F1: tests close in the sign of Charles Leclerc

F1, Bahrain: Charles Leclerc ahead of everyone in the last day of testing

The last day of Formula 1 testing in Bahrain closes in the sign of Charles Leclerc. The Ferrari driver, in fact, set the best time on day-3 at the Sakhir track, stopping the stopwatch at 1:30.322, mocking by only 46 thousandths the Mercedes of George Russell, in second position.

Completing the podium surprisingly è the Sauber of Guanyu Zhou. Only in fourth place was Max Verstappen’s Red Bull, although it should be noted that the world champion achieved his best time using medium tires, unlike Leclerc, Russell and Zhou who used soft ones. The Racing Bulls of Yuki Tsunoda rounds out the top 5.

Williams and McLaren showed some signs of recovery with Alexander Albon in sixth and Oscar Piastri in seventh respectively, while Aston Martin still struggles, with Fernando Alonso only eighth. Rounding out the top 10 were the Ferrari of Carlos Sainz, ninth, and the Red Bull of Sergio Perez, tenth.

The times:

1. Leclerc (Ferrari) 1'30"322 (laps 74) 

2. Russell (Mercedes) 1'30"368 (67) 

3. Zhou (Sauber) 1'30"647 (85) 

4. Verstappen (Red Bull) 1'30"755 (66) 

5. Tsunoda (RB) 1'30"775 (53) 

6. Albon (Williams) 1'30"984 (121) 

7. Piastri (McLaren) 1'31"030 (91) 

8. Alonso (Aston Martin) 1'31"159 (75) 

9. Sainz (Ferrari) 1'31"247 (71) 

10. Perez (Red Bull) 1'31"483 (53) 

11. Hulkenberg (Haas) 1'31"686 (89) 

12. Hamilton (Mercedes) 1'31"999 (49) 

13. Stroll (Aston Martin) 1'32"038 (46) 

14. Norris (McLaren) 1'32"108 (20) 

15. Gasly (Alpine) 1'32"149 (47) 

16. Magnussen (Haas) 1'33"053 (80) 

17. Ocon (Alpine) 1'33"079 (55) 

18. Bottas (Sauber) 1'33"528 (28) 

19. Ricciardo (RB) 1'37"015 (70)