Dutch driver Max Verstappen continues to confirm the role of this year’s main challenger, Lewis Hamilton, by winning both of today’s training sessions at the inaugural Bahrain Formula 1 Grand Prix. The reigning champion Hamilton set the fourth fastest time first and then the third fastest time overall.
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Valtteri Bottas during training for the Bahrain Grand Prix.
Hamad I Mohammed, Reuters
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The “bronze” man of last year’s Verstappen started masterfully and dominated in the first training session with a time of 1: 31.394. In the afternoon, he improved the maximum by another half a second. In the end, Lando Norris from McLaren, who was one of the fastest three riders in the opening race, pushed himself between him and Hamilton. He then lost less than a tenth of a second to Verstappen. His teammate Daniel Ricciardo also made it into the top six.
On the other hand, Sebastian Vettel from the Aston Martin team or the returnee Fernando Alonso from Alpine remained behind the elite ten in both trainings. The German rider set the 12th and 14th time, the native of Oviedo finished right behind him in the afternoon.
We’re back, and so is Fernando! ????
The two-time world champ got us under way in FP1 ????#BahrainGP ???????? @alo_oficial pic.twitter.com/8mHM7PuSXj
– Formula 1 (@ F1) March 26, 2021
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Mick Schumacher also has a big loss for the best during his debut in F1 in the Haas car. Although the son of seven-time world champion Michael moved from nineteenth to eighteenth in the second practice, he lost over two seconds per lap to the fastest Red Bull driver.
The second training was not successful for Kim Räikkönen from Alfa Romeo, who leaned the monopost into the barrier and lost most of his time in the pits due to the broken front wing.
The program in Bahrain will continue with Saturday’s third practice and subsequent qualification.
| Trainings at the Bahrain GP, the opening race of the Formula 1 World Championship: |
| First training: |
| 1. Verstappen (Niz./Red Bull) 1:31,394 |
| 2. Bottas (Fin./Mercedes) -0.298 |
| 3. Norris (Brit./McLaren) -0,503 |
| 4. Hamilton (Brit./Mercedes) -0,527 |
| 5. Leclerc (Mon./Ferrari) -0,599 |
| 6. Pérez (Mex./Red Bull) -0.677. |
| Second training: | |
| 1. Verstappen | 1:30,847 |
| 2. Norris | -0,095 |
| 3. Hamilton | -0,235 |
| 4. Sainz jr. (Šp./Ferrari) | -0,280 |
| 5. Bottas | -0,371 |
| 6. Ricciardo (Aus./McLaren) | -0,383. |
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