McLaren has once again dominated the first free practice sessions of the Bahrain F1 GP. After a first session in which many teams opted to use their reserve drivers and in which Norris set the fastest time, in free practice 2, with conditions similar to those we will have in qualifying and with all the main drivers on track, McLaren once again made its mark by setting the first and second fastest times, with Piastri first and Norris second, almost half a second ahead of the third car. Fernando Alonso‘s Aston Martin broke down, causing him to miss half the session, while Carlos Sainz managed to finish in the top 10 with the FW47.
McLren regains dominance in Bahrain
After the blow suffered in the Japanese GP last week, in which Verstappen surprised, first with pole position and then by winning the race, McLaren has once again imposed its dominance during the free practice session of the Bahrain F1 GP. Piastri set the fastest time of 1:30:505, followed by Norris, who was 0.154 seconds behind. And more than half a second behind the fastest time, Russell put the Mercedes in third position. This shows that, for the moment, it will be difficult for the “papayas” not to take their second one-two of the season.
Russell remains on the prowl and Leclerc improves
Russell, with his Mercedes, continues in his line in this World Championship, crouching without making a sound, waiting to catch a podium, or something more, hoping that the men at the top will fail. He achieves a very solid third place to keep Mercedes alive in the World Championship.
For his part, Charles Leclerc has taken a step forward with his Ferrari and has managed to set the fastest time of the day. We will see if the Monegasque can maintain the good sensations and take a step forward at the start of this championship, which so far has not been good for him.
Alonso and Aston Martin’s problems
The day began for the Spaniard with a breakdown never seen before, he lost the steering wheel, literally, on the first lap of free practice. He managed to put it back in place and return to the pits for the team to fix it. With half the session lost, and without having run in free practice 1, he put himself in the hands of an Aston Martin that is on the same line as last week. He managed to finish in 15th place, while Stroll finished with the 19th fastest time of the day.
Carlos Sainz enters the top 10
Carlos Sainz continues to improve with the Williams. He had problems at the wheel of the FW47, and even so he was able to finish tenth on the day. It is the first session of the season in which he has finished ahead of his team-mate, Alexander Albon, who finished eleventh.
Red Bull deflates
After Max Verstappen’s exhibition at the Japanese GP, in Dutch he could only set the seventh fastest time of the day, 8 tenths of a second behind Piastri. But it was Tsunoda who set the eighteenth fastest time. Further proof that the Austrians are not doing well and that this car can only be driven by Verstappen. Lawson, by the way, with the Racing Bulls, was twelfth.
This second practice session may be the most representative of the three before qualifying. Both free practice 1 and free practice 3 tomorrow will be run when it is still light, with a track that is hotter than anything to do with the track they will find themselves on for qualifying. We will see if McLaren maintains its dominance and how the Spanish drivers can adapt to the circumstances of the race.