Russell tops Bahrain test Day 4 for Mercedes
George Russell led a Mercedes 1-2 at the top of the timesheets on Day 4 in Bahrain, beating McLaren's Oscar Piastri by a mere 0.010 seconds in a session dominated by qualifying simulations. Ferrari's running was hampered by a technical issue on Lewis Hamilton's car, while Max Verstappen sat out the day for Red Bull.
George Russell set the fastest time on the final day of Formula 1's second pre-season test in Bahrain, edging out McLaren's Oscar Piastri by just one-hundredth of a second. The session, which featured qualifying-style runs, provided the clearest hint yet of a tight battle at the front, while Ferrari faced a technical setback with Lewis Hamilton's car.
Why it matters:
Pre-season testing times are always contextual, but the ultra-close gap at the top between Mercedes and McLaren suggests the fight for pole position in next week's season opener could be incredibly tight. Furthermore, any significant loss of track time for a top team like Ferrari, especially with a new driver in Hamilton, is a setback in the crucial final preparations.
The details:
- The Top Fight: Russell's benchmark time of 1:33.459s was set on a low-fuel run in the final hour, narrowly beating Piastri's earlier effort. Charles Leclerc was third for Ferrari, three-tenths back.
- Ferrari's Setback: After a smooth morning with Leclerc, Ferrari lost significant track time in the afternoon when Hamilton's car required a lengthy garage stay to address a technical issue. He managed only 44 laps, the fewest of any driver in the top ten.
- Strong Mileage Elsewhere: While Mercedes and McLaren focused on performance, rookie Andrea Kimi Antonelli completed a solid 69 laps for Mercedes in fifth. Red Bull's Isack Hadjar recovered from an early issue to log 66 laps in sixth.
- Red Flags: The session was interrupted twice. A deliberate red flag was used for practice starts, while a second was caused by Lance Stroll spinning his Aston Martin into the gravel at Turn 11.
- Notable Absence: Reigning champion Max Verstappen did not drive for Red Bull, leaving the team's ultimate one-lap pace a mystery heading into the final day.
What's next:
Testing concludes on Thursday, with teams expected to conduct race simulations and finalize their setups for the Bahrain Grand Prix. All eyes will be on Verstappen's return to the Red Bull and whether Ferrari can rebound from its disrupted program. The psychological first blow has been struck by Mercedes, but the true pecking order will only be revealed in qualifying next Friday.