Full testing Day 3 timesheet:
01 George Russell Mercedes 1:29.545 91 laps
02 Max Verstappen Red Bull Racing +0.021 81
03 Alexander Albon Williams +0.105 137
04 Oscar Piastri McLaren +0.395 85
05 Pierre Gasly Alpine +0.495 84
06 Lewis Hamilton Ferrari +0.800 47
07 Yuki Tsunoda Racing Bulls +0.952 87
08 Esteban Ocon Haas F1 Team +1.183 103
09 Charles Leclerc Ferrari +1.266 66
10 Andrea Kimi Antonelli Mercedes +1.343 61
11 Lando Norris McLaren +1.398 57
12 Jack Doohan Alpine +1.694 61
13 Lance Stroll Aston Martin +2.154 34
14 Nico Hulkenberg Kick Sauber +2.181 69
15 Isack Hadjar Racing Bulls +2.216 73
16 Fernando Alonso Aston Martin +2.539 82
17 Gabriel Bortoleto Kick Sauber +2.602 35
18 Oliver Bearman Haas F1 Team +2.816 59
George Russell ended the third and final day of pre-season testing in Bahrain on top, the Mercedes man having just pipped Max Verstappen to P1 in the last minutes of the session.
His time, however, was slower than Carlos Sainz’s time on the previous day.
Lance Stroll was supposed to run the entire day, but he didn’t feel well all day, and in the afternoon, he handed over the wheel to Fernando Alonso.
Despite Ocon and Verstappen spinning in the same corner in the final half hour, it was another smooth running day for most teams.
In the three days, Mercedes completed 458 laps, Haas 457 laps, Racing Bulls 454 laps, Alpine 405 laps, Williams 395 laps, Ferrari 382 laps, McLaren 381 laps, Kick Sauber 354 laps, Aston Martin 306 laps, and Red Bull 304 laps.
Therefore, the teams gathered enough data to work with and make the necessary adjustments for the first race next month in Melbourne on March 16.
For now, McLaren seems to be the winning team. Both Mercedes and Red Bull can be relatively close, but it is unclear where Ferrari is now. Once again, the final day, especially Lewis Hamilton seemed to struggle with the car’s control.
On the other hand, Mercedes and Red Bull have rookies in their second cars, while Ferrari comes with one of the most competitive driver pairs, which can shift the balance in their favour.
The rest of the pack may focus more on developing the next year’s cars and driving in surviving mode this year.
The possible packing order:
01. McLaren
02. Red Bull/Mercedes/ Ferrari
05. Alpine/Williams/Racing Bulls/Aston Martin
09. Haas/Sauber
See you on Friday, March 14, in Melbourn for the first practice session.
Meanwhile, on March 7, Netflix will drop the brand new series of Formula 1: Drive to Survive.
According to Tom Hutchings, Executive Producer at the show’s Box to Box Films production company, “We’re really excited for fans to watch the new season of Drive to Survive. The 2024 season was incredible both on and off the track, with the action well and truly underway before the first race in Bahrain. Expect more drama and fun from the paddock this season and a few surprises too.
Go behind the scenes as teams bid for the hottest drivers on the market, experience a weekend with the drivers at the toughest race of the year; and expect a nail-biting finish right up to the last race. Fasten your seatbelts – this season is going to be our biggest ever.”
TV talk.
