Bortoleto quickest for Trident on opening day of Barcelona in-season testing

Trident's Gabriel Bortoleto went two for two as he topped both sessions on Day 1 of in-season testing at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya.

In the morning session, the Brazilian took his turn at the top of the timing sheets during the final hour with a 1:27.221, beating Grégoire Saucy and Dino Beganovic by just over two-tenths.

The Championship leader continued this trend into the quieter afternoon, nailing a 1:28.000 to edge just 0.076s ahead of Saucy and Franco Colapinto.

MORNING

Luke Browning posted the early benchmark with a 1:29.385 in the opening half an hour as F3 action resumed in Europe. MP Motorsport’s Franco Colapinto then clocked two consecutive personal bests to set the early pace with a 1:28.068.

Five drivers traded fastest times during the second hour of running, with Zak O’Sullivan edging 0.030s ahead of his fellow Williams Academy junior. Campos Racing’s Josep María Martí became the first driver to break into the 1:27s, before PREMA Racing’s Dino Beganovic posted a 1:27.447 to go quickest of all.

Shaving three-thousandths off the benchmark, Grégoire Saucy was next to the top. However, it was Gabriel Bortoleto whose time was unbeatable. Clocking in a 1:27.221 with over an hour of running remaining, the Trident driver went 0.203s faster than the #8 ART Grand Prix car.

11 drivers hit the 40-lap mark. Browning kept himself the busiest, logging in 47 laps in the #16 Hitech Pulse-Eight. Meanwhile, Campos teammates Martí and Christian Mansell both stopped at the pit exit as the session drew to a close.

AFTERNOON

Straight back on it, Bortoleto wasted no time in launching himself back up to P1 with a 1:31.960. The Campos trio of Martí, Hugh Barter and Mansell all headed to the top of the timing sheets, with the Spaniard going fastest with a 1:29.992.

Beganovic lowered the time to beat further, punching in a 1:29.573 to go two-tenths ahead of teammate Paul Aron. Van Amersfoort Racing’s Caio Collet leapt up to the head of the table, posting a 1:28.899 to go 0.674s quicker than the Ferrari junior. VAR teammate Rafael Villagómez then laid down a 1:28.814 to go fastest.

Making the most of a clear track, Aron nudged in front with a 1:28.250 ahead of O’Sullivan and Beganovic. Sebastián Montoya later improved to second, closing the Mercedes junior’s advantage to 0.157s.

The only stoppage of the day came on the cusp of the final hour, as PHM Racing by Charouz’s Roberto Faria found the barriers on the exit of the final corner. Returning to green flag conditions for the final 45 minutes, Bortoleto set a 1:28.00 to go clear once again alongside racking up the most laps of the session with 46.

2023 FIA FORMULA 3 CHAMPIONSHIP - BARCELONA IN-SEASON TEST, DAY 1, MORNING SESSION

2023 FIA FORMULA 3 CHAMPIONSHIP - BARCELONA IN-SEASON TEST, DAY 1, AFTERNOON SESSION