Wolff and Nasr crash in test as Hamilton quits
WILLIAMS test driver Susie Wolff and Sauber’s Felipe Nasr were involved in a high-speed collision during the opening day of pre-season testing at Barcelona’s Circuit de Catalunya yesterday.
Brazilian rookie Nasr is thought to have hit the back of Wolff’s car as the drivers approached turn five and, while both remained unhurt, the crash resulted in a 20-minute delay as the vehicles were retrieved from the gravel trap.
The Sauber suffered extensive damage with the rear wing ripped off, an incident which overshadowed Nasr setting the pace in the morning session with a lap time of one minute, 27.307 seconds.
World champion Lewis Hamilton, meanwhile, completed just 11 laps before withdrawing due to illness and being replaced by reserve driver Pascal Wehrlein as Mercedes team-mate Nico Rosberg was suffering with a trapped nerve in his neck. A Mercedes spokesman said: “Lewis had a high fever this morning. He did the first few laps but he didn’t feel comfortable in the car.”