Formula 1: Fernando Alonso tames the Red Bulls of Verstappen and Pérez and surprises in practice at the Bahrain GP

The Spanish Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin) set the best time of the day of free practice in the second test session this Friday Bahrain Grand Prixthe event that opens the season of Formula 1 World Championship this weekend.

The veteran Asturian driver, two-time world champion between 2005 and 2006, dominated the two times on the time sheet at 41 years old Red Bullthose of the reigning world champion, Max Verstappenand the Mexican Sergio Checo Perez.

Alonso, who makes his debut this season with Aston Martin after leaving Alpinetherefore seems to confirm the high expectations generated in the preseason by his team. His teammate at Aston Martin, Lance Stroll, set the sixth fastest time. Until Thursday, the Canadian driver was not sure he could participate in this Grand Prix due to a broken wrist at the end of February.

In front of him the Monegasque charles leclerc it was the fourth of the day with his Ferrarisurpassing a surprising Nico Hulkenbergfifth with his Haaswith which he returns to the queen category of motorsport.

THE Mercedes From Lewis Hamilton AND George Russell Perhaps they were the disappointment in this start to Formula 1 action. They finished eighth and thirteenth respectively in the second practice session, away from the leading teams.

Friday’s second test session took place after dark in Bahrain. All the riders improved their times compared to the first session, held in hot weather and very strong sun a few hours earlier. Sergio Pérez was the fastest in that first sessionbut the note had been given by the Spaniard Carlos Sainz (Ferrari) with a spectacular spin.

It is precisely the second session that had conditions more similar to qualifying and the race on Sunday, which will take place at a similar time.

The third free practice session is scheduled for Saturday (8:30 in Argentina) and then at 12 in our country the qualifying session will take place which will determine the order of the starting grid for Sunday’s race, which will raise the curtain record-breaking season, with 23 Grands Prix scheduled.

The classification

1. Fernando Alonso (ESP/Aston Martin-Mercedes) 1m30s907 (25 laps)
2. Max Verstappen (NED/Red Bull) 1m31s076 (24)
3. Sergio Perez (MEX/Red Bull) 1m31s078 (26)
4. charles leclerc (MON/Ferrari) 1s31s367 (26)
5. Nico Hulkenberg (GER/Haas-Ferrari) 1m31s376 (25)
6. Lance Stroll (CAN/Aston Martin-Mercedes) 1m31s450 (28)
7. Pierre Gasley (FRA/Alpine-Renault) 1m31s475 (24)
8. Lewis Hamilton (GBR/Mercedes) 1m31s543 (27)
9. Lando Norris (GBR/McLaren-Mercedes) 1m31s570 (27)
10. zhou guanyu (CHN/Alfa Romeo) 1m31s586 (27)
11. Esteban Ocon (FRA/Alpine-Renault) 1m31s608 (25)
12. Valtteri Bottas (FIN/Alfa Romeo) 1m31s793 (28)
13. George Russell (GBR/Mercedes) 1m31s882 (25)
14. Carlos Sainz Jr. (ESP/Ferrari) 1m31s956 (28)
15. Oscar Piastri (AUS/McLaren-Mercedes) 1m32s024 (27)
16. Kevin Magnussen (DEN/Haas-Ferrari) 1m32s110 (18)
17. Alessandro Albano (THA/Williams-Mercedes) 1m32s440 (28)
18. Yuki Tsunoda (JPN/AlphaTauri-Red Bull) 1m32s525 (27)
19. nyck devries (NED/AlphaTauri-Red Bull) 1m32s605 (28)
20. Sergeant Logan (USA/Williams-Mercedes) 1m32s749 (29)

Source: AFP