The winter test of Formula 1 is over. Max Verstappen clocked the fastest time in the final phase of the third test day in Bahrain. Ferrari seems to be close, Mercedes says they are having problems.
The winter test days for the 2022 Formula 1 season are over. In a week’s time it will be time for the real work, but a careful balance can already be drawn up. Max Verstappen set the fastest time of the week in Bahrain with about ten minutes to go, he was about 7 tenths faster than number two, Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc.
Although the times in the winter test still have to be taken with a grain of salt, things look good especially for Red Bull Racing. The understeer problems of earlier seem solved and the RB18 looks stable. Ferrari’s car also makes a good impression. Mercedes says it is not yet satisfied and did not get further than the fourth time. The defending champions place themselves in the underdogposition, only now it really doesn’t look great for Mercedes.
‘s commentators Sky Sports took stock at the end and also see Red Bull as the team to beat, followed by Ferrari and Mercedes. McLaren appears to be the fourth team. Once again; next week we won’t really see how the flag hangs for it, but this is the first impression at the end of the testing days. The first race weekend of the season starts in Bahrain on Friday.
Below the lap times, the tire on which the time was set and the number of laps today:
1. Verstappen (Red Bull) 1:31.720, C5, 53 laps
2. Leclerc (Ferrari) 1:32.415, C4, 51 laps
3. Alonso (Alpine) 1:32.698, C4, 122 laps
4. Russell (Mercedes) 1:32.759, C5, 71 laps
5. Bottas (Alfa Romeo) 1:32.985, C3, 68 laps
6. Tsunoda (AlphaTauri) 1:33.002, C5, 57 laps
7. Perez (Red Bull) 1:33.105, C4, 43 laps
8. Schumacher (Haas) 1:33.151, C3, 58 laps
9. Norris (McLaren) 1:33.191, C3, 90 laps
10. Vettel (Aston Martin) 1:33.821, C4, 81 laps
11. Zhou (Alfa Romeo) 1:33.959, C4, 82 laps
12. Gasly (AlphaTauri) 1:34.865, C4, 91 laps
13. Sainz (Ferrari) 1:34.905, C5, 68 laps
14. Albon (Williams) 1:35.171, C3, 18 laps
15. Latifi (Williams) 1:35.634, C3, 124 laps
16. Stroll (Aston Martin) 1:36.029, C3, 53 laps
17. Hamilton (Mercedes) 1:36.217, C5, 78 laps
18. Magnussen (Haas) 1:38.616, C2, 38 laps
– Thanks for information from Autoweek.nl