Formula One pre-season testing report: day seven in Barcelona

Racing Post Sport is rounding up the action on each of the eight days of F1 2019 pre-season testing at Barcelona as the countdown to the first race gets serious.

Day seven highlights

Charles Leclerc dominated the day for Ferrari, setting a new fastest time of pre-season among his mammoth 138-lap stint, although he did grind to a halt with 20 minutes of the day left. That's the third Ferrari mechanical failure in three days, but coming after more than two race distances they are unlikely to mind today.

Pierre Gasly suffered a huge crash in the afternoon, giving his new Red Bull team a repair job for the second time in preseason.

George Russell went some way towards making up for Williams's late arrival in Barcelona with 140 laps on the day, while Mercedes racked up an impressive 181 laps.

Fastest lap times

1 C Leclerc (Ferrari) 1.16.231
2 A Albon (Toro Rosso) 1.16.882
3 L Norris (McLaren) 1.17.084
4 P Gasly (Red Bull) 1.17.091
5 D Ricciardo (Renault) 1.17.204
6 N Hulkenberg (Renault) 1.17.496
7 L Stroll (Racing Point) 1.17.556
8 A Giovinazzi (Alfa Romeo) 1.17.639
9 R Grosjean (Haas) 1.17.854
10 L Hamilton (Mercedes) 1.18.097
11 G Russell (Williams) 1.18.130
12 K Magnussen (Haas) 1.18.199
13 V Bottas (Mercedes) 1.18.862

• The 2019 F1 field is unveiled - team profiles

Market moves

The market seems to have stabilised with Lewis Hamilton remaining 11-10 favourite ahead of the Ferraris of Sebastian Vettel (5-2) and Charles Leclerc (13-2).

Valtteri Bottas was nudged out to 25-1 from 22-1 while Pierre Gasly is now a 50-1 chance from 40-1.

Latest title betting (best prices)

11-10 L Hamilton, 5-2 S Vettel, 13-2 C Leclerc, 8 M Verstappen, 25 V Bottas, 50 bar.

What we learned

All the data suggests Ferrari could have as much as half a second advantage over the field, but there is a feeling there's plenty more to come from Mercedes.

While the men in red have been effusive about their car, Mercedes drivers Bottas and Hamilton have spoken of issues with handling and tyre management - but such problems can be overcome.

While Leclerc has settled in nicely at Ferrari, Pierre Gasly will need to up his game come the start of the season to avoid the ire of the famously impatient Red Bull top brass.

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