Morning report: Daniel Ricciardo tops the timesheets in penultimate session

Daniel Ricciardo topped the morning session on the final day of pre-season testing as Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclec completed the top three, all setting top times on the C5 tyre.

Ricciardo set a time of 1:16.276 to top the timesheets in his Renault. Charles Leclerc finished the penultimate session in second place with a 1:16.360 just ahead of Lewis Hamilton who completed the top three with a 1:16.410.

Leclerc had a slow start on the C4 tyres but eventually picked it up, whilst Mercedes were smoking a little bit early in the session adding to the concern they have endured of recent days with their engine.

There was more success for Racing Point and Sergio Perez who led at times during the session, showing some good pace. They had previously talked up how they were close to Ferrari in terms of pace and it showed with the Mexican setting a 1:16.658 for fourth.

Alex Albon had a spin at turn 11. The Thai driver spun into the gravel in what was a relatively drama-free session and would finish tenth as a result.

Out of Turn 11 and into Turn 12...

A spin and some gravel for @alex_albon #F1Testing #F1 pic.twitter.com/hBeEKJ1rNr

— Formula 1 (@F1) February 28, 2020

Sainz, Kvyat, Russell, Grosjean and Raikkonen went onto finish fifth to ninth respectively with very little improvement if any from drivers in the latter stages of the session.