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Bahrain GP
F1 Bahrain GP Live Commentary and Updates - FP3 and Qualifying
Saturday's Formula 1 action from the Bahrain International Circuit
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After the intense three-day pre-season test at the same track last week, the 2023 F1 season begins this weekend with the Bahrain GP.
Having missed the pre-season test due to a wrist injury, Lance Stroll is making his comeback for Aston Martin alongside Fernando Alonso, with the Spaniard going quickest on Friday.
Bahrain GP final practice begins at 11:30am GMT followed by qualifying which starts at 3:00pm GMT and the race takes place on Sunday at 3:00pm GMT.
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Sainz had managed to post a 1m32.408s which puts him second for now. But only three cars have so far set a lap.
Red flag
We have a red flag for debris.
Tsunoda puts the first time on the board which proves quicker than team-mate De Vries. The Japanese logs a 1m32.132s.
It appears the tactic hasn't worked well for Leclerc. The defending Bahrain GP winner locks up his right-front badly at Turn 1 and aborts his first flyer.
While both AlphaTauris are on softs, the Ferraris have headed out on medium rubber. Interesting approach, let's see how widely that is copied by the top teams.
De Vries is making his second F1 start this weekend after his memorable cameo in place of Alex Albon at Williams in last year's Italian Grand Prix. He beat team-mate Nicolas Latifi in qualifying on that occasion - can he continue his 100% record thus far by beating Tsunoda?
Green flag
The answer is AlphaTauri as Tsunoda and De Vries head out of the pits immediately at the start of Q1. We're go!
All drivers are strapped into their cars and waiting. Who will be the keen beans that head out to the end of the pitlane first?
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After months of work in the factories and at the wind tunnel, three days of testing, and a further three hours of practice, it all comes down to this. Three minutes to go until the green light and qualifying can commence.
You may remember that both Astons fell in Q1 last year. They were joined by an AlphaTauri (Tsunoda), a McLaren (Ricciardo) and a Williams (Latifi). Who will be the unlucky quintet this year?
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Sun
Track temperature is 29.4 °C and air temperatures are 24.5 °C. Very different conditions to those we had earlier for FP3.
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Perhaps some who have a right to feel nervous are rookies Oscar Piastri and Logan Sargeant. They will both be hoping to avoid an early bath in Q1, which would hamper their chances of a strong showing tomorrow. Earlier this week we ranked the best performances by debutants in Bahrain: https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/ranking-the-best-f1-rookie-performances-in-bahrain/10437172/
Less than 15 minutes to go now. The moon has well and truly arrived at the party as the light fades and the floodlights take over the heavy lifting. Drivers are milling around in their garages chatting to engineers willing the time away. Not long...
Breaking news
Many racers before Stroll have taken the plunge while not fully fit. While some have been a triumph, others wished they'd stayed at home. Here are some tales from the world of F1, rallying (who else but Colin McRae), MotoGP, NASCAR and more: https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/racing-through-injury-what-stroll-can-learn-from-past-cases/10439083/
All the attention on Aston Martin has meant the spotlight has also focused on Alonso's team-mate Lance Stroll. He's made the brave decision to return this weekend after his cycling accident forced him to miss testing through injury. Will it prove the right one?
While we're on the Alonso gravytrain, he has won three times in Bahrain - in 2005, 2006 and 2010 - but only once qualified on pole, in 2005. His 2010 victory came on his first start with Ferrari, in what turned out to be another title tilt doomed at the final hurdle.
For reference, on that day Nico Hulkenberg hauled his Force India into fourth on the grid, Lewis Hamilton was seventh for McLaren and Sauber rookie Sergio Perez 12th before a five-place grid penalty. Come raceday, Alonso claimed a victory that extended his lead in the drivers' standings, although he would be overhauled by Sebastian Vettel and Red Bull in the final reckoning.
If, and we stress if, Alonso were to end Q3 on top of the pile, it would be a hugely significant achievement for the Spaniard and would end a decade-long drought. The most recent of his 22 career F1 poles came at Hockenheim in 2012, when just three of the current grid were also present.
The big question of course concerns how much Red Bull has shown of its hand. Glory runs in practice are one thing, but it's quite another when all the cards are laid down for qualifying. Only at the end of Q3 will we truly know how the competitive order is shaking out. But the prospect of a huge shakeup in the competitive order is keeping everybody on their toes.
In case you missed it, Fernando Alonso followed up his chart-topping performance from FP2 with the fastest time in FP3, edging reigning champion Max Verstappen. So far, the double world champion's switch from Alpine to Aston Martin has gone about as well as could be expected - but just how good will it get?
Good afternoon and welcome back to our live coverage as we build up to the first F1 qualifying session of the season. There's always plenty of intrigue surrounding the start of the season, but Aston Martin's performance so far this weekend has lifted that up just a couple of notches.
We shall take a break now but join us again in about two hours for all the build-up to what is set to be a very intriguing first qualifying session of the new season. Bye for now!
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Here's a round-up of all the key details from that session: https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/f1-bahrain-gp-alonso-beats-both-red-bulls-again-to-top-final-practice/10439465/
But, as we said right at the very start, it's still not until qualifying that we get the full picture. Let's not get too carried away just yet.
So, that session has possibly left more questions than answers. We don't know the fuel loads or engine modes that the drivers used but the fact the top six were split by just three tenths is - potentially - encouraging.
Not all smooth sailing for Red Bull either as Verstappen goes into anti-stall during his practice start.
Mercedes sent Hamilton out of the garage for the practice starts but missed the cut off as the red light is on now at the end of the pits. "Come on guys, this is twice now," says a slightly exasperated Hamilton, who is now pushed back to the Merc pit.
And the answer is no. So Alonso is fastest again from Verstappen, Perez, Hamilton and Leclerc.
Checkered flag
And that could be it, the chequered flag is out. Time for any late improvements?
Stopwatch
Slightly better for Leclerc as he goes fifth, two tenths adrift of Alonso's best. But, let's say it again, these track conditions are not representative of the pole position shootout later.
Stopwatch
It's just seventh for Sainz as he's behind the two Astons, Red Bulls and both Mercs.
And here come the Ferraris. Let's see what they can manage in the final minutes of this session.
Hamilton reports a visor tear-off has got caught in the left rear and the team says they'll keep an eye on it.
Stopwatch
Perez now completes his soft-tyre run and goes third. Just a tenth slower than Alonso and Verstappen - perhaps suggesting there's a bit more to come from Verstappen.
He's then displaced by Magnussen, just half a tenth between the new Haas team-mates.
Hulkenberg, meanwhile, goes 10th as the Haas bolts on the softs for the first time.
While these times are coming in, it's worth noting that Ferrari isn't showing its hand. Both Leclerc and Sainz are in the pits and haven't put on a second set of softs in these slightly better track conditions.
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Alonso is told he's first and says, "Oh, really." Seems he's not getting too carried away just yet.
By: Autosport Staff
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