During free practice 2 (the only session representative of qualifying and the race) at nightfall on Friday on the Sakhir circuit, the Dutchman from Red Bull was only ahead of the Monegasque Charles Leclerc by only 87/1000.

The second driver of the Scuderia, the Spaniard Carlos Sainz Jr, completed the Top 3 at 582/1000, ahead of the first Mercedes of the new Briton George Russell, clocked in at 593/1000, and the Alpine of the Spaniard Fernando Alonso at 941/1000.

"You can see that Ferrari is pushing hard and is very close, it's exciting," remarked Verstappen.

But "no one is in qualifying mode, so I think everyone still has a lot to give."

Seven-time British world champion Lewis Hamilton, hampered by his bouncing Mercedes and a brake problem, was only ninth, 1sec 208/1000 behind his rival for the title last year.

If Red Bull, vice-champion of constructors in 2021, and Ferrari, in reconquest after two white seasons thanks to a change in technical regulations, emerged as favorites during winter testing, a question mark concerns Mercedes.

"We don't bluff"

Charles Leclerc's Ferrari on the Sakhir circuit during the second practice session of the Bahrain Grand-Prix on March 18, 2022 Giuseppe CACACE AFP

The German team, eight times world champion since 2014, has opted for an aerodynamic concept different from the competition, with sidepods almost absent from its sides, and seems to be struggling to find stability and performance.

Since the second pre-season test last week, Hamilton has been repeating that he is not in a position to win "yet".

"We don't bluff, contrary to what people think," he said on Friday.

"Listening to them, they will be dead last. I think they have a horrible car, like every year since 2017 during the pre-season", for example Verstappen mocked at a press conference a little earlier.

But the British champion insists: "We are facing much bigger problems this year and everything we are trying to fix them is not really working. It looks like it will take longer."

According to him, Red Bull would have an 8 to 9/10 lead and Ferrari 6/10.

Really ?

Response in qualifying Saturday at 6:00 p.m. local (4:00 p.m. French) -- like the race on Sunday --, after free practice 3 day, at 3:00 p.m. (1:00 p.m.).

Vettel package

Lewis Hamilton at the wheel of his Mercedes single-seater during the second practice session of the Bahrain Grand-Prix on the Sakhir circuit on March 18, 2022 in Bahrain Giuseppe CACACE AFP

At Aston Martin, the German Nico Hülkenberg replaces at short notice his compatriot Sebastian Vettel, positive for Covid-19.

Australian Daniel Ricciardo returns to McLaren after missing last week's practice in Bahrain for the same reason.

After Vettel, it is the turn of Frenchman Pierre Gasly (AlphaTauri) to wear a helmet in the colors of Ukraine, invaded by Russia, which also bears the words "No to war" (not to war).

The Frenchman supports a Unicef ​​campaign for the country's children.

The 2022 season must be revolutionary, with completely different single-seaters, whose aerodynamic downforce is no longer created by very elaborate front and rear wings and numerous appendages on the chassis, but by the ground effect, comparable to a suction cup effect. under the car.

This change should narrow the gaps between the teams and allow single-seaters to follow each other, and therefore to overtake each other, with less difficulty.

Twenty-three Grands Prix are on the calendar, which is a record.

The grid welcomes a novice, Zhou Guanyu (Alfa Romeo), the first Chinese in the premier class of motorsport, and two comebacks, the Thai Alexander Albon (Williams) and the Dane Kevin Magnussen (Haas), who replaced at the last minute the Russian Nikita Mazepin, persona non grata after the invasion of Ukraine.

© 2022 AFP