Getting started for Mercedes
Lewis Hamilton has had an eventful return to the circuit.
If the 5th time in the pre-season practice (1''065 from Verstappen) does not constitute a real failure for the Briton, who was only able to complete 54 laps on the third and last day of practice on Sunday, it was a turn off the road at turn 13 that illustrated Mercedes' problems this weekend.
“We have our work cut out for us”, soberly concluded the world champion.
Swept away for a time by Valtteri Bottas, best time of the second day of testing (1'30''289), the uncertainties linked to the level of performance of the W12 will perhaps be resolved in two weeks.
“I have absolute confidence in the car's potential and believe that we can play for the title,” responded the Finn, determined to block the road to a record 8th title for his teammate Lewis Hamilton.
The @Aramco Pre-Season Test in Bahrain has officially come to an end @ Max33Verstappen was the fastest overall, with a lap time of 1: 28.960 #F1#F1Testing@redbullracingpic.twitter.com/wwcDMCYYoZ
- Formula 1 (@ F1) March 14, 2021
Red Bull and Verstappen impress
Announced as the number 1 rival of the reigning world champion, Max Verstappen sent a first message by setting the best time of these pre-season tests (1'28''960) and the best performance in the history of his stable in tests.
“Red Bull has a great driving duo and a very good car,” Hamilton conceded.
They are going to be monstrous this year. ”
For his part, the newcomer Sergio Perez had setbacks for his first day by strangely losing his hood on Saturday before recovering on Sunday, giving himself the best time of the morning before finishing 9th.
"It gives us no guarantee, we will know where we are after the first weekend of racing," tempered Verstappen, ready to play for the win at the wheel of the RB16B.
Ferrari regains speed
Despite hydraulic problems at the start of the session on Sunday, Carlos Sainz managed to get the best out of the SF21, presented last Wednesday.
Defector from Mercedes, the Spaniard signed the third fastest time in practice (0''651 from the lead).
10th almost a second behind his teammate, Charles Leclerc, already the victim of a mechanical incident on Friday, had more trouble but the news is reassuring for the Scuderia, which was able to complete 404 laps during these three days.
So much data collected that allows Mattia Binotto to envision a happier tomorrow: "Our speed in a straight line has greatly improved and I have the feeling that this will no longer be a disadvantage."
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The setbacks of Vettel and Aston Martin
Obviously, Sebastian Vettel had imagined his debut with Aston Martin (ex-Racing Point) differently.
A turbo problem on the AMR21 forced the German to shorten his third day of testing, while electrical problems then linked to the gearbox prevented him from taking the track on Friday and Saturday.
Penultimate time, the quadruple world champion insisted on seeing the glass half full: “I still think it was a productive day (Sunday).
I was able to do a lot of laps, which allowed me to get to know the car better, so it was very useful, I really liked it. ”
For his part, Lance Stroll had other problems finishing a good last day of testing, more than 7 seconds behind Verstappen.
The Canadian nonetheless finished 12th overall thanks to his mark in 1'30''460, third fastest time on Saturday.
Alonso rediscovers sensations with Alpine
For his debut with Alpine, Fernando Alonso showed himself to be in great health by signing the 10th overall time (1'30''318).
The Spaniard is ahead of his teammate Esteban Ocon by almost a second (16th in 1'31'146).
A time ahead of the second session, the two-time world champion is aware of the room for improvement with the A521: “The car responded very well but I think we still have to better understand the characteristics of the new aerodynamic set. . "
With 396 laps completed in the space of a weekend, the Alpine team has however gathered enough data to optimize the preparation of the first race weekend, in two weeks.
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McLaren advance masked
Renault defector, Daniel Ricciardo beat his teammate Lando Norris with the 7th fastest time (1'30''144).
"I'm happy to have had a smooth first weekend, these three days have been very quiet," said the Australian, who completed the 327 laps of the MCL35M on Sunday.
A single-seater now powered by Mercedes, in the hope of confirming the excellent results of last season for the British team (3rd in the constructors' standings).
The good surprise Alpha Tauri
In the line of its big sister Red Bull, the Alpha Tauri team showed its good form by setting the second fastest time of the weekend.
But against all odds, it is not Pierre Gasly but his new teammate Yuki Tsunoda.
Less than a tenth behind Verstappen (0''093), the Japanese rookie nevertheless benefited from lax regulations during a weekend of tests, by having widened his DRS window to optimize his top speed, as explains the specialized site
Motorsport
.
“It's an extraordinary feeling to finish 2nd, but I can't get carried away, it's still a day of testing,” reacted Tsunoda.
Gasly finished 11th with a mark in 1'30'413, second fastest time of the day on Saturday.
Note that the Frenchman holds the record for laps completed (237).
️ "Jumping out of the car in P2 today is a great feeling - of course you can't get too ahead of yourself, as it's only testing, but it's great to finish the three days on a high" @ yukitsunoda07's full quote
- Scuderia AlphaTauri (@ AlphaTauriF1) March 14, 2021
Raikkonen and Alfa Romeo quietly
4th fastest time, Kimi Raikkonen is one of the 4 drivers able to pass under the 1'30 mark.
“The times in practice do not mean much, cut the Finn.
But we know how our car is behaving and I feel it's a lot better than last year.
I think we are faster than at the end of 2020. ”
15th time, his team-mate Antonio Giovinazzi fails just a second behind (1'30'760).
Reassuring results after 422 laps completed (weekend record shared with Alpha Tauri) for the team still powered by Ferrari.
Russell continues to make the most of the Williams
Sixth time less than a tenth behind Hamilton (1'30'117), George Russell again eclipsed his teammate Nicholas Latifi, far behind (1'31'672).
A constant for the Briton, only on track this Sunday.
"A positive result and a trouble-free weekend for the team," said Russell, ready to continue playing the spoiler after a late last year in the light.
Shy beginnings for rookies at Haas
14th and 15th on the third day of testing, Nikita Mazepin and Mick Schumacher saw the extent of Haas' delay in their big debut.
After a problem with the gearbox on Friday, Schumacher finally relaunched, trusting the first half of the table on Sunday morning.
“It was very nice, I loved driving,” smiled the last Formula 2 champion. Our driving was a bit tight on our first day but we made up for it without a hitch afterwards.
I am confident for the first race weekend. ”
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