The second Barcelona test begins on February 26.

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