---
title: "Ill-Timed Snow Brings Third Day of Formula 1 Testing to a Halt"
description: "Unseasonable weather conditions in Barcelona reduced the already tiny amount of Formula 1 testing."
date: "2018-03-01"
modified: "2018-03-01"
authors:
  - name: "Jerry Perez"
    job_title: "Deputy Editor"
    link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/jerry-perez"
url: "https://www.thedrive.com/accelerator/18890/ill-timed-snow-brings-third-day-of-formula-1-testing-to-a-halt"
categories:
  - "News"
tags:
  - "Daniel Ricciardo"
  - "Fernando Alonso"
  - "Formula 1"
  - "racing"
  - "Racing News"
  - "Winter Testing"
---

# Ill-Timed Snow Brings Third Day of Formula 1 Testing to a Halt

![](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/images-by-url-td/content/2018/03/ap-1uwfc7ux91w11_news1.jpg>)
*\<em\>www.thedrive.com</em>*

A freak weather occurrence cancelled the third and final [Formula 1](<https://www.thedrive.com/accelerator/18854/f1-tv-formula-1-streaming-service-announced>) pre-season testing day at the Circuit de Catalunya near Barcelona. Teams woke up to a winter wonderland in what's typically a warm Spanish city, as fresh snow blanketed the racing surface and all of the track's facilities. This comes at a time when F1 teams already have to crunch over 100 laps per day due to the tight testing regulations set by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile.

![message-editor%2F1519917095655-1519806200370.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/message-editor/1519917095655-1519806200370.jpg>)
*The Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo covered by snow., *F1 by Mark Sutton**

The start of the third testing day was initially delayed by three hours due to weather conditions, as well as the fact that the medical helicopters could not fulfill their duties if a situation were to arise. Eventually, [just five drivers](<https://www.thedrive.com/accelerator/18791/toro-rossos-surprisingly-trouble-free-first-day-with-honda>) emerged from the safety of their pit boxes only to find the track conditions too treacherous, something that Red Bull's Daniel Ricciardo didn't realize until he and his new RB14 found themselves [beached on a gravel trap](<https://www.thedrive.com/accelerator/18627/daniel-ricciardo-crashes-his-new-red-bull-rb14-shortly-after-its-debut>). Fernando Alonso was the driver with the most laps on the wintry day, lapping the circuit 11 times and running more than one minute slower than the average pace set the previous days.

![message-editor%2F1519917142760-dxizhnfxkaaildv.jpg-large.jpeg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/message-editor/1519917142760-dxizhnfxkaaildv.jpg-large.jpeg>)
*Fernando Alonso ventures on track after the snow melts., *F1**

"It's been a frustrating day. The conditions this morning were only conducive for throwing snowballs, and the cold and wet this afternoon put paid to any meaningful time on the circuit," said Christian Horner, Team Principal Aston Martin [Red Bull Racing](<https://www.thedrive.com/accelerator/18610/red-bull-racing-reveals-2018-formula-1-car-the-rb14>).

Even with the second and final pre-season test around the corner, teams big and small are affected by the lack of track time. Agreeing on a solution to make up the "snow day" requires the unanimous approval of all 10 Formula 1 teams, or an amendment to the [FIA rulebook](<https://www.thedrive.com/accelerator/18766/fernando-alonso-thinks-f1s-halo-shouldnt-be-a-debatable-issue>) approved by its own governing body.

## Author
Jerry is responsible for upholding The Drive's ethos as an audience-first, enthusiast-driven car blog that serves up industry-leading news, reviews, culture, and motorsport coverage. Overseeing a staff of writers and editors from his home base in Indianapolis, he helps curate the site's daily rundown, as well as its medium- and long-term content strategies. Jerry joined The Drive in 2018 as a writer and worked as news editor and managing editor before becoming the deputy in 2023. As a lifelong car enthusiast and racing fan, Jerry believes that all cars are cool, but the people behind the machines are even cooler. This belief often gives The Drive a slightly different focus from most other car sites, where we explore the humanity behind the machines. When he's not obsessing over the day's biggest stories or hanging out at a race track, Jerry can be found behind the wheel of a car, most likely sharing a laugh with his teenage son or daughter.

### Author social links  
[Instagram](<https://www.instagram.com/drive_jerry/>)