F1 Pre-Season Testing in Bahrain: Who's Setting the Pace?
The final F1 pre-season testing in Bahrain is underway, and we're already seeing some impressive performances on the track. With the test running from February 18 to 20, all eyes are on the drivers as they push their machines to the limit.
Who's Leading the Pack?
On the first day of testing, George Russell of Mercedes set the pace with a blistering lap time of 1:33.459. Hot on his heels was McLaren's Oscar Piastri, clocking in at 1:33.469. These early times suggest that both teams have brought serious speed to the table this season.
Charles Leclerc rounded out the top three for Ferrari with a time of 1:33.739, showing that the Scuderia is not far behind in the competitive field. Meanwhile, Lando Norris also put in a strong performance for McLaren, securing the fourth spot with a 1:34.052.
Notable Performances
Mercedes' Kimi Antonelli and Red Bull's Isack Hadjar also made their mark, with times of 1:34.158 and 1:34.260, respectively. Lewis Hamilton, now driving for Ferrari, posted a solid 1:34.299, indicating he’s adapting well to his new team.
Further down the list, Williams' Carlos Sainz and Alpine's Franco Colapinto showed consistent form, while Audi's Gabriel Bortoleto and Haas' Oliver Bearman rounded out the top ten.
Thursday's Driver Line-Up
As we move into the second day of testing, teams are shuffling their line-ups to gather as much data as possible. McLaren will feature Lando Norris in the morning and Oscar Piastri in the afternoon, while Mercedes will see George Russell and Kimi Antonelli splitting duties.
Max Verstappen is set for a full day with Red Bull, a clear sign that the team is focused on fine-tuning their setup. Williams sticks with Alex Albon, while Aston Martin relies on the experienced Fernando Alonso for both sessions.
Looking Ahead
With the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne kicking off the season from March 6-8, teams have just two weeks after Bahrain to finalize their preparations. The practice sessions will start on March 6, with Qualifying on the 7th, leading up to the much-anticipated opening race on Sunday, March 8.
As the testing continues, fans and teams alike are eager to see how these early performances will translate into race-day success. Stay tuned as we bring you more insights and analysis from the track.