The second day of Formula 1 testing has been completed and there is a shock name tops the timing sheets.
Lando Norris topped the first day of testing with a lap time of 1:30.430, however, that was quickly beaten in the morning session of day two.
Testing is, as has become a staple of F1, taking place at the Bahrain International Circuit, with teams getting eight hours running time per day for three days.
Day one saw all 20 drivers take to the track, with teams, drivers and fans getting the first representation of the relative pace of each car before the first qualifying session of the year.
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However, on day two, only 18 drivers took part in the action with Max Verstappen and Alex Albon both sat out with Liam Lawson and Carlos Sainz driving in both sessions.
As a result, Verstappen and Albon will also be using both sessions on Friday to ensure the drivers have had equal running.
F1 TESTING DAY TWO RESULTS
1.Carlos Sainz (Williams Racing)- 1:29.348
2.Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari)- 1:29.379
3.Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)- 1.29.431
4.George Russell (Mercedes)- 1:29.778
5.Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) 1:29.784
6.Lance Stroll (Aston Martin)- 1:30.229
7.Liam Lawson (Red Bull Racing)- 1:30.252
8.Jack Doohan (Alpine)- 1:30.368
9.Pierre Gasly (Alpine)- 1:30.430
10.Isac Hadjar (RB)- 1:30675
11.Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin)- 1:30.700
12.Yuki Tsunoda (RB)- 1:30.793
13.Oscar Piastri (McLaren)- 1:30.821
14.Lando Norris (McLaren)- 1:30.882
15.Gabriel Bortoleto (Sauber)- 1:31.057
16.Nico Hulkenberg (Sauber)- 1:31.457
17.Esteban Ocon (Haas)- 1:33.071
18.Ollie Bearman (Haas)- 1:43.372
19.Max Verstappen (Red Bull Racing)- NO TIME
20. Alex Albon (Williams Racing)- NO TIME
Rather surprisingly it was Sainz who headed the two Ferrari's with an impressive 1:29.348, which for context would have earned P2 for the Bahrain GP in 2024 with only Verstappen's 1:29.179 being quicker than the Spaniard.
Yesterday's pace setters, McLaren, seemed to opt for a different strategy with both Norris and Piastri languishing in the bottom half of the order.
However, Norris was in the process of setting a lap within two tenths of Sainz before aborting in the final sector implying the McLaren's times are not to be taken seriously.
Meanwhile, Ferrari appear to have made a statement with both drivers inside the top three compared to 4th and 13th on day one.
Topics: Formula 1, Lando Norris, Max Verstappen, Lewis Hamilton
Tom Jenkins