The F1 testing in Bahrain has come to an end and it was an eventful week for all the teams. As the teams gear up for the upcoming season, they put their cars to the test on the Bahrain International Circuit. It was a week filled with excitement, surprises, and some disappointments. Let’s take a look at the highlights of the F1 testing round-up.
Ferrari’s new signing, Charles Leclerc, proved his talent behind the wheel as he led the team to the fastest time of the week. The young Monegasque driver set a blistering lap time of 1:28.231, leaving behind his teammate, Carlos Sainz, who finished with a time of 1:29.611. Leclerc’s performance has given Ferrari fans hope for a strong comeback this season.
Ferrari’s new car, the SF21, also showed promising signs as it looked much more stable and responsive compared to last year’s car. The team has put in a lot of effort to improve their car’s performance and it seems to have paid off. The SF21 was quick on the straights and handled the corners with ease, giving Leclerc and Sainz the confidence to push the car to its limits.
But it wasn’t just Ferrari who made headlines in Bahrain. The Red Bull Racing team also had a successful testing round-up with their new driver, Jüri Vips, setting a lap record for the team. The 20-year-old Estonian driver, who was filling in for Sergio Perez, set a time of 1:28.742, beating Max Verstappen’s time of 1:28.946 from last year’s Bahrain Grand Prix.
Vips’ impressive performance has put him in the spotlight and many are now wondering if he will be given a chance to race for Red Bull this season. The team has not yet confirmed who will be their second driver alongside Verstappen, but Vips’ performance has certainly given them something to think about.
Another team that made headlines during the testing was Aston Martin. The team, formerly known as Racing Point, struggled with engine issues throughout the week. Their new car, the AMR21, suffered from a lack of power and reliability, causing them to miss valuable track time.
The team’s new driver, Sebastian Vettel, had a difficult start to his Aston Martin career as he could only complete a total of 117 laps in three days. Vettel, who is a four-time world champion, will be hoping for a better performance in the upcoming races. His teammate, Lance Stroll, also faced similar issues and could only manage to complete 129 laps.
Despite their struggles, Aston Martin remains positive and is working hard to resolve their engine issues before the start of the season. Team principal, Otmar Szafnauer, has assured fans that they will be ready for the first race in Bahrain.
Apart from the top three teams, there were also some impressive performances from the midfield teams. McLaren’s Lando Norris finished third on the time sheets with a time of 1:29.041, followed by AlphaTauri’s Pierre Gasly with a time of 1:29.051. Both drivers showed good pace and consistency throughout the week, giving their teams confidence for the upcoming season.
Alpine, formerly known as Renault, also had a solid week with their new driver, Fernando Alonso, returning to the F1 grid after a two-year break. The Spaniard completed a total of 206 laps and showed that he still has the speed and determination to compete at the highest level. His teammate, Esteban Ocon, also had a good week and finished with a time of 1:30.086.
The F1 testing round-up in Bahrain has given us a glimpse of what we can expect from the teams this season. It’s clear that the competition will be tight and every team will have to push themselves to the limit to stay ahead of the pack.
The next stop for the teams is the season-opening race in Bahrain on March 28th. It will be interesting to see if the testing results will translate into race performance. With the return of fans to the stands, we can expect an electrifying start to the season.
So let’s buckle up and get ready for an action-packed F1 season. The teams have shown us that they are ready to fight for the top spot