All in all, it was an extraordinary test day at Sakir.
SAKIR, Bahrain—April 2nd—Normally a testing day is a very easy day for the media to cover. But on Tuesday it was not. Why? The son of seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher arrived. A two-time world champion, who retired last year, returned. And a current world title holder headed the first day of the two-day Formula 1 test.
It all took place at the Sakir International Circuit on a day when Red Bull’s Max Verstappen topped the timesheets with a 1:29:379, completing 69 laps.
Only after leaving the sport last season, Fernando Alonso did not return to test the McLaren entry. He was there to test tires for Pirelli, not being part of the 13 testers. Toro Rosso’s Dani Kvyat joined Alonso in the same discipline.
But all the action right from the morning onwards was the arrival of Mick Schumacher who, at 20, tested the Ferrari. And he was at the top of the timesheets until Red Bull’s Max Verstappen ran a faster time just before the end of the day.
Nevertheless, Schumacher felt this was the beginning of a Formula 1 career–something that always begins with learning something new.
Every single time I went out, I learned something new, I learned something new about how to drive the car, about the feeling I had in the car, the feeling I was looking for in the car, Schumacher said.
Schumacher also commented on the differences between him and long-time friend Verstappen. “Obviously Max has a lot of experience,” Schumacher said. “Comparing to him, I think we can be very happy. We did our job and in the end, I was very happy about how I felt in the car and how confident I was. I think it was a very good day.”
Schumacher’s mother, Corrina, was also in attendance. Neither she nor her son was bothered by the huge scrum of photographers that descended in the pit area. What made the situation more enjoyable for the Ferrari team was that many of the mechanics servicing young Schumacher’s car were mechanics when his father dominated the F1 scene in the 2000s.
Schumacher had more chances to test, but a midday storm put a stop to all testing for four hours. By the time the dust and rainwater on the circuit would dry, there was only a half-an-hour left in the day’s session.
Lando Norris, who had an impressive sixth place finish at this track two day’s before, took third best. Romain Grosjean, who had a horrible race here, was fourth. Alexander Albon finished in fifth, while a driver who’s not too popular with testing–current world champion Lewis Hamilton–was sixth at 1:31:156 with 77 laps.
Daniel Ricciardo, who was not supposed to test, returned after his car’s electrical system stopped three laps from the finish in last Sunday’s race. He took seventh. Lance Stroll was eighth, while Norris’ McLaren teammate Carlos Sainz was ninth.
Antonio Giovinazzi was 10th. Pietro Fittipaldi, in his first testing appearance for Haas, finished 11th. Robert Kubica and George Russell completed the list at 12th and 13th, respectively.
The second and final day of testing is scheduled for April 3.
Final Test Times
1. Max Verstappen (NED), Red Bull, 1:29.379, 69 laps
2. Mick Schumacher (GER), Ferrari, 1:29.976, 56 laps
3. Lando Norris (GBR), McLaren, 1:30.800, 22 laps
4. Romain Grosjean (FRA), Haas, 1:30.982, 42 laps
5. Alexander Albon (GBR), Toro Rosso, 1:31.089, 71 laps
6. Lewis Hamilton (GBR), Mercedes, 1:31.156, 77 laps
7. Daniel Ricciardo (AUS), Renault, 1:31.584, 45 laps
8. Lance Stroll (CDN), Racing Point, 1:31.964, 32 laps
9. Carlos Sainz (SPA), McLaren, 1:32.059, 32 laps
10. Antonio Giovinazzi (ITA), Alfa Romeo, 1:32.067, 53 laps
11. Pietro Fittipaldi, (BRA) Haas, 1:32.708, 20 laps
12. Robert Kubica (POL), Williams, 1:33.290, 19 laps
13. George Russell (GBR), Williams, 1:33.682, 27 laps
