Bahrain International Circuit played host to the final day of pre-season Formula 1 testing on Wednesday, with George Russell setting the pace for Mercedes. The British driver clocked a lap time of 1:33.459, narrowly edging out Oscar Piastri of McLaren by just 0.010 seconds. Charles Leclerc secured third place for Ferrari, finishing 0.280 seconds behind Russell.
The session, crucial ahead of the season opener in Australia on , saw a tightly contested leaderboard with the top six drivers separated by less than a second. Lando Norris in the other McLaren finished fourth, followed by Kimi Antonelli in the second Mercedes, and Isack Hadjar of Red Bull rounding out the top six.
While Russell’s time was the fastest of the test, the usual caveats apply to pre-season lap times. Teams are experimenting with fuel loads, engine modes, and tire compounds, making direct comparisons challenging. However, the results do offer a clearer indication of the competitive order heading into the new season. Mercedes, McLaren, Ferrari, and Red Bull all appear to be the frontrunners, though a definitive favorite remains elusive.
Russell’s quickest lap was achieved on the C3 compound tires in the final hour of the session, after sunset. Piastri also set his competitive time on the C3 compound, approximately 90 minutes earlier as dusk approached. Leclerc’s third-place time was recorded during the hotter morning session, generally considered less favorable for lap times.
Ferrari’s day wasn’t without its challenges. A technical issue limited Lewis Hamilton’s running in the afternoon, preventing him from maximizing his track time in the cooler conditions. Despite the setback, Hamilton still managed to secure seventh place overall with a time of 1:34.299. Charles Leclerc’s strong morning performance helped mitigate the impact of Hamilton’s reduced running.
Red Bull experienced their own difficulties, with Isack Hadjar sidelined for a significant portion of the morning while the team addressed an issue with his car. He ultimately finished sixth, 0.801 seconds off Russell’s pace. The team has confirmed that reigning world champion Max Verstappen will be in the car for all of Thursday’s running.
Further down the order, Carlos Sainz of Williams finished eighth, followed by Franco Colapinto of Alpine and Gabriel Bortoleto of Audi completing the top ten. The remaining drivers – Alex Albon (Williams), Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls), Pierre Gasly (Alpine), Lance Stroll (Aston Martin), Esteban Ocon (Alpine), Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin), Nico Hülkenberg (Audi), Arvid Lindblad (Racing Bulls), Oliver Bearman (Haas), Valtteri Bottas (Cadillac), and Sergio Pérez (Cadillac) – all finished more than a second off the pace.
The pre-season testing period has provided valuable data for all ten teams as they fine-tune their cars ahead of the season opener in Australia. The competitive landscape appears to be incredibly tight, promising an exciting start to the Formula 1 season. The second day of testing in Bahrain continues on Thursday, with teams expected to delve deeper into their respective setups and performance evaluations.
Pirelli also noted the improvement in lap times on the opening day of the second pre-season test, suggesting that the track conditions were evolving and allowing drivers to extract more performance from their cars. The tire manufacturer will be closely monitoring tire behavior throughout the remaining test days to ensure optimal performance and durability during the upcoming race season.
The limited running for Lewis Hamilton will undoubtedly be a point of focus for Ferrari as they aim to address the technical issue and ensure both drivers have sufficient track time to prepare for the season. The team will be hoping for a smoother second day of testing to maximize their preparation.
