Sakhir.- At the last moment of the session, the British George Russell (Mercedes) got the best chrono of the third and last day of preseason trials of Formula 1to the detriment of the Dutch Max Verstappen (Red Bull).
The current world champion led the time sheet and seemed to be destined to be the fastest on Friday, but Russell signed a 21 thousandths chrono of second below his, already right in the end.
Thai Alexander Albon (Williams) was third, one day after the first position of his new teammate, the Spanish Carlos Sainz Jr.
In the global three days of essays, it was Sainz Jr. who obtained the best time in the small country of the Gulf (1.29,348), with the Ferrari of English Lewis Hamilton and the Monegasco Charles Leclerc with the second and third best, respectively.
This Friday, Hamilton was sixth and Leclerc Ninth.
As every year, the chronos of these sessions must necessarily be relativized because each pilot has its own trial program and is not necessarily focused on speed or performance.
McLaren, in force champion in the constructors category, did not work at the speed in a lap and did not show his letters to the competitors.
The British team seemed very quiet after these three days of testing in Baréin: “We have learned a lot about the car and its capabilities. We have also taken advantage of to make different settings.”
Red Bull concern
On the other hand, in Red Bull certain concerns are detected, also about Verstappen, which did not seem delighted with the car in the hands. On Friday, he even spoke, something that happens very rarely.
“These essays have not developed as well as we expected, but it is better to have the problems now than in the exit line. We were here to better understand the car, which has not always responded as we would have wanted. But we are going in the good direction,” said Pierre Waché, the French technical director of Red Bull.
In Ferrari, the very long -awaits on Hamilton track with the Scuderia were positive and the seven -time world champion seemed comfortable with his new car.
“These days have gone very good and we have progressed well. We have managed to get a lot of useful information to improve before the start of the season. I am looking forward to playing the first race in Melbourne,” said the 40 -year -old English pilot.
The teams now have two weeks to analyze the data harvested this week in Baréin and make the corresponding adjustments in the cars before the first Grand Prix of the season, which will take place from March 14 to 16 in Australia.
All ‘Paddock’ actors think of a season marked by a certain continuity compared to 2024, before in 2026 everything is revolutionized with a new technical regulations.
