Verstappen dominates in first F1 tests; slow start for Mercedes
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Berlin (dpa) – Red Bull’s Max Verstappen topped the timesheets and had the most laps in Friday’s opener of Formula One pre-season testing while world champions Mercedes got off to a shaky start in Bahrain.
Verstappen clocked 1 minutes 30.674 seconds on the Sakhir circuit and managed 139 laps overall during the eight hours to give his team vital data.
McLaren’s Lando Norris was second for McLaren after his team-mate Daniel Ricciardo had topped the morning session.
Mercedes saw Valtteri Bottas complete only a handful of laps owing to a gearbox problem while seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton also didn’t manage a full race distance and in 10th was two seconds slower than Verstappen.
(L to R) Mexican driver Sergio Perez of Red Bull Racing, British Lando Norris of McLaren and Spanish Carlos Sainz Jr of Ferrari in the FIA Press Conference at the race track in Sakhir, Bahrain, 12 March 2021. The Formula One teams are currently in Bahrain for pre-season tests and the opening race of the season on 28 March. EPA-EFE/XPB Images FIA
The most famous rookie, Mick Schumacher, the son of former F1 great Michael Schumacher, had only 15 laps due to problems with his Haas and trailed by some five seconds in 16th place on a day where the second session was at times hampered by a sandstorm.
Former world champion Sebastian Vettel also had a slow start with his new team Aston Martin, placing 12th with 51 laps. Team-mate Lance Stroll showed the car’s potential with fourth in the afternoon.
Esteban Ocon was fourth for Alpine where ex-champion Fernando Alonso will take his place on Saturday in a return to F1 from two years in other motor sports events.
Alonso said Friday he was ready despite a cycling accident last month which led to jaw surgery, saying “I don’t expect any problems” and that he was at “100 per cent.” He also said he will require another operation on the jaw after the season.
Also on Friday, New Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz and Red Bull’s Sergio Perez said they had made use of an offer from Bahrain authorities to get vaccinated against the coronavirus.
The offer made headlines, with F1 saying they would not be asking for everyone to be tested in Britain, where eight of the 10 teams are based.
Perez, one of six drivers who have contracted the virus, said he didn’t know when he would have a chance to get vaccinated in his home country of Mexico.
Drivers and teams have only three days in Bahrain until Sunday to get familiar with the cars ahead of the season with a record 23 grands prix which starts a week later than planned on March 28, also in Bahrain.
The original March 21 season-opener in Australia was pushed back to November owing to the coronavirus pandemic.
