Carlos Sainz "If the car is there to fight, we will try to fight"
Free Practice 1 Classification and times
It was not only about punctuality, but perhaps also about scenery.
When the clock struck the exact time,
Fernando Alonso
led the pack in the inaugural practice of the Bahrain GP.
The 2021 World Cup started with the two-time champion in front, followed by
Esteban Ocon
,
Yuki Tsunoda
and
Carlos Sainz
.
There was not a moment to lose, because the official preseason tests knew little and because the FIA has decided to cut each free session to just one hour.
The track conditions, with 48º C on the asphalt, were nothing like those expected on Sunday, when the desert night offers a truce.
The omens pointed to a rather nondescript session, but it took
Sir Lewis Hamilton
only four minutes to dispel some doubts that were scattered here two weeks ago (1: 32.844).
Without wind and without dust, the seven-time champion showed almost always, with three tenths of advantage over
Max Verstappen
, the man indicated for the succession.
In any case, three seconds slower than his preseason record.
Test trends were consolidated with McLaren, where
Lando Norris
allowed himself some luxury with his brand new Mercedes engine (1: 31.897), while
Charles Leclerc
(1: 31.993) looked incisive, with four tenths over Sainz (1: 32.366).
With no clues about the fuel load, key to understanding single lap performance, in the Alpha Tauri box they enjoyed the regularity of
Pierre Gasly
and Tsunoda, who rode more than anyone else.
With the desire of any newcomer, he protested on the radio about traffic.
Tsunoda's wrath
The anger of the Japanese contrasted with the sufficiency of
Kimi Raikkonen
, who is twice his age and leads the adventure of Alfa Romeo, who seems to sit very well with the improvement of the Ferrari engine.
Alonso, the other great veteran of the grid, had to settle for sixteenth place, 35 hundredths worse than his garage companion.
There is still a lot to do over the weekend at Alpine and Ferrari, where Sainz will have to beat the copper not only against Leclerc, but also against the strength of McLaren, who have already shown great pace on the long runs.
There is so much fight to lead the middle of the grid that Aston Martin is once again relegated, with
Sebastian Vettel
one second off
Sergio Pérez's
best lap
.
The Mexican must not despair in his hand in hand against Verstappen, who will never lose the opportunity to frighten Mercedes.
With seven minutes to go,
Mad Max
pulverized the records in the first two sectors to top the table (1: 31.394).
A warning, nothing more, for Mercedes and for what is to come.
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Lewis hamilton
Fernando Alonso
Formula 1
McLaren F1
Mercedes gp
Max verstappen
Red bull racing
sports
Carlos Sainz Jr
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