F1 Bahrain pre-season test - Day 3
Minute by minute updates on the final day of the 2023 F1 Bahrain pre-season test
After Max Verstappen topped the opening day and Zhou Guanyu went fastest yesterday, 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.
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De Vries sets a new personal best with a 1m38.972s but the AlphaTauri driver remains in P10.
Leclerc has a small lock up now at Turn 11.
Leclerc has a little moment at Turn 2. Well held.
Only Gasly and Piastri in the pits currently.
Drugovich could improve here in the Aston Martin and he does, P5 now for the Brazilian. Drugovich posts a 1m32.823s.
Each team has completed approximately 75 laps more across testing this year compared to 12 months ago.
Leclerc is now running the original Ferrari rear wing after an issue with a higher downforce prototype earlier this morning.
Albon puts the Williams into P8 with a 1m35.206s.
Albon is green in sector 1 and 2.
Leclerc, Perez, Gasly, Bottas, De Vries and Albon all out on track.
Stopwatch
Leclerc improves again. He logs a 1m31.024s. Perez moves to P3 after posting a 1m32.612s.
Perez is also on a fast lap in the Red Bull.
Leclerc sets a purple sector 1 on the C4 rubber.
Leclerc and Perez rejoin the action for Ferrari and Red Bull. Leclerc is currently fastest with Perez in P4, 2s shy, but the Mexican is yet to set a time on the softer rubber.
If you are just getting up to speed with F1 2023, here is a guide to this year's regulation changes.
Rear wing change going on at Aston Martin. The team has completed the least amount of laps so far with 16 in the books.
Bottas and De Vries are the only drivers out on track at the moment.
Leclerc's time puts the Ferrari 0.2s clear of Russell's Mercedes.
Stopwatch
Leclerc posts a 1m31.164s on the C4 tyres to set a new benchmark for everyone to beat.
But Leclerc responds to go top.
Russell's latest effort means he has a 0.7s advantage over nearest rival Leclerc (Ferrari).
Russell again was on the softer C5 tyres. The Mercedes is looking more planted, helped by the extra grip from the soft rubber.
Stopwatch
Russell sets a purple in sector 3 and improves his best time to a 1m31.442s.
Russell is on another quick lap, purple in sector 1.
You may have just caught a glimpse at a smaller pit wall prat perch for the Haas team. Here is the reason why: https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/the-250000-saving-behind-haas-f1-teams-mini-prat-perch/10435811/
Only Gasly, Hulkenberg and Piastri out on track currently.
Piastri runs wide at Turn 1 in the McLaren. The Australian rookie had a spin at Turn 10 earlier on. Has been an eventful morning for Oscar.
Williams preparing to send Albon out again as a new front wing is fitted.
Gasly stays third but improves to a 1m32.762s on the C3 tyres. The Frenchman is 1.1s adrift of Russell, who posted his benchmark on the softer C5.
Gasly is on a better lap in the Alpine. Green in sectors 1 and 2.
Stopwatch
Russell goes on with it and pumps in a 1m31.564s to set a new benchmark at the top of the times.
Russell sets a purple sector 1 and does the same in sector 2 on the C5 tyre.
With that, it is time to handover to Tom Howard who will take us through the next stint of testing.
Stopwatch
Leclerc, on C3s, slots into second place with a 1m32.220s to go half a second off Russell's leading effort. Drugovich also makes a small gain with a 1m33.575s to go sixth.
Stopwatch
There we go, Albon posts a conservative 1m40.908s to put a time on the board. Not that it counts for much, but it pleases us to have 10 lap times from the 10 drivers in action.
Still no lap times logged by Williams almost an hour into the day. Albon has done 15 laps already but nothing to notch a mark on to the timing screen.
Gasly goes second with a 1m33.104s on the C3s for Alpine.
Stopwatch
And Russell posts a 1m31.707s to go top by 1.4s - but it isn't the fastest time of the test as Zhou still holds that with a 1m31.610s from yesterday
Hold on to your coffee mugs, Russell is out on the C4 tyres, the first time the Mercedes has been on this softer rubber all testing.
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By: Autosport Staff
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