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Pedro Piquet fastest in F2 pre-season test

Pedro Piquet fastest in F2 pre-season test

01-03-2020 18:13

James St Denis

Rookie Pedro Piquet topped the timesheets on the first day of the only F2 pre-season test with a 1:41.877, ahead of Nobuharu Matsushita and Jehan Daruvala at the Bahrain International Circuit. 

F3 graduate Piquet, son of three-time F1 world champion Nelson, placed his Charouz at the top of the timesheet with all the teams testing the brand new 18 inch tyres ahead of the new season, with them being introduced to F1 in 2021.

F2 veteran Nobuharu Matsushita finished in second place in his MP Motorsport car, with another F3 graduate in Jehan Daruvala ending the first day in third, the Indian being promoted to Carlin for this season after joining the Red Bull junior team earlier this year.

A surprise face in Tom Dillman made a return to the field, replacing Euroformula Open champion and new Trident driver Marino Sato for the afternoon session. Dillman finished the session in 7th place but confirmed that this is his only involvement with the new car, being drafted in to gain data for the team on the new tyres.

Marcus Armstrong ended the day the highest place Ferrari Academy driver in 5th place, with Mick Schumacher 11th, Callum Ilott 14th, Robert Shwartzman 15th and Giuliano Alesi the slowest of the five, finishing in 20th place respectively.

Testing resumes tomorrow morning for the second day ahead of the season-opener in Bahrain on March 20.