Romain Grosjean set a new preseason testing benchmark for Haas F1 Team with 181 laps completed in the final day of testing Friday at Circuit de Barcelona – Catalunya.
It was also the highest lap count of the day among the 12 drivers who took to the 4.655-kilometer (2.892-mile), 16-turn track. Force India’s Esteban Ocon was next best with 163 laps, 18 laps shy of Grosjean’s mark. Scuderia Ferrari’s Kimi Räikkönen set the day’s quickest time (1:17.221).
Grosjean’s teammate, Kevin Magnussen, set the team’s previous best single-day total of 153 laps on Thursday. Prior to this year’s winter test, the highest single-day lap tally of any Haas F1 Team driver during preseason testing was 119 laps by Grosjean, set exactly one year ago.
The 181 laps made by Grosjean translates to 842.555 kilometers (523.452 miles), which brought his two-week testing total to 314 laps or 1,461.67 kilometers (908.240 miles). With Magnussen securing 381 total laps or 1,773.55 kilometers (1,102.033 miles) during the same time period, Haas F1 Team racked up an impressive 695 laps or 3,235.22 kilometers (2,010.57 miles) during its 2018 preseason test.
In addition to the amount of laps run, Grosjean displayed speed. His quick time of 1:18.412 placed him fifth overall. It was earned on his 87th tour with his Haas VF-18 riding on Pirelli P Zero Purple ultrasoft tires.
“It’s been a long day, but it’s been brilliant. We did a lot of work with the car, which is really good. I managed to get a lot of laps in on the last day, which we missed earlier on in the test. The team did a great job. We’ve got a lot of knowledge now for Melbourne. I’m looking forward to being there.”
Round 1 of the 2018 FIA Formula One World Championship is the Australian Grand Prix March 25 in Melbourne. Practice begins March 23 and qualifying takes place March 24.
