Private Testing Bahrain – Day 1: Max Verstappen sets the best time on a wet track
It was under a first session interrupted by rain that Max Verstappen emerged at the top of the standings, just ahead of Mick Schumacher.
To everyone’s surprise, rain made an appearance in the middle of the desert today, depriving the teams of more laps and thus additional data.
It is Romain Grosjean’s Haas that occupied the top spot on the leaderboard throughout the morning with a time of 1’30’982 achieved on C3 tires. Despite this good performance, the French driver is disappointed not to have completed more laps, which would have allowed Haas to understand their significant drop in performance last Sunday. Grosjean then handed the car over to Pietro Fittipaldi, the American team’s third driver. The young Brazilian had the opportunity to complete 20 laps with a best time of 1’32’708.
The rain leaving the Sahkir circuit in the late afternoon, all the drivers went out during this period. Ferrari’s new protégé, Mick Schumacher, briefly set the fastest lap with a time of 1’29.976 on the C5 tires, the softest range. However, the German driver was surpassed by Max Verstappen in his Red Bull with a lap six-tenths faster. Lando Norris completes this podium for McLaren.
#F1Testing @BAH_Int_Circuit Day 1 report – 56 laps for @SchumacherMick on his #Ferrari and @F1 debut https://t.co/GuVKA0opk3#SF90 #essereFerrari pic.twitter.com/JFEnIVspmy
— Scuderia Ferrari (@ScuderiaFerrari) April 2, 2019
After his strong performance in the race, Alexander Albon confirmed his good form on the Bahrain International Circuit with the 6th fastest time of the day. A lap that places him just ahead of Lewis Hamilton and Daniel Ricciardo. The Australian needs to get used to his new ride with which he has yet to score any points in the championship. ‘Honey Badger’ managed to complete 45 laps with his best time at 1’31”584.
In addition to Lando Norris and Carlos Sainz, McLaren was able to bring back Fernando Alonso on the MCL34 to participate in the Pirelli tests. The double Spanish world champion notes progress in the new car from Woking: “The car is a step forward in every aspect from last year. The car has more grip, it is less draggy on the straights, the engine is a step forward, so overall, the car is going in the right direction and we are closer to the front.”
Day one of Bahrain #F1Testing, done. 🌧️✔️
➡️ MCL34@Carlossainz55 32 laps@LandoNorris 22 laps
➡️ Pirelli @alo_oficial 64 laps pic.twitter.com/eVizIANgDh
— McLaren (@McLarenF1) April 2, 2019
As for Kvyat, he separates the two Williams, and Giovinazzi placed his Alfa Romeo in 10th position. The session concluded under a red flag due to Canadian driver Lance Stroll immobilizing his Racing Point.
The laps completed by the drivers should be taken with a grain of salt. Indeed, they were done with very specific setups, and the teams weren’t looking to extract performance.
Second quickest on his first day in a @ScuderiaFerrari
👏 @SchumacherMick #F1Testing #F1 pic.twitter.com/fOTd6RIpq2
— Formula 1 (@F1) April 2, 2019
