Bahrain test: gush of George Russell, Ferrari guarded

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An end-of-test ranking that doesn’t scare.

George Russell and his Mercedes ahead of everyone, even a Max Verstappen who had spent the entire Friday of Formula 1 testing in Bahrain in the lead with his Red Bull. Instead, the Dutchman had to settle for second place, 21 thousandths behind the time leader. Ferrari sixth and ninth respectively with Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc, but without major concerns.

Indeed, Ferrari will è concentrate on fine-tuning the SF-25 ahead of Melbourne and the Australian Grand Prix, scheduled for March 16. The decisive work will in fact be done in the simulator, while especially Hamilton will è concentrate on tuning and balancing.

Rivals, as always at this stage of the year, provide clues only in theory. McLaren, for example, appears very solid particularly on the race pace and could be ahead of the competition again. Mercedes, on the other hand, very effective on the dry lap, but with some difficulties on the pace. Never underestimate però the usual Max Verstappen, always able to place the paw regardless of the state of health of his Red Bull.

Test F1 Bahrain, the times of day-3:

1   G. Russell   Mercedes    1:29.545 (C3)   –   90 laps
2   M. Verstappen    Red Bull   1:29.566 (C3)    +0.021    81 laps
3    A. Albon    Williams   1:29.650 (C4)   +0.105    136 laps
4   O. Piastri   McLaren    1:29.940 (C3)   +0.395    84 laps
5    P. Gasly   Alpine    1:30.040 (C3)    +0.495    83 laps
6   L. Hamilton   Ferrari    1:30.345 (C4)   +0.800    47 laps
7   Y. Tsunoda   RB    1:30.497 (C3)   +0.952    86 laps
8   E. Ocon    Haas    1:30.728 (C4)    +1.183    102
9    C. Leclerc   Ferrari    1:30.811 (C3)    +1.266    66 laps
10   A.K. Antonelli   Mercedes    1:30.888 (C3)    +1.343    61 laps
11    L. Norris   McLaren    1:30.943 (C3)    +1.398    57 laps
12   J. Doohan   Alpine   1:31.239 (C3)    +1.694   61 laps
13   L. Stroll   Aston Martin    1:31.699   +2.154    34 laps
14   N. Hülkenberg   Kick Sauber    1:31.726 (C3)    +2.181    68 laps
15    I. Hadjar   RB    1:31.761 (C3)   +2.216    73 laps
16   F. Alonso   Aston Martin    1:32.084 (C3)    +2.539    82 laps
17   G. Bortoleto    Kick Sauber   1:32.147 (C3)    +2.602    35 laps
18    O. Bearman    Haas   1:32.361 (C3)    +2.816    59 laps

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