In question, the virtual absence of pontoons on the sides of the German single-seater, whose boss of Red Bull, Christian Horner, would question compliance with the regulations, according to the Germans of Auto Motor und Sport, a specialized media generally very well informed.

"Christian Horner gave no interview about the Mercedes car. Any quotes attributed to him this morning are incorrect," a spokesperson for the bull racing team quickly countered.

Response from Auto Motor und Sport via its journalist Andreas Haupt on Twitter: "We spoke with Horner in the paddock today. You can trust us."

Red Bull boss Christian Horner during the official presentation of the Red Bull Rcing RB18 on January 26, 2022 in the team's workshops in Milton Keynes (Eng), which will participate in the new Formula 1 season Bryn Lennon Red Bull Content Pool/AFP/Archives

Knowing the climate of mistrust that has reigned between the two teams for years and which reached new heights during the controversial coronation of Dutchman Max Verstappen last year, one would be tempted to believe it.

"The important thing is to be fast"

These pontoons reduced to the minimum since the first tests in Barcelona at the end of February, dominated by Mercedes in front of Red Bull, also caught the eye of the sporting director of Formula 1, Ross Brawn.

This concept, the championship promoter had not anticipated it, he told the official F1 channel.

“We will study these solutions to make sure they meet the objectives of the new rules (but) I think they do,” added the engineer.

F1 sporting director Ross Brawn on October 31, 2019 in Austin, before the USA Grand Prix CLIVE MASON GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA/AFP/Archives

It also remains to be seen if the idea pays off.

"No matter what it looks like, the important thing is to be fast," said fellow Mercedes driver George Russell.

But after a day of "experimenting", to use the words of boss Toto Wolff, in the hands of Hamilton in the morning and Russell in the afternoon, this new Mercedes seemed to flee.

In the heat and a light wind, the best times went to Frenchman Pierre Gasly (AlphaTauri), whose single-seater nevertheless continues to bounce back a lot, like many of its competitors from Barcelona, ​​and to the Ferraris, who have shown promise since these first tests.

Support for Ukraine

Another visible -- but less debated -- change to the 2022 single-seaters, Haas changed its livery, returning to red, black and white, without the blue of the Russian flag, after breaking with its sponsor Uralkali in reaction to the invasion of Ukraine.

Also a consequence of this invasion, the American team has replaced its Russian driver Nikita Mazepin with one of its former drivers, the Dane Kevin Magnussen, who will be driving on Friday and Saturday, alternating with Mick Schumacher.

Haas Formula One Team drivers Germany's Mick Schumacher (L) and Denmark's Kevin Magnussen pose during day one of pre-season testing on March 10, 2022 at the Bahrain International Circuit in Sakhir Mazen Mahdi AFP

In the meantime, it was the Brazilian Pietro Fittipaldi who took over on Thursday afternoon.

Impossible, indeed, for Haas to drive from the morning after a delay in the routing of its freight.

Brazilian Pietro Fittipaldi, driving his Haas, during the first day of Formula 1 pre-season testing on March 10, 2022 at the Bahrain International Circuit in Sakhhir Mazen Mahdi AFP

Still reacting to the situation in Ukraine, the promoter of the World Championship, Formula One, broke its contract with its broadcaster in Russia and blocked access to its official channel broadcast online in the country, AFP confirmed to a source close on Thursday.

German Sebastian Vettel (Aston Martin) took to the track with a white helmet striped with blue and yellow (the colors of Ukraine) and struck with several symbols of peace, including a dove and the lyrics of the song " Imagine" by John Lennon.

At the initiative of the association of Grand Prix drivers, the GPDA, eighteen of the holders in F1 (with the exception of Hamilton and Magnussen) also posed behind a Ukrainian flag and a banner bearing the words " No war" Wednesday.

Hamilton spoke on Instagram.

"I am wholeheartedly with the courageous people of Ukraine who firmly defend their values ​​of freedom and peace," he wrote in particular.

© 2022 AFP