SAKHIR (BAHRAIN) (ITALPRESS) – Now we are serious. They are ‘only’ the first official tests, but you must already ship on the first day on the Bahrain International Circuit, where Formula 1 teams will work for six days this week and next. It pushes itself from the first hours, and at the end of the day-1 is the defending champion Lando Norris to sign the fastest lap, stopping the chronometer in 1′′′′34’669, about 13 cents before Max Verstappen’s Red Bull.
The Dutch driver, who gave McLaren the sceptre after four consecutive titles, descends on track since the morning and carries out a total of 135 laps, more than anyone else among the protagonists of Wednesday (Ocon the only one with him to exceed 100 laps). That is already an anticipation of what will be seen in the World? Hopefully not, because just behind there is Ferrari.
For the Cavallino, that in Bahrain is a good start. Charles Leclerc, protagonist on the SF26 in the afternoon, signs the third best time turning in 1′′′35’190. A little further back, Hamilton, seventh at the end of the day, but only until 12 o’clock, the time when the curtain dropped on the first half of the day-1.
“The track is very dirty, with plenty of sand and very strong wind – the British words to Sky Sport microphones after the first hours on the track –. It is only necessary to try to learn as much as possible and to face any kind of problem that might arise. I am pleased to see that the team is extremely focused.”.
Right in front of Hamilton, there is George Russell’s Mercedes, sixth at 1′′′439 from Norris. Very little time on the track, instead, for Kimi Antonelli, who climbs in the car only one hour from the end of the session and does not record a competitive chrono, stopping at 1’37′′′629.
After the delays in the Barcelona Shakedown, the difficulties for Aston Martin are confirmed, with some problems at the power unit. Arrancano, for now, also new entries Cadillac and Audi. In Sakhir we start tomorrow at 8 p.m. with the second day of testing, which will continue until 5 p.m.
-Photo IPA Agency-
(ITALPRESS).
