Sakhir (Bahrain) (AFP)
It is not his 7th title that will slow him down: Lewis Hamilton, crowned in the previous round, wants to win the last three Grands Prix of the F1 season and showed it by dominating free practice on Friday in Bahrain.
The Briton from Mercedes was the fastest of the two sessions, the first during the day and the second at night, therefore more representative of the conditions of qualifying and the race, scheduled for twilight on Saturday and Sunday (5 p.m. local / 3 p.m. French / 2 p.m. GMT ).
With a time of 1 min 28 sec 971/1000, the 2020 world champion is 3/10 ahead of his main opponents, the Dutchman Max Verstappen (Red Bull) and the Finnish Valtteri Bottas (Mercedes).
He signed his time later, however, making comparisons difficult.
Today's practice was also used to test one of the Pirelli tires that pilots will use in 2021.
Besides the irruption of a dog on the circuit of Sakhir, the FP2 were marked by a violent accident of Alexander Albon.
It's bad for the Thai, who must convince that he deserves his steering wheel, coveted by the Mexican Sergio Pérez and the German Nico Hülkenberg, next year.
Daniil Kvyat, too, is threatened at AlphaTauri by Japanese Formula 2 driver Yuki Tsunoda.
The Russian also believes that his chances of staying in F1 are "very low".
Haas, meanwhile, will announce by the end of the season, either "in the next two weeks", its duo of drivers, promises team principal Guenther Steiner.
Two other F2 residents are expected, the Russian Nikita Mazepin and especially the German Mick Schumacher.
- An eye on Mick Schumacher -
With Michael's son leading the championship with four races to go (two this weekend and two the next, raising the curtain on F1, each time in Bahrain), Formula 2 is receiving special attention. .
Friday's qualifying did not turn to the advantage of the 21-year-old German, 10th as his main rival, Callum Ilott, took pole.
This leading position brings the Briton 4 points and allows him to return to 18 lengths of Schumacher Junior in the standings.
To be crowned at the end of the two races of this weekend, during which 44 points at most remain to be taken, Mick must increase his lead to 49 units.
The grid for Race 2 on Sunday will be reversed for the top eight in the Race 1 standings on Saturday.
On the French side, Théo Pourchaire (17), vice-champion of F3, will start his first race in the anteroom of the premier category, Saturday at 12:10 local (10:10 French), but in 16th position on the grid.
The 2020 edition of this GP usually scheduled for the end of March has been postponed because of the coronavirus pandemic and will be held behind closed doors, with the exception of members of the kingdom's health services and their families.
The rest, on the other hand, does not change: the F1 race is always contested at dusk, in still hot temperatures and on an often sandy track, gift of the winds of the surrounding desert.
Before that, an appointment is made for free practice 3, Saturday at 2 p.m. local (12 p.m. French / 11 a.m. GMT).
© 2020 AFP