Sakhir (Bahrain) (AFP)

Briton George Russell, who replaces Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes, kept the best time after the 2nd free practice session of the Sakhir Grand Prix, 16th round of the Formula 1 World Championship, Friday in Bahrain.

Russell, who has been driving for Williams since 2019, was called on Wednesday to replace the seven-time world champion, who is positive for Covid-19.

During free practice 2 on the short and fast outer track of the Sakhir circuit (3.543 km), the 22-year-old pilot clocked 54 sec 713/1000.

During free practice 1 a little earlier, he had turned 546/1000 in 54 sec on this track consisting mainly of straights that F1 takes for the first time as it travels to Bahrain since 2004.

In front of him, the time of the holder of Mercedes Valtteri Bottas (11th in 55 sec 321/1000) is however to be put into perspective.

The Finn turned in 54 sec 506/1000 but saw his time canceled for going out of bounds.

In the first session already, Bottas had "not been able to establish a reference time after having damaged his car very quickly, which prevented him from braking properly", said his team principal Toto Wolff.

The Dutchman Max Verstappen (Red Bull), the Mexican Sergio Pérez (Racing Point), the French Esteban Ocon (Renault) and the Thai Alexander Albon (Red Bull) close the top 5 of the evening session.

The Monegasque Charles Leclerc (Ferrari), he was able to complete only two laps, no timed, betrayed by the broken transmission shaft of his single-seater.

The last two places still go to the two pilots who are competing in their first GP.

Brazilian Pietro Fittipaldi (24), grandson of Emerson, replaces at Haas Romain Grosjean, injured in a terrible accident on Sunday, and Briton Jack Aitken (25) replaces Russell at Williams.

Free practice 3 is scheduled at 5:00 p.m. local (3:00 p.m. French / 2:00 p.m. GMT) on Saturday.

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2nd free practice session:

George Russell (GBR / Mercedes) 54.713 (48 laps)

Max Verstappen (NED / Red Bull-Honda) 54.841 (43)

Sergio Pérez (MEX / Racing Point-Mercedes) 54.866 (52)

Esteban Ocon (FRA / Renault) 54.940 (50)

Alexander Albon (THA / Red Bull-Honda) 55.036 (42)

Daniil Kvyat (RUS / AlphaTauri-Honda) 55.068 (58)

Lance Stroll (CAN / Racing Point-Mercedes) 55.104 (44)

Daniel Ricciardo (AUS / Renault) 55.124 (47)

Pierre Gasly (FRA / AlphaTauri-Honda) 55.133 (48)

Carlos Sainz Jr (ESP / McLaren-Renault) 55.258 (39)

Valtteri Bottas (FIN / Mercedes) 55.321 (52)

Kimi Räikkönen (FIN / Alfa Romeo Racing-Ferrari) 55.484 (54)

Antonio Giovinazzi (ITA / Alfa Romeo Racing-Ferrari) 55.533 (57)

Kevin Magnussen (DEN / Haas-Ferrari) 55.738 (49)

Nicholas Latifi (CAN / Williams-Mercedes) 55.784 (52)

Sebastian Vettel (GER / Ferrari) 55.830 (43)

Lando Norris (GBR / McLaren-Renault) 56.031 (14)

Pietro Fittipaldi (BRA / Haas-Ferrari) 56.110 (56)

Jack Aitken (GBR / Williams-Mercedes) 56.260 (58)

Charles Leclerc (MON / Ferrari) not timed (2)

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© 2020 AFP