Ferrari confirms its strength and Ocon gives Alpine a scare

• Free 1 Classification and times

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

• Aerodynamic revolution The Mercedes 'without pontoons' in Bahrain

No one wants to brag, or squeeze the engine, because information is not given away to the competition on a Friday.

Much less in this start of the World Cup, where everything is completely new.

However, Ferrari can no longer hide the good looks of its car, with which

and

escorted

in the first free session of the Bahrain GP.

drivers by four tenths (1:34.193)

, while Red Bull kept their strength, Mercedes seemed erratic and

kept up the pace for Alpine ( 1:35,000).

These times are of little use -which will fall shattered in a few hours on this same asphalt- even if they confirm the guidelines of the preseason.

The Ferraris, almost unintentionally, slide with ease, both on the straights and in the slow curves.

It remains to be seen if it is enough against the speed of

, who he already intimidated a few days ago with a fierce pace in long runs.

The champion, of course, looks askance at

, behind the wheel of a W13 that has many hours of flight left for his maximum potential.

The Silver Arrows are getting a brand new aerodynamic package - from the nose to the flat bottom, from the front wing to the brake ducts - so

has to be patient.

Red Bull, which has just fitted its new rear suspension, does not seem very inclined to lean too far into the lead either.

So, while we wait for their evolutions, it is better to change the focus of attention.

Direct it, for example, towards Alpine.

And that early riser suffered by

.

Red flag

The right side of the A522, like a piece of strawberry candy, exploded into the air just at the finish line, before the astonished gaze of

's replacement

at Aston Martin.

Barely six minutes had passed and

, the new race director, waved his first red flag.

Almost a quarter of an hour the work was delayed to remove the pink confetti from the asphalt.

Although a single sweep would not suffice.

Almost at the same point on the track,

also sent one of the aerodynamic elements of his Mercedes flying, as if those gusts of wind he had complained about were capable of destroying everything in their path.

In the absence of more conclusive evidence, it is better to attribute these scares to parts poorly screwed by the mechanics.

No one can aspire to perfection at the World Cup debut.

Even Leclerc lost control at the arrival of turn 11, when he seemed to have the fastest lap in hand.

And in the final stretch, just before the finish straight, a bad maneuver by Sainz, too slow, cut Gasly and Verstappen's hiccups.

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Know more

• Mercedes GP

• Red Bull Racing

• Lewis Hamilton

• Max Verstappen

• Fernando Alonso

• Carlos Sainz Jr.

Formula 1 Red Bull and Ferrari seduce at the premiere

Formula 1Ferrari and its creative risks: a radical nose and a particular 'bathtub'

Formula 1The Alpine leaves more doubts to Alonso, while Ferrari settles in the lead

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