George Russell Leads Day 3 Morning Timesheets at Bahrain Pre-Season Test

George Russell shined during the morning session on Day 3 of the Bahrain pre-season test, posting the fastest time. The Mercedes driver recorded a remarkable lap of 1m 33.918s, leading teammates Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen on the timesheets.

Session Overview

As Day 3 began, Hamilton took over driving duties in Ferrari after Charles Leclerc’s earlier performance during his stint. Drivers quickly made their way onto the track, with Lance Stroll being the last to emerge in an Aston Martin.

Testing Conditions and Early Incidents

Teams utilized aero rakes and flow-vis paint to gather data under new technical regulations. The initial progress was interrupted by a red flag caused by Valtteri Bottas’ Cadillac stopping on track just before the first hour concluded. Once cleared, drivers resumed their programs with increased intensity.

Performance Insights

• Top Performers:
  • George Russell – 1m 33.918s
  • Lewis Hamilton – 0.291s behind Russell
  • Max Verstappen
  • Ollie Bearman (Haas)
  • Oscar Piastri (McLaren)
  • Franco Colapinto (Alpine)
  • Carlos Sainz (Williams)
  • Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls) – Highest lap count with 84
• Team Dynamics:
  • Mercedes enjoyed improved performance post-issues from previous sessions.
  • Drivers were seen pushing their limits, with Gabriel Bortoleto and Liam Lawson each having moments on track.

Upcoming Activities

A one-hour lunch break will follow, allowing teams to analyze data collected before the final afternoon session begins at 15:00 local time. Mercedes, Red Bull, Williams, Haas, Audi, and Cadillac are set to rotate drivers for the afternoon run.

This pre-season test at Bahrain is vital for teams to assess their new cars and adapt to the technical changes.