Testing now complete, drivers and crews travel to China to run the 1000th Grand Prix of all-time.
SAKIR, Bahrain- April 3rd—After switching cars from Day 1 of F1 testing, George Russell topped the timesheets in his Mercedes with 1:29:029 in 101 total laps. Testing took place at the Sakir International Circuit in Bahrain.
Russell, a rookie, is driving for the Grove-England based Williams team. He managed to set the fastest time in a car that has dominated Grand Prix racing the last five seasons. In addition to being a Silver Arrows recruit, Russell and the other 15 testers had good weather for the entire day–in comparison to the previous day, when a violent rainstorm halted testing for four hours.
Another driver who switched cars was Mick Schumacher, the son of seven-time world champion Michael. He went from a Ferrari the previous day (when he was just beaten for the best time by Red Bull’s Max Verstappen) to an Alfa Romeo, where he had a quieter day. He finished the test in sixth place with a 1:28:998 and a total of 70 laps.
Also returning, but in a development role, was Fernando Alonso in the McLaren and Dani Kvyat in the Toro Rosso. Despite finishing in 11th overall, the Spaniard felt that the team was improving on the car in comparison to last year’s model.
“Well obviously it’s a step forward in every aspect of the car,” Alonso said. “I think the car has more grip, the car is less draggy on the straights. The engine is a bigger step and better as well. Overall, as a package, I think the car is in the right direction. Obviously, we saw in the first two races there is still another step to do if you want to compete with the top three teams, but as a first step I think, and hopefully consolidate as a fourth team or leading the midfield together with Haas, that’s the target. I felt that on the car as well.”
Kvyat, despite doing the same discipline, was higher up the order, finishing in fifth. Among the top testers for the day, Sergio Perez was a pleasant second with Sebastian Vettel taking third in his Ferrari. Carlos Sainz Jr. kept the ball rolling for McLaren, finishing fourth, while Alexander Albon was seventh in the Toro Rosso.
Lance Stroll took eighth and F3 runner-up, Dan Ticktum, finished in ninth in his first appearance for Red Bull. Haas F1’s Romain Grosjean was tenth, while the remainder of the grid was dominated by young drivers–Pietro Fittipaldi, Lando Norris, Jack Aitken, and Nicolas Latfi rounded out the testers, 12th to 15th, respectively.
The two-day testing period now over, the teams move on to China where Formula 1’s 1000th Grand Prix race will take next weekend on the outskirts of Shanghai.
Final Testing Times
1. George Russell (GBR) (Mercedes) – 1:29.029s – 101 laps
2. Sergio Perez (MEX) (Racing Point) – 1:29.095s – 61 laps
3. Sebastian Vettel (GER) (Ferrari) – 1:29.319s – 103 laps
4. Carlos Sainz (GBR) (McLaren) – 1:29.795s – 21 laps
5. Daniil Kvyat (RUS) (Toro Rosso) – 1:29.911 – 110 laps
6. Mick Schumacher (GER) (Alfa Romeo) – 1:29.998s – 70 laps
7. Alexander Albon (GBR) (Toro Rosso) – 1:30.037s – 143 laps
8. Lance Stroll (CDN) (Racing Point) – 1:30.049s – 35 laps
9. Dan Ticktum (GBR) (Red Bull) – 1:30.856s – 135 laps
10. Romain Grosjean (FRA) (Haas) – 1:30.903s – 87 laps
11. Fernando Alonso (SPA) (McLaren) – 1:31.006 – 69 laps
12. Pietro Fittipaldi (BRA) (Haas) – 1:31.209s – 48 laps
13. Lando Norris (GBR) (McLaren) – 1:31.303s – 72 laps
14. Jack Aitken (GBR) (Renault) – 1:31.500s – 103 laps
15. Nicholas Latifi (CDN) (Williams) – 1:32.198s – 100 laps
