La morning of the second day of school in Bahrain, dedicated to pre-season tests, ends with the best time set by Carlos Sainz, followed by Sargeant and Alonso. No Red Bull in the lead this time, but let's remember that the work schedules of each team are not known in testing, so let's not delude ourselves.
Testing continues in Bahrain, in view of the first Grand Prix of the season scheduled for next weekend. Precisely for this reason, some teams have decided to diversify their work by trying fast lap simulations. Even today there are teams that have chosen to dedicate both sessions to just one rider, and teams that will work on alternating.
The riders who will take part in both sessions today are Zhou, Sargeant and Alonso. The Asturian aboard the AMR23 after a premiere morning session complicated for Drugovich, in pomeriggio he managed to post a second place just behind Verstappen's time and is eager to extract the true potential of the car.
At Red Bull after yesterday's day totally dedicated to Verstappen, and which highlighted a car with few problems and very close to last year's scenario, the program provides for the alternation between Pérez and Verstappen, thus leaving the Mexican his day single for tomorrow.
Ferrari, different job today
If Red Bull completed both sessions smoothly, on schedule, at home Ferrari many tests have been done, perhaps too many to think of a studied scenario, despite the fact that the tests are used for this. Yesterday we saw a two-faced SF-23. The most complicated session was the afternoon session reserved for Charles Leclerc, who however later reassured all the fans by confirming that they were problems that had already been foreseen at the factory.
The team had to try different set-ups and adjustments, working on the set-up and on the DRS by replacing the rear wing. Lots of aerodynamic tests to find the right balance and solve the problem of a too nervous car. If yesterday Ferrari, with the change of heights, tried to do a complete scan of the SF-23, a more linear test is expected today. The team wants to find confirmations on the greater aerodynamic efficiency sought by this evolved SF-23.
And this was already partially confirmed by Sainz's morning. The team tested a new fund on the Spaniard's car, which however has the same specification as the one adopted yesterday. A single-seater with a more unstable rear is a feature that Leclerc likes, and which Sainz suffers a bit. However, despite this oversteering tendency, the Spaniard showed good harmony with the SF-23. At the moment, making comparisons with Red Bull – impressive in long runs – doesn't make sense, but the important thing is that Ferrari finds itself, before looking into other people's gardens.
Aston Martin good, bad McLaren
One of the most anticipated teams in Bahrain is Aston Martin, preceded by its ambitions. The team tested a new bottom with differently placed sensors and continues to collect positive data. With the same rubber, Alonso reached a gap of only 625 thousandths from Sainz, in the first hour of the morning. The sentiment in the garage is so high that those who work there believe that Aston Martin could even be ahead of Mercedes at the start of the season. Confirmations are still being sought on the physical conditions of Stroll. Drugovich said that the Canadian will try to ride next weekend, but what worries him are the recovery times after wrist surgery.
The first step will be to approach Alpine and McLaren in the middle of the group. The easiest target at the moment it would seem McLaren, one of the teams most in difficulty in this first phase of the season in Bahrain. An already clear picture from the words of Team Principal Andrea Stella, who during the presentation of the MCL60 he defined the latter as a single-seater still full of problems, not "finished".
Red Bull, Pérez out on track: good, but too many blockages
Red Bull puts Pérez on the track and he puts in a good lap, albeit with some oversteer. He does a second lap, but has a lockup and a small burr near the pits that he comes back to change tyres. Given the speed of the pit stop, this is the beginning of the race pace simulation. The trend is good: around 1'37”. Every now and then he experiences lockups, but the car is well balanced.
Once the performance of the soft C3 tire drops, he puts on the hard C1 and again maintains a good trend.
Mercedes: problems for Lewis Hamilton
Lewis Hamilton tries the long run again with the C3, but accuses more oversteer problems than Pérez, and at the rear. Then they stop him late, losing their position. In short, a negative trend, like that of Leclerc yesterday. Once you change the tyres, you improve over time, but the car remains too nervous and you don't improve.
Toto Wolff, interviewed by Mara Sangiorgio and Carlo Vanzini on the possible renewal of Lewis, doesn't say too much: first of all we need to work on this car. He also believes it is premature to talk about Kimi Antonelli's future, given that the boy is only 16: he would be under too much pressure to talk to him about Formula 1 now".
Porpoising data
Data is being collected on porpoising: aerodynamic pumping – i.e. what is created when the bottom stalls due to jolts – is much improved at Ferrari. Pérez does some lateral time-saving so as not to fully take the porpoising in vertical acceleration.
Ferrari: Carlos Sainz tries again and improves, but the helmet is disturbing
The difficulties to be overcome at Ferrari in Bahrain seem to be a constant: before getting back into the car, Carlos struggles to put on his helmet. Once this annoyance has also been overcome, he gets into the car with the C3 and a lot of petrol. While he shoots, Mario Miyakawa shows us the Ferrari helmets. “Il Sainz” – as they say in Milan – remains rather constant. The car seems to have the rear as its strong point. Compared to Pérez, who pulls the gears a lot, he does a lot of short-shifting. But, like the Mexican, Carlos Sainz handles the tires a lot.
Power Unit: pre-season tests as a test bed
The Power Units in Bahrain are not changed by anyone: the pre-season tests also serve as a test bed to collect important data. An important data for the teams is that of the level of wear.
Williams: Sargeant out
Sargeant comes out for Williams, who amazes, with a time similar to that of Sainz. Recall that Logan Sargeant is making his debut in Formula 1, as well as one of the youngest drivers. The Australian rider was in fact born on 31 December 2000.
With seven minutes to go, simulation air
To simulate similar situations on the track, the red flag is displayed seven minutes from the end of the test session. Then they try the aborted start and the regular start, with two formation laps. Right here we risk disaster. Some cars remain planted on the ground but fortunately since it was a test everyone was cautious.
At this point, the hype is very high, we will see what the afternoon session of Bahrain has in store for us.
ARTICLE BY: CLAUDIA CAVENAGO AND ILARIA GREGORI
