F1 2023 Bahrain GP: Alonso goes 0.005s faster than Verstappen in FP3

Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso went fastest for the second time in free practice, 0.005 seconds faster than Red Bull’s defending champion Max Verstappen.

In the last practice session before the grid head into qualifying, and Parc Ferme, only McLaren’s Lando Norris popped out onto the circuit ahead of everyone else. Naturally, as the only driver out on track before Haas’ Nico Hulkenberg joined him, Norris set the initial lap time on the board with a 1:34.633.

After 10 minutes, most of the field remained in their respective garages, only both; Mercedes, Haas and Ferrari drivers were out on track alongside Norris who stayed at the top of the timing board with a soft tyre run.

At the 15-minute mark, Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton topped the timing board with the new fastest lap (1:33.508) booted with the soft compound tyres. The seven-time world champion topped the timing board ahead of both Ferrari drivers who trailed 0.015 seconds (Carlos Sainz) and 0.066 seconds (Charles Leclerc) behind.

Continuing their surprising pace, Aston Martin’s two-time world champion, Fernando Alonso topped the timing sheets with an impressive lap time of 1:33.121 which stood 0.374 seconds faster than his former teammate, Hamilton who had set a new personal best lap time (1:33.495).

Of the entire field, as the session approached its final half an hour, most of the grid opted to complete soft tyre runs. Only both Red Bull and Haas drivers were on different compounds.

Red Bull’s Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez set their first lap times with the white-ringed hard compound tyres and Haas’ Nico Hulkenberg and Kevin Magnussen ran with the yellow-walled medium tyres.

In the last 10 minutes, Hamilton, Verstappen and Alonso were seen out on the track with shiny, brand-new, soft tyres.

Russell temporarily topped the timing sheets but he was soon dispatched by fellow compatriot, Hamilton, who went two-tenths faster.

Hamilton was soon demoted from the top spot by Verstappen who went three-tenths faster before he was toppled by Alonso as the Spaniard regained the top spot by five-thousands of a second.

As the session crept under its five-minute mark, Hamilton was soon demoted down to fourth as Perez went third fastest – one-tenth slower than Alonso.

By the chequered flag, Alonso topped the timing sheets ahead of both Verstappen and Perez in second and third. Hamilton occupied fourth ahead of Leclerc (fifth) and Russell (sixth) while Sainz, in the other Ferrari, sat in P8.

That’s all for the article; 2023 Bahrain GP: Alonso goes 0.005s faster than Verstappen in FP3!

What do you think, will Aston Martin end up on pole position? Let us know in the comments!

Read more Formula 1 here:

• F1 2023 Bahrain GP: Alonso fastest ahead of Verstappen in FP2
• Lance Stroll due to race in 2023 Bahrain GP
• Susie Wolff appointed Managing Director of F1 Academy
• F1TV has unveiled new updates for fans ahead of 2023 season
• F1 2023 Bahrain GP Preview
• Tottenham Hotspur and F1 launch in-stadium karting track

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Kamron Kent

Hi, I’m Kamron. I created ApexMotorsports.co.uk in the dying embers of the 2021 Formula 1 world championship. It allowed me freedom to write whatever I wanted to write about which was all things motorsports, my passion.

I have put a lot of effort in over the years to keep this website in its best shape and I’ve loved seeing the brand grow consistently, month-on-month, year-on-year. My ambition is to keep watching this brand grow into a primary outlet of news for all things motorsports whilst fueling my desire to pursue a career in sports journalism, specialising in motorsports.

Kamron Kent

Hi, I'm Kamron. I created ApexMotorsports.co.uk in the dying embers of the 2021 Formula 1 world championship. It allowed me freedom to write whatever I wanted to write about which was all things motorsports, my passion. I have put a lot of effort in over the years to keep this website in its best shape and I've loved seeing the brand grow consistently, month-on-month, year-on-year. My ambition is to keep watching this brand grow into a primary outlet of news for all things motorsports whilst fueling my desire to pursue a career in sports journalism, specialising in motorsports.