Bahrain, test days: Could McLaren be the fastest?

Based on the results of the first day, we could believe this, but it would be a great shame to draw any serious conclusions from Wednesday's results.

In the not-so-ideal conditions, the first to hit the track was Mercedes rookie Andrea Kimi Antonelli, and he ended the morning in the lead. Bahrain experienced unusually cool weather, with strong winds, 15-degree air, and a track temperature of 25 degrees welcoming the testing teams, and these values did not improve throughout the day. On the low-grip track, several drivers struggled, with Liam Lawson losing control in a particularly spectacular fashion, spinning out behind the wheel of the Red Bull. Nevertheless, the RB rookie still managed to secure second place, surpassing Alexander Albon before the lunch break.

In the afternoon, the changes and further complications began; in the second session, Max Verstappen and George Russell also took to the cars, immediately beginning to challenge the time set by Antonelli, with Russell ultimately breaking it. However, this did not last long, as another driver, Charles Leclerc, took over the lead. But before the other drivers could start attacking him, an unusual red flag interruption occurred. A power outage hit the track, blocking further work for nearly an hour. During this time, some precipitation arrived in Bahrain, and the track cooled further, but this did not prevent Lando Norris from completing the day’s lap and ultimately finishing at the top, ahead of Russell and Verstappen.

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