With the checkered flag on the last afternoon of testing officially ends winter break. There are no more excuses or pretenses: everyone will now have to prove theirs potential. So let's summarize these 3 days of testing in Bahrain characterized by many peculiarities in view of the 2024 season.
Verstappen continues to shine, but Ferrari is there
If on the flying lap it is practically impossible understand the various forces in play (some are more or less hiding), but it is possible to make an estimate on the various ones race steps. Be careful though: the fuel loads used in the various long runs were not known, which means that everyone had their own simulations to be carried out.
The summary of the tests in Bahrain 2024: Red Bulla still favourites
There are those who have picked up where they left off last season: obviously they are Max Verstappen. When she hits the track, she doesn't seem to need the test drive, because it's like she knows it like the back of her hand. As it has been for three years now impeccable, both in the qualifying lap and in the race tests. His passes are constant like the passing of seconds in a clock. Few things can be deduced from these tests, but only one is certain: SuperMax remains the man to beat.
The one who probably surprised most of all is La Ferrari. It's true, they are only tests, but faced with a performance like that (especially in terms of race pace) the fans can do nothing but dream. Is Sainz and Leclerc they highlighted a car completely different from that of last year. Easier to control and especially less destructive than tires. In fact, on the complete race simulation (with petrol to complete all 57 laps scheduled for next Saturday), #55 was almost at the same level of the reigning world champion. Same situation for Leclerc, who confirms himself as a "qualifying animal", but with clear improvements in the management of long distances.
Perez not at the level of the top three, Mercedes and McLaren in limbo
If there's one Red Bull that's scary, it seems to be the other more attackable. Sergio Perez it was never really at the level of the first three, always paying something from that triptych. Only the first races of the season will be able to tell us whether it will be another year uphill for the Mexican or whether this prediction could be completely overturned.
At the end of these three days, if you were to fill out a ranking of the forces in the field, we would find Verstappen in front of everyone, then the Reds with Checo and behind them McLaren e Mercedes. As happened last year, these two teams found themselves with mainly two cars from competition. Lots of downforce and a car that handles well the tires are very delicate. The problem, however, concerns qualification. On the flying lap, the top speeds were not sufficient to compete with those in front. This could jeopardize many big prizes due to a bad placement in the qualifiers.
And what is the situation behind it? The summary of the tests in Bahrain 2024
The situation in the middle of the group and at the rear, summarizing these tests in Bahrain for the 2024 season, is very compact. In these days, none prevailed over the others. For obvious reasons, a lot is expected of Aston Martin, even if the statements of Fernando Alonso they leave a little to be desired. The English team was a bit colourless, and will be a big question mark in the first race. Behind, well there Williams and the others powered by Ferrari, that is Sauber ed Haas, especially in the race pace. In general, however, the former is better than the latter. Dull performance by Alpine, of which the type of work carried out on the track was absolutely not understood.
Article by Francesco Orlando
