Charles Leclerc Leads as Reliability Issues Plague Mercedes, Red Bull
In the opening Bahrain pre-season test of Formula 1, Charles Leclerc showcased impressive speed, leading the morning session. His Ferrari SF-26 clocked a time of 1m34.273s, outpacing Lando Norris of McLaren by four tenths of a second. However, notable reliability issues plagued key teams like Mercedes and Red Bull during the session.
Morning Session Highlights
About 75 minutes into the session, Leclerc’s performance with the soft tires distinguished him from his competitors. Norris finished second, also on medium tires, with a time of 1m34.784s. All other drivers were significantly slower, indicating potential issues affecting their teams.
Reliability Issues for Competitors
- Red Bull: The team faced challenges with a hydraulic leak, managing only a single lap at the end of the session.
- Mercedes: Andrea Kimi Antonelli completed only three laps before facing a power unit issue, terminating his participation early.
- Cadillac: Sergio Perez caused an early red flag but eventually completed 42 laps with a personal best time of 1m38.653s.
Meanwhile, the best among the other competitors was Pierre Gasly from Alpine, who finished third with a time of 1m36.723s. Other notable performances included Oliver Bearman from Haas and Alexander Albon from Williams.
Bahrain Pre-Season Test Results – Day 2 Morning
| Driver | Team | Time | Gap | Laps |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Leclerc | Ferrari | 1:34.273 | 62 | |
| Norris | McLaren | 1:34.784 | +0.511 | 64 |
| Gasly | Alpine | 1:36.723 | +2.450 | 61 |
| Bearman | Haas | 1:37.025 | +2.752 | 55 |
| Albon | Williams | 1:37.229 | +2.956 | 62 |
| Hulkenberg | Audi | 1:37.266 | +2.993 | 47 |
| Lawson | Racing Bulls | 1:38.017 | +3.744 | 50 |
| Perez | Cadillac | 1:38.653 | +4.380 | 42 |
| Alonso | Aston Martin | 1:38.960 | +4.687 | 55 |
| Antonelli | Mercedes | – | – | 3 |
| Hadjar | Red Bull | – | – | 1 |
As the pre-season test continues, teams are eager to overcome technical difficulties and optimize their performance ahead of the upcoming season. Keep following Filmogaz.com for the latest updates from the world of Formula 1.
