Tyre test Barcelona: Leclerc slightly faster than Russell

With a big smile, George Russell stepped out of his motorhome on Tuesday morning, held up his hand and head and asked aloud: "Rain?" The Brit then laughed his snow-white teeth bare: "No, sweat," referring to the moment Russell briefly suspected raindrops falling during Sunday's Grand Prix, which in reality was sweat on the inside of his helmet.

The Mercedes driver also worked up a sweat on Tuesday, during a tyre test for Pirelli. At the circuit near Barcelona, Russell achieved 151 laps on the intended tyres for the '24 season. His best time was a 1.18.400. With that, Russell was slower than the other driver on the track, Charles Leclerc.

The Ferrari man, who drove a dramatic race last weekend, achieved 167 laps and a best time of 1.18.197. On Wednesday, the tyre test continues. That is when Mick Schumacher will be in action on behalf of Mercedes. This is the first time the test and reserve driver, who came over from Haas, has been allowed to take a seat behind the wheel of the W14. Until now, his tenure has mainly consisted of driving virtual laps in the simulator.