F1 2023 Testing: Sainz on top in first half of morning test
24th February 2023Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz topped the first half of the morning test, on the second day, 0.6 seconds ahead of both Alfa Romeo’s Guanyu Zhou and Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso.
In similar fashion to yesterday morning, Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso was the first driver out of his garage and at the pit exit light, waiting for the pit exit light to go green. The Aston driver was soon joined by all but Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton who remained in his respective garage.
How the morning session’s driver schedule shaped up:
- Red Bull – Sergio Perez
- Ferrari – Carlos Sainz
- Mercedes – Lewis Hamilton
- Alpine – Esteban Ocon
- McLaren – Lando Norris
- Alfa Romeo – Guanyu Zhou
- Aston Martin – Fernando Alonso
- Haas – Kevin Magnussen
- Alpha Tauri – Yuki Tsuonda
- Williams – Logan Sargeant
On their first set of timed runs, Ferrari’s Spaniard, Sainz went to the top of the timing board after he obtained the early fastest lap with a 1:38.225 on the prototype tyre.
With just over eight minutes gone, Hamilton finally ventured out onto the Bahrain International Circuit equipped with aero rakes in front of the rear tyres. On his first timed lap, the seven-time world champion managed to put in the second fastest lap – despite an excursion to the run off area at turn 10.
The Mercedes driver managed to improve on his initial lap time but remained second, +0.638 behind Sainz.
It wasn’t long before a new fastest time was put onto the board, Haas’ Kevin Magnussen jumped to the top of the timing boards with one off his early push laps. The Dane managed to secure a 1:33.710 lap which was 3.5 seconds faster than Sainz.
In a similar fashion to yesterday, after only five laps completed, McLaren’s Norris remained in the garage as the mechanics examined the car for suspected issues. The McLaren was soon back out the circuit after the team sorted out their issues.
With three hours and 12 minutes left on the clock, Sainz returned to the top of the timing board with a lap that was one-second faster (1:32.653) than Magnussen. Shortly afterwards, Alonso soon jumped back up to second place – as he had in the afternoon test yesterday – ahead of Magnussen who was demoted down to third.
By the end of the first half, Sainz remained on top of the timing board after completing 22 laps as Alonso who sat in third. The only change to the top three came with Alfa Romeo’s Guanyu Zhou who put in the second fastest lap which sat
Top three (incl. laps completed):
- Carlos Sainz, Ferrari – 25 laps
- Guanyu Zhou, Alfa Romeo – 30 laps
- Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin – 22 laps
That’s all for the article; F1 2023 Testing: Sainz on top in first half of morning test!
Read more Formula 1 here:
- F1 Testing: Verstappen rounds out first day as fastest man
- F1 Testing – Day 1: Verstappen on top in first half of afternoon test
- F1 Testing: Verstappen fastest driver in morning test on first day
- F1 Testing: Sainz stays on top going into final hour
- F1 Testing: Sainz remains on top as Albon takes third fastest time
- F1 Testing: Sainz tops first hour of testing
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