Formula 1, Bahrain GP: Red Bull with Perez in the lead, ahead of Alonso

The first Formula 1 racing action for 2023 started at the Shakir circuit with the first free practice session of this year’s inaugural GP in Bahrain, under the blazing desert sun and rather high temperatures.

These temperatures are not suitable for particularly reliable conclusions about the Speed ​​of the new cars, both in qualifying tests and in the race, from Saturday and Sunday start in the late afternoon and end at headlight.

Still, relative momentum between teams began to emerge: Red Bull seemed to have He had the comfort at the top during the three-day development tests, like Sergio Perez In the first year he was successful with both medium and soft surfaces – while o World champion Max Verstappen seemed to be struggling with his settings at times The instability of the new RB19 was particularly evident.

Between the two was Fernando Alonso, who although low on fuel was in the Aston His Martin AMR23, even if it had a slightly higher Mercedes engine, showed itself that the British team has made a significant step compared to last year and is getting closer to the battle the top three teams. To what extent it has come closer will be seen after the three days.

Just under eight tenths behind was Lando Norris in a McLaren in 4th place on the time MCL60. Again, the same questions apply to this English team as to Aston Martin, but McLaren CEO Zach Brown himself confirmed that Team managed to find some important solutions regarding their completely disappointing ones Test a week ago on the same track.

With the move to Ferrari, the Scuderia once again hid its true potential: Charles Leclerc the 5th time, 1.5 seconds behind Perez, but with a very significant difference: he got by on the middle tire while the top three set the fastest lap them with the soft (the two Red Bull drivers about halfway through the hour-long test and Alonso and Norris at their end).

Carlos Sainz found himself last after a fierce four-on-four, which apparently was the case caused by aerodynamic stalling of airflow under the floor of the SF-23.

Ferrari used these tests, which are not carried out anyway representative weather conditions to test extreme settings reduced height of the floor from the ground. The good thing about the crew is that in his tete-a-ke Saint’s escape area was so large that the Spaniard stayed clear of the cordons.

On the soft tire, Lance Stroll completed the top 6 while trying to adjust to the new Aston Martin AMR23 prevented him from taking it after his wrist injury Part of last week’s development testing.

Also in the top ten were Haas (with Kevin Magnussen), Alfa Romeo (with Guanyu Chow and Valtteri Bottas) and the first Mercedes with Lewis Hamilton – That was just 49mm faster than its George Russell counterpart.

But both Mercedes Brits set their best times on the medium tyre, rather than gently, driving the fastest lap to collect data to better understand the W14, as well as the new front wing they introduced these three days.

McLaren’s Oscar Piastri caught up with Russell on the debut with his 31mm by a second, using the same mid-size tire, unlike Norris who finished fourth with the soft. The same applies to the two Alpine A523s, which were not seen this time either momentum, leaving Esteban Ococ in 15th and Pierre Gasly in 17th medium eraser.

It’s worth noting that Norris parted ways with a mix of soft and medium rubbers from 4th the 15th Ocon by less than a second. Which confirms that the teams still They haven’t revealed their dynamic yet and that will be the case in the middle dynamic they are marginal this year. Different from the one above maybe.