This Saturday, the Formula 1 racing teams will put their cars through their paces in Bahrain for the third and last time before the first race of the new season starts at the same place next weekend.
sport.de accompanies the events throughout the day in the detailed live ticker! The International Circuit Bahrain starts at 08:00! By 5:30 p.m. at the latest, we will then know who was able to use the tests best for themselves.
+++ 11:24 a.m.: A lot of activity on the route +++
Seven of the ten drivers are currently on the track. Only Oscar Piastri, Valtteri Bottas and Felipe Drugovich are in the pits. Do we see another attack on Charles Leclerc’s best time before the lunch break?
+++ 11:18 a.m .: Hulkenberg before closing time +++
Nico Hülkenberg is currently driving the yellow C3 compound. In the afternoon, his teammate Kevin Magnussen will take a seat in the Haas. So “Hulk” only has about an hour left.
+++ 11:10 a.m.: final sprint in the morning +++
The route has now been reopened. The drivers still have a little more than an hour in the morning unit.
+++ 11:00 a.m.: The best times after three hours +++
This is how the drivers are in the classification:
Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) | 1:31:024 | 42 driven laps
George Russell (Mercedes) | 1:31:442 | 56 laps driven
Felipe Drugovich (Aston Martin) | 1:32:075 | 44 driven laps
Sergio Perez (Red Bull Racing) | 1:32:459 | 49 driven laps
Pierre Gasly (Alpine) | 1:32:762 | 39 driven laps
Nico Hulkenberg (Haas) | 1:33:329 | 45 laps driven
Oscar Piastri (McLaren) | 1:33:655 | 30 laps driven
Alexander Albon (Williams) | 1:34:192 | 38 laps driven
Valtteri Bottas (Alfa Romeo) | 1:36:854 | 72 laps driven
Nyck de Vries (AlphaTauri) | 1:38:817 | 70 laps driven
+++ 10:56 a.m .: Alfa Romeo causes a red flag +++
Red flag! Valtteri Bottas has technical problems in the Alfa Romeo and has to park the car right next to the track. The session is therefore briefly interrupted.
+++ 10:48 a.m.: Piastri is back +++
The wait is finally over for Oscar Piastri. After around 1 hour and 20 minutes he returns to the track.
+++ 10:45 a.m .: Hulkenberg still eager +++
Nico Hülkenberg continues to gather new experience in the Haas. The veteran is currently sixth with a time of 1:33:329 minutes. In addition, there are 36 rounds to book so far. The 35-year-old is satisfied with the first impressions, as he revealed on Friday.
+++ 10:37 a.m .: Piastri condemned to watch +++
McLaren’s problems continue. Oscar Piastri has been doomed to watch for over an hour. Not good conditions for the rookie.
+++ 10:32 a.m .: Aston Martin sees progress +++
Aston Martin has improved so far in the testing days in Bahrain. “We’re pleased with the progress we’ve made,” team principal Mike Krack told the team’s official channels. Felipe Drugovich (1:32:075) is currently in third place.
+++ 10:16 a.m .: Problems with McLaren +++
Oscar Piastri has been in the pits for quite some time now. As on the first day of testing, McLaren has problems with the wheel brows. This means that valuable time is lost.
+++ 10:08 a.m .: Bottas as the round king +++
So far, Valtteri Bottas has completed the most laps (39) in the Alfa Romeo. Nyck de Vries (37), Sergio Pérez (35) and Nico Hülkenberg (30) were also busy in the first two hours.
+++ 10:00 a.m.: The best times after two hours +++
This is how the drivers are in the classification:
Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) | 1:31:024 | 25 laps driven
George Russell (Mercedes) | 1:31:442 | 25 laps driven
Sergio Perez (Red Bull Racing) | 1:32:459 | 35 driven laps
Pierre Gasly (Alpine) | 1:32:762 | 23 driven laps
Felipe Drugovich (Aston Martin) | 1:32:823 | 21 driven laps
Nico Hulkenberg (Haas) | 1:33:329 | 30 laps driven
Oscar Piastri (McLaren) | 1:33:655 | 25 laps driven
Alexander Albon (Williams) | 1:35:206 | 25 laps driven
Valtteri Bottas (Alfa Romeo) | 1:38:609 | 39 driven laps
Nyck de Vries (AlphaTauri) | 1:38:972 | 37 laps driven
+++ 9:49 a.m.: Hulkenberg in the box +++
Nico Hülkenberg can hardly be seen on the track in the second hour. Instead, Haas works in the garage.
+++ 9:41 a.m .: No attacks on Leclerc +++
In the meantime, the route is full again. However, there are currently no real attacks on the best time. Charles Leclerc is also taking things a little slower at the moment.
+++ 9:32 a.m .: Alfa Romeo and Aston Martin on the road +++
Valtteri Bottas and Felipe Drugovich are currently the only two drivers on the track. Both Alfa Romeo and Aston Martin are not chasing top times at the moment, but are running their test program.
+++ 9:26 a.m .: Leclerc counters Russell +++
Charles Leclerc counters George Russell! With a time of 1:31.164 minutes, the Ferrari star takes the lead and is currently more than two tenths ahead of the Mercedes rival.
+++ 9:23 a.m .: Russell busy on the road +++
George Russell is still chasing times at the International Circuit Bahrain. Sergio Pérez is in the pits with his Red Bull. Charles Leclerc returns to the track.
+++ 9:17 a.m .: Crisis meeting at Mercedes +++
After a little over an hour, George Russell ranks at the top. In the past two days, things haven’t gone optimally at Mercedes. There was even a crisis meeting at the Silver Arrows on Friday. Further information are available here.
+++ 9:00 a.m.: The best times after an hour +++
This is how the drivers are in the classification:
George Russell (Mercedes) | 1:31.707 | 15 driven laps
Pierre Gasly (Alpine) | 1:33,104 | 12 driven laps
Sergio Perez (Red Bull Racing) | 1:33.167 | 20 laps driven
Nico Hulkenberg (Haas) | 1:33.329 | 13 driven laps
Oscar Piastri (McLaren) | 1:33.655 | 13 driven laps
Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) | 1:34,090 | 10 laps driven
Felipe Drugovich (Aston Martin) | 1:37.691 | 12 driven laps
Valtteri Bottas (Alfa Romeo) | 1:38.609 | 15 driven laps
Nyck de Vries (AlphaTauri) | 1:39.218 | 10 laps driven
Alexander Albon (Williams) | 1:40.908 | 16 driven laps
+++ 8:57 a.m .: Russell with best time +++
George Russell currently has the best lap time. The Briton is ahead of Pierre Gasly and Sergio Pérez with a time of 1:31.707 minutes.
+++ 8:43 a.m .: Piastri with a spin +++
Oscar Piastri delivers the first spin of the day. The tires are gone. The McLaren driver will probably return to the pits in a timely manner.
+++ 8:34 a.m .: Leclerc back on the track +++
After the upper flap element of the DRS wing broke on the Ferrari, Charles Leclerc returns to the track. Apparently the problem has now been fixed.
+++ 8:26 a.m .: question mark at Aston Martin +++
Incidentally, Felipe Drugovich will be at the start for Aston Martin in the morning. It is not yet clear whether the Brazilian will replace the injured Lance Stroll next weekend. Team boss Mike Krack will probably make an official statement after the session.
+++ 8:14 a.m .: Session continues +++
The disturbing parts are off the track. The session continues. Nico Hulkenberg and George Russell are already on the road again.
+++ 8:13 a.m .: Problems with Leclerc +++
Charles Leclerc’s car is being worked on in the Ferrari pits. The DRS wing on the car had previously sagged on the straight.
+++ 8:08 am: red flag +++
After just a few minutes, the session is interrupted. Because small parts of Sergio Pérez’s Red Bull are on the track, the red flag is waved. But it should continue soon.
+++ 8:06 a.m.: driver on the track +++
The first drivers are already collecting kilometers diligently. Charles Leclerc is on track for Ferrari. Sergio Pérez tests for Red Bull. Nico Hulkenberg unwinds the program for Haas.
+++ 8:00 a.m.: Here we go! +++
The session is open. The last day of testing in Bahrain is underway!
+++ It will start soon! +++
In a few minutes, the Bahrain International Circuit will be released. Then there are the final chances for drivers, mechanics, team bosses and fans to gather impressions.
+++ The best times so far +++
In our slide show we have collected the previous best times and number of laps of all drivers. Here’s an overview!
+++ Who sits in the cockpits? +++
All ten teams will field one car in each session. On Saturday morning, these ten drivers will take their place in the cockpit:
RedBull: Sergio Perez
Ferrari: Carlos Sainz
Mercedes: George Russell
Alpine: Alpine Gasly
McLaren: Oscar Piastri
Alfa Romeo: Valtteri Bottas
Aston Martin: open
Hass: Nico Hulkenberg
AlphaTauri: Nyck de Vries
Williams: Alexander Albon
+++ Only test in Formula 1 +++
As in the previous year, the test drives in Bahrain are the only chance to put the new cars through their paces before the start of the new season on March 3rd.
The sessions will take place from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. (CET). A lunch break of one hour is scheduled each day.
At the beginning of March, things will get serious in Formula 1. The first race of the new season will take place on March 5th at the Bahrain International Circuit. The test drives in the desert state are therefore important for two reasons.