Verstappen weakens

Formula 1 LIVE: The first free practice session in Bahrain

Lewis Hamilton sets the fastest time in the second practice session in Bahrain.(Bild: APA/AFP/Giuseppe CACACE)

Small triumph for Mercedes! Lewis Hamilton was fastest in the second practice session in Bahrain. His team-mate George Russell (+0.206 sec.) followed behind. Fernando Alonso (+0.286) completed the top three. World champion Max Verstappen (+0.477) weakened on a fast lap and was unable to finish higher than sixth. However, his long run pace was impressive.

At the Formula 1 season opener in Bahrain, record world champion Lewis Hamilton and his Mercedes team-mate George Russell set the best times on Thursday. The Silver Arrows dominated the second practice session for the Bahrain Grand Prix on Saturday (16:00 CET).

Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen(Bild: AFP/GETTY IMAGES/Dan Mullan)

The Red Bull driver from the Netherlands obviously did not yet get going on the desert circuit in the first best time chase, but Verstappen was convincing in the so-called long runs (race simulations, note). His Mexican team-mate Sergio Perez finished tenth (+0.741), and the two Ferraris were not quite up front either. Carlos Sainz set the fourth fastest time (+0.395), Charles Leclerc was ninth (+0.739). The first test of strength certainly promised excitement for qualifying on Friday (17:00), when the teams will reveal their cards.

Surprise from Ricciardo
In the first practice session, Racing Bulls driver Daniel Ricciardo surprisingly set the fastest time. However, the Australian drove on the softest tire compound, unlike Verstappen, who also finished sixth. Nevertheless, the world championship dominator of the past two years was anything but satisfied. "Everything is shit, miles away," Verstappen had radioed to the pits and complained about set-up problems with braking and shifting.

Here is the result:

Formula 1 kicks off its record 24-race season in the Persian Gulf. The season opener in Bahrain will take place on Saturday, as the second race in Saudi Arabia has been postponed by one day due to the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan (from March 10) and the F1 rules stipulate a break of at least one week between two races. Verstappen is aiming for his fourth World Championship title in a row this year, while the Austro racing team Red Bull wants to build on its most recent season with 21 wins from 22 races. For the first time in the history of Formula 1, there have been no changes to the drivers compared to the previous season.