Carlos Sainz of Ferrari set the fastest time in the final practice session ahead of this weekend’s Bahrain Grand Prix, edging out Fernando Alonso and reigning champion Max Verstappen. The session offered a crucial opportunity for teams to fine-tune their setups before qualifying later on Friday.
Sainz clocked a lap time of 1:30.824, finishing just 0.141 seconds ahead of Alonso. Verstappen was close behind in third, trailing Sainz by 0.238 seconds. This practice session is a key indicator as teams prepare for the first race of the Formula 1 season.
Charles Leclerc secured the fourth-fastest time for Ferrari, while Lando Norris of McLaren rounded out the top five. George Russell placed sixth, followed by McLaren’s Oscar Piastri in seventh. Sergio Perez, Nico Hulkenberg, and Lance Stroll completed the top ten.
Interestingly, Red Bull’s Verstappen and Perez initially opted for the harder tire compound, while most other drivers began the session on soft tires. Daniel Ricciardo, who was fastest in FP1 on Thursday, finished 11th, and Lewis Hamilton ended the hour in 12th position.
The Bahrain Grand Prix marks the start of the 2024 Formula 1 season, and these practice sessions are vital for understanding each team’s performance level and potential for the upcoming race. Full results from the practice session are available on the Formula 1 website.
In the Bahrain Grand Prix on March 2, Max Verstappen took the victory, leading his Red Bull teammate Sergio Perez and Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz. Verstappen maintained his lead throughout the 57-lap race, finishing 22 seconds ahead of Perez. More details on Verstappen’s win can be found here.
Carlos Sainz rounded out the podium for Ferrari after a competitive battle with teammate Charles Leclerc, who faced challenges with tire degradation. George Russell finished fourth, while Lando Norris secured sixth for McLaren.
Oscar Piastri added to McLaren’s points haul with an eighth-place finish, and Aston Martin too secured a double points finish with Fernando Alonso in ninth and Lance Stroll in tenth. This result sets the stage for an exciting championship battle as the Formula 1 season unfolds.
