F1 Bahrain pre-season test - Day 2
Minute by minute updates on the second day of the 2023 F1 Bahrain pre-season test
After Max Verstappen topped yesterday's opening day of running for Red Bull, on-track action resumes from 07:00 GMT (10:00 local time).
All three days follow the same schedule, with running taking place from 10:00 until 14:15, and from 15:15 until 19:30 (all local time), pausing for a lunch break.
All 10 teams are set to be in action for the Bahrain pre-season test, the only opportunity teams will have to properly put their cars through their paces before the 2023 season proper gets under way next weekend.
More: F1 Bahrain test driver line-up
The Bahrain pre-season test will take place on 23-25 February ahead of the 2023 F1 season opener at the same venue, the Bahrain Grand Prix, on 3-5 March.
Live Text
Sort by
Newest first
One potential upside to the reduced number of days is that I spend less time overall trawling through the Motorsport Images galleries looking for obscure testing pictures to prod fellow anoraks with. Any guesses who this might be, putting a Williams through its paces in 2002? You earn brownie points for correct answers, but no physical brownies I'm afraid.
It's amazing to think that we're already halfway through pre-season testing. Back in the day when teams had dedicated test teams running every week, it would be hard to imagine today's cap of just three days. Perhaps all things considered it's little wonder that teams have put such a premium on reliability with so little margin for error.
Thanks Megan. Not long to go now until action resumes. In the meantime, we've been having a think about more Bahrain GP memories from years gone by. Toyota never won a grand prix in Formula 1, but it arguably should have done in 2009 when the Japanese cars built in Germany (confused yet?) annexed the front row. Jarno Trulli finished third, Timo Glock languished in seventh as Jenson Button continued his winning run for Brawn.
I'm going to follow in the footsteps of the F1 grid and get some lunch, so I'll hand you back over to James Newbold for the next live stint.
Max Verstappen gets back aboard the Red Bull this afternoon after taking sole custody of the RB19 yesterday. But who else will be driving and when? Filip Cleeren has prepared a helpful guide, which you can find here: https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/2023-f1-bahrain-test-preview-who-is-driving-and-when/10435119/
While you're waiting for action to resume, check out the tech secrets from testing so far: https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/uncovering-the-first-f1-tech-secrets-of-2023-cars-in-testing/10435710/
Twitter
Several drivers will remain on-board for the afternoon, including Fernando Alonso at Aston Martin. Zhou and Sargeant will also go the distance for Alfa and Williams respectively.
There's a break in the track action for lunch now, but proceedings will resume at 12pm GMT / 3pm local time
Read the full report from this morning's testing session here: https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/2023-f1-bahrain-test-sainz-heads-sargeant-in-friday-morning-running/10435895/
Yuki Tsunoda put in the most laps this morning with 85, with the fewest coming from Zhou Guanyu on 43.
Carlos Sainz led the morning's running from Logan Sargeant and Fernando Alonso.
There was a bit of confusion on the practice start, but everyone is safely back in the pits as we break for lunch.
Red flag
Not quite sure whose fault that was, but there we go. Session over.
What on earth happened there?!
It's day 2 of testing, and there's already start grid chaos!
Aborted start, extra formation lap. Just to check everyone knows what's what.
Ah, we've got a practice start, so everyone is lining up on the grid - Kevin Magnussen takes pole
A veritable flurry of cars heading out on track now for the final part of the morning session.
Green flag
We've got seven minutes left of this session and the pit exit light is green.
Red flag
Ditto the red flag.
Yellow flag
Yellow flag in sectors 1 and 2 but don't panic - it's just a systems check.
Stopwatch
Sargeant puts in another rapid time and is now just 0.063s behind leader Carlos Sainz
More news: F1's plans to ban tyre blankets from 2024 will face a final vote involving teams, the FIA and FOM after this year's British Grand Prix in July. Read the full story here: https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/f1-tyre-blanket-ban-set-for-crunch-vote-after-british-grand-prix-/10435883/
Stopwatch
Sargeant goes quicker again with a 1m32.666s (The Number of the Beast) on the soft tyres to log his quickest time of the day, but stays second fastest.
Carlos Sainz is out there on a race run at the moment for Ferrari - things are looking good for the team so far
More news on Mullet Watch: Another fantastic 'do down at Haas. Congratulations, guys
Things are looking pretty quiet as the morning session winds down, with just Zhou and Alonso out on track
In other news, Alfa Romeo looks to have cured two key weaknesses with its F1 2023 car. Read more here: https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/alfa-romeo-looks-to-have-cured-two-key-weaknesses-with-its-f1-2023-car/10435850/
The McLaren is looking a bit wobbly at Turn 15 there...
I have just been alerted to the fact it is four-time Formula 1 world champion Alain Prost's birthday today, so happy birthday Alain!
Sergio Perez and Yuki Tsunoda currently lead in terms of laps, with 76 completed each. Zhou Guanyu is bottom of the table with 30
Stopwatch
Sargeant goes second fastest with a 1m32.968s on the C5 tyre - top work from the Williams rookie
Let the fun begin! With just under 45 minutes left of this morning's running, who will end up on top?
She's sat next to me on the couch and raring to go, so handing the live wheel over to Megan White. Have fun (and don't lie about having fun, because I'll know!).
We're well and truly into race running now with just over 45 minutes remaining in the first session.
Alonso logs his 47th lap on his well-used C3 tyres.
There's just under an hour to go in the first session of day two of the Bahrain test.
Jerome d'Ambrosio is working with Mercedes now. That calls for a throwback to 2011 and his time with the unfortunately-titled Virgin Racing Team, which of course became Marussia and then Manor from 2012 to its final campaign in 2016.
Interlagos, Sao Paulo, Brazil. 26th November 2011. Jerome d'Ambrosio, Virgin MVR-02 Cosworth. Action. World Copyright:Charles Coates/LAT Photographic ref: Digital Image _X5J1491
Ocon completes another lap, but stays sixth, 1.004s off the pace as he puts some miles on the prototype C3 rubber.
Stopwatch
Sargeant has concluded a fast lap and has moved up to fourth with a 1m33.368s.
By: Autosport Staff
Published:
Page:
