The Alpine leaves more doubts to Alonso, while Ferrari settles in the lead

• Bahrain test Mercedes' aerodynamic revolution sparks panic

• The dangers of the 'ground effect' Why do cars bounce so much this year?

• Ferrari and its creative risks A radical nose and a peculiar 'bathtub'

• Carlos Sainz "F1 is beautiful this year"

The arrival at Sakhir, the circuit where the World Cup starts on March 20, confirmed several of the constants noted two weeks ago in Montmeló.

The constant push of Ferrari, with 116 laps and usual prominence in the time table, seems to open a door in the fight against Mercedes and Red Bull.

However, Alpine again suffered a breakdown in the A522, so

could only complete 24 laps to Sakhir.

The best time on Thursday was headed by

(1:33.902), who interfered at the last minute, with the lights already at full capacity, in the domain of Ferrari.

Driven by the softer Pirelli compound -which is never used to compete on this track- the young Frenchman led

by six

.

Gasly's sensations (103 laps) were as remarkable as those of

aboard an apparently much improved Williams (104).

It is no longer surprising to see the

's SF-75 ride regularly in the lead, without major setbacks and finding the times when they decide to squeeze the engine.

The comparison with the RB18 of

(138 laps) or the W13 of

(62) and

(60) is still hasty, but there are reasons for hope in the red garage.

Mercedes, despite the stir caused by its radical aerodynamic innovations, hid its cards again.

And Red Bull must have regretted at the last moment the red flag caused by its Mexican driver, stranded in the pozzolana of turn 8.

The pike with Stroll

However, the most striking setbacks corresponded again to Alpine.

Shortly after the lunch break, Alonso had to get out of the car due to an unspecified mechanical problem, which kept him out of action for two hours.

Despite initial nerves, the two-time world champion was able to put his helmet back on to play the last 40 minutes.

After the fiasco of the third day in Montmeló, the French team needed as much filming as possible.

Otmar Szafnauer

, the new boss, took his place in the garage for the first time, from where he witnessed an absurd crash between Alonso and

.

Apparently, the Aston Martin driver was in full race simulation when he ran into the Spaniard.

"He got a little emotional, stopped in front of me and started fucking with me. He just wanted to get on with my run so I gave it back to him. Then he tried to pass me again so I just gave him the overtake back," the Canadian explained.

First test day in Bahrain

Classification and times

1.

P. Gasly (FRA/AlphaTauri) 1:33.902 |

C5 |

103 laps

.

C. Sainz (ESP/Ferrari) 1:34.359 |

C3 |

52 laps

C. Leclerc (MON/Ferrari) 1:34.531 |

C3 |

64 laps

L. Stroll (CAN/Aston Martin) 1:34.736 |

C4 |

50 laps

A. Albon (GBR/Williams) 1:35.070 |

C4 |

104 laps

L. Norris (GBR/McLaren) 1:35.356 |

C2 |

50 laps

V. Bottas (FIN/Alfa Romeo) 1:35.495 |

C3 |

66 laps

S. Vettel (ALE/Aston Martin) 1:35.706 |

C3 |

39 laps

G. Russell (GBR/Mercedes) 1:35.941 |

C3 |

60 laps

S. Pérez (MEX/Red Bull) 1:35.977 |

C3 |

138 laps

L. Hamilton (GBR/Mercedes) 1:36.365 |

C3 |

62 laps

F. Alonso (ESP/Alpine) 1:36.745 |

C3 |

24 laps

E. Ocon (FRA/Alpine) 1:36.768 |

C2 |

42 laps

G. Zhou (CHN/Alfa Romeo) 1:37.164 |

C3 |

54 laps

P. Fittipaldi (BRA/Haas) 1:37.422 |

C2 |

47 laps

Conforms to The Trust Project criteria

Know more

• Fernando Alonso

• Carlos Sainz Jr.

Formula 1 Red Bull and Ferrari seduce at the premiere

Formula 1 The dangers of 'ground effect': Why do cars bounce so much this year?

F1Carlos Sainz: "Formula 1 is beautiful this year"

See links of interest

• War Ukraine Russia, direct

• Last News

• Translator

• What

• Work calendar 2022

• Best Colleges 2022

• Manchester City - Sporting CP

• Real Madrid - PSG, live

• Seville - West Ham United

• Asvel Villeurbanne - Bitci Baskonia

• Real Madrid - Olympia Milan