On the time sheet, his Mexican driver Sergio Pérez is in first place, 359/1000 ahead of the Mercedes of Briton Lewis Hamilton - although equipped with softer tires and therefore potentially faster - and more than half a second behind Finn Valtteri Bottas (Alfa Romeo), after the third and final day of testing.

One Red Bull driver hiding another, it was world champion Max Verstappen who soared above the competition on the first two days.

The Dutchman was however surprised by the Alfa Romeo of Chinese Zhou Guanyu who, carried by soft tires, snatched the best time on Friday evening.

After having provided most of Thursday's day at the wheel of the only RB19 present for these tests, "Mad Max" did not run on Saturday, leaving the seat open to Pérez.

Monegasque driver Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) during the 3rd day of pre-season testing for the 2023 Formula One world championship at the Sakhir circuit in Bahrain on February 25, 2023. © Giuseppe CACACE / AFP

The truth of the tests is not always that of the race, but faced with the RB19 visibly as efficient as its predecessor, the competition must realize: "Red Bull appeared very solid during these three days", declared already the Monegasque Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) Saturday noon.

"Still work" for Ferrari

Great announced rival of Red Bull this season, Ferrari, finished these tests with the 4th (Leclerc) and 5th time (Carlos Sainz), ahead of the other Mercedes, that of George Russell, 8th.

Leclerc, who managed to place his car at the top of the time sheet on Saturday at midday, - under a scorching sun and a scorching route -, assures: "I have the impression that we still have work to do" , against "super fast" Red Bulls.

But reassures: "I think that we have a less dragging car (aerodynamically editor's note), so it should be better this year".

If Mercedes, for its part, seems to have recovered after suffering the day before from a hydraulic problem on its W14, "there are still things we are working on", explained Hamilton at midday. .

The German team is however satisfied to have "practically" got rid of porpoising, a phenomenon linked to the rules put in place in 2022 which makes single-seaters bounce, and which plagued its 2022 season.

British driver Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) during the 3rd day of pre-season testing for the 2023 Formula One World Championship at the Sakhir circuit in Bahrain on February 25, 2023. © Giuseppe CACACE / AFP

As for the French team Alpine, its Norman drivers Pierre Gasly and Esteban Ocon finished the tests with the 12th and 14th times on Saturday.

"We all feel ready for the start of the season," assured Team Principal Otmar Szafnauer.

"We have stuck to our schedule to ensure we are as prepared as possible for the season ahead."

McLaren suffers

If the objective of Alpine, 4th in the constructors' championship last season, is now to get closer to the Top 3 this year, it could however have to be wary of Aston Martin, 7th in 2022 but serious competitor to shake up the plans of the tricolor team.

French driver Pierre Gasly (Alpine) during the 3rd day of pre-season testing for the 2023 Formula One World Championship at the Sakhir circuit in Bahrain, February 25, 2023. © Giuseppe CACACE / AFP

The Spaniard Fernando Alonso, a new recruit for the English team who arrived straight from... Alpine, performed very well throughout the tests.

On the other hand, McLaren, Alpine's main competitor last season, appeared to be in difficulty.

"We had set development goals that we did not achieve," CEO Zak Brown acknowledged on Friday.

While Australian Oscar Piastri only covered 44 laps on Saturday morning, his teammate Lando Norris only completed 37. "We have a lot of developments to come (...) but I think we will tackle the first race without achieving our goals," conceded Brown.

And to continue: "difficult to know where we will be on the starting grid".

Verdict expected on March 5, on the occasion of the inaugural GP of the season where the forces present will take shape.

© 2023 AFP