Battle of three; Leclerc leads, Mercedes and Red Bull on the prowl, Fernando Alonso dreams
The international circuit of Sepang is being the setting for the GP of Bahrain this weekend. The grand prix that should have been held on April 12 is being held on this emblematic circuit nine years later, since its farewell in 2017.
The abrasive asphalt, the change in temperatures and the possible rain can influence how the different teams face the weekend. Free Practice 1 has left a couple of interesting aspects, but many unknowns.
These Libres 2, however, have begun to clear up some of these unknowns. The threat of rain has forced the teams to take their drivers out at the beginning of the session, when it was not yet raining. Since this morning the mercedes and the Red Bull They have demonstrated their superiority over competitors.
Ferrari and McLaren They suffer with the battery and are not able to match the race pace of those mentioned above; However, at one lap pace they are the best. Fernando Alonso and his Aston Martin It seems that they have found a ray of light in the darkness and are not last; Williamsfor their part, very lost with the car this weekend.
Entering the first fifteen minutes of the session, the times were already faster than those achieved in the first free practice.
Let us remember that 13 pilots of the 22 that are part of the circus of the Formula 1 They haven’t raced on this circuit yet. In these Free Practice 2, the blockades and track exits have taken center stage. Countless complaints from different drivers about traffic, potholes and the state of the asphalt.
The time table does not lie and for much of the session the different teams have tried to find out their race pace. The threat of rain has been dissipating little by little and with it, the drivers’ respect for track limits.
All the teams have fitted medium tires at the beginning of the session with the aim of knowing the degradation and the modes of ‘deployment‘ of energy; Subsequently, soft tires have taken center stage and lap times have decreased.
On the driver’s circuit, some stand out and others hide;
Charles Leclerc He was able to dethrone the Dutchman with thirty minutes left on the soft tire. Many pilots have had difficulties closing their lap, nailing all the sectors that are said.
Lewis Hamilton He had brake problems at the rear and was a bit far from his teammate. The nature of the circuit overheats the tires and generates errors unbecoming of big names.
Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri have struggled to put their McLaren in the upper part of the grill; the big straights and the fast corner sector are a puzzle for those of Woking. However, both drivers have been able to complete competitive laps.
Max Verstappen and Isaac Hadjar They have been very fast in the first and second sectors; the back of the Red Bull seems more unstable than that of its competitors; However, it seems that the weight reduction and its aerodynamic changes are paying off.
Battles between pilots in a training session;
Arvid Lindblad and Gabriel Bortoleto They have fought a beautiful battle on the wide track of Sepang. The pilots have been testing different energy modes and, with it, alternative routes. Fernando Alonso has also tried to learn something from Issak Hadjarwhich he has been following for several laps.
The Asturian’s race pace, as well as his degradation, are surprisingly good; the one of Aston Martin perhaps he has a chance to enter Q2 on Sunday.
With these battles we have been able to see the degradation of the different tires; It seems that this Grand Prix will reward several pit stops and with it a variety of strategies.
