2024-03-01 14:52:26
Published on March 1, 2024 at 3:52 p.m.
After Daniel Ricciardo and Lewis Hamilton during the first two free practice sessions for the Bahrain Grand Prix, it was Carlos Sainz Jr who set the best time in the third on Friday in his Ferrari.
Third free practice session and third different winner in Bahrain. A few hours before the qualifying session (the Grand Prix will take place exceptionally on Saturday for logistical reasons due to Ramadan), Carlos Sainz Jr set the best time in the third session, succeeding Daniel Ricciardo (Racing Bulls) and Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes), who shone on Thursday. The future ex-Ferrari driver completed 18 laps, including one in 1’30″824 on soft tires. He was 141 thousandths ahead of his compatriot from the Aston Martin team Fernando Alonso, and 238 thousandths ahead of triple world champion Max Verstappen (Red Bull).
An undecided qualifying session
The drivers took time before setting fast laps during this one-hour session, and it was ultimately Lewis Hamilton who set a first time on soft tires (1’32″733), before being beaten by Charles Leclerc (1’32″677) then Kevin Magnussen (1’32″440) and Lance Stroll (1’32″327). George Russell (1’31″821) then Fernando Alonso (1’31″582) were the first to go below 1’32, before being imitated by Sergio Perez (1’31″248), Max Verstappen ( 1’31″062) and Lance Stroll (1’30″965). And finally, five minutes from the end of the session, Carlos Sainz Jr came to cross the line in 1’30″824 and no one did better after that. There were no incidents during this third session, so all the cars will be at the start of Q1 at 5:00 p.m. (Paris time). Given the results from Thursday and Friday, it is difficult to know who will take pole position. The Red Bulls, dominant during pre-season testing, did not in fact win a single free practice session. One thing seems certain, pole will not be for Alpine. Pierre Gasly and Esteban Ocon are expecting the worst for the start of the season, on a car that was turned upside down during the winter. Respectively 20th and 18th in EL3, reaching Q2 would already be a great success for them.
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