Bahrain GP: Red Bull in the lead as Max Verstappen seals a double in P2 ahead of Lando Norris of McLaren

Exciting and close start to Formula 1 2021 as Max Verstappen leads Lando Norris, Lewis Hamilton and Carlos Sainz in Bahrain GP second training session; Four teams divided by 0.3 s; Watch final practice live on Sky F1 Saturday at 12:00 p.m., qualifying at 3:00 p.m.

2:46

Sky F1’s Karun Chandhok analyzes Friday’s practice battle between Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton.

Max Verstappen underscored Red Bull’s status as a serious threat to Mercedes by finishing a hotly contested 2021 Formula 1 opening day at the top, leading Lando Norris and Lewis Hamilton in second practice at the Bahrain GP.

In cooler night conditions which will be similar to qualifying and the race, Verstappen saved his fastest time of the opening session by clocking the best soft tire lap of the day, a 1: 30.847 in his new car. RB16B – who continued Red Bull’s momentum in early 2021 at Sakhir.

Norris was less than a tenth of a second behind the Dutchman as the impressive McLaren continues to resemble, at the very least, the midfield class, with Hamilton in the lead, Mercedes, third, 0.235 seconds behind the scorer. Verstappen.

There were also very promising signs for a competitive start to 2021 with four teams divided by 0.3 seconds in P2 as Ferrari new signing Carlos Sainz was, encouragingly for the top performing team in F1. , just behind Hamilton, fourth.

“It’s just a real dog fight,” Mercedes boss Toto Wolff told Sky F1. “When you layer the fastest laps and even the long runs, it’s so very tight. Every kilogram can make a big swing.”

1:15

Watch Kimi Raikkonen in the box returning to the pits after crossing the barrier at Turn 3.

Although more representative than the P1, the second practice certainly does not guarantee the pecking order of the weekend – as pointed out by Bottas and Perez finishing only fifth and 10th in other Mercedes and Red Bull – and Hamilton admitted. that the world champions had taken a “definite step forward” from pre-season testing.

But Verstappen got off to a good start with a double test on Friday.

“I was pretty happy but tomorrow is another day,” said Verstappen. “A good start to the weekend.”

Hamilton added: “We thought Red Bull would be as fast as them, if not faster, so we know they are in the lead for now.

“McLaren is superb and it’s great to see them take the plunge. It will be interesting to see what the long runs are like.”

3:04

Lewis Hamilton relishes the battle of Max Verstappen after dominating the two practice sessions before the Bahrain GP.

McLaren a threat to Bahrain? And who ended up where in the midfield

McLaren indeed generated one of the most intriguing scenarios of the first day of F1 2021; that they are not only the third fastest team in F1, but that they are now much closer to the top two.

Norris was third in the opening practice, then just 0.095 seconds off the best time of the evening session, with new teammate Daniel Ricciardo well placed in sixth as well.

The new Mercedes engines coupled with the team building momentum certainly looks like a match.

“We’re looking fast today, but I think what’s going to happen tomorrow is pretty obvious,” Norris insisted, downplaying McLaren’s theater. “These will be the usual four front cars. Behind them it looks very close. The car feels good.”

1 h 00

Max Verstappen’s reaction after dominating the two Friday practice sessions before the Bahrain GP.

Behind McLaren, AlphaTauri had a good day with rookie Yuki Tsunoda and Pierre Gasly in the top 10, while Lance Stroll led Aston Martin, edging Sebastian Vettel by four tenths.

Esteban Ocon also led his multiple veteran world champion teammate Fernando Alonso for Alpine.

Alfa Romeo, meanwhile, appear to have moved away from Williams and Haas in Bahrain’s pecking order – although Kimi Raikkonen’s crash at turn two was not the best moment for the 41-year-old.

Mick Schumacher finished 18th for Haas, ahead of Nicholas Latifi and Nikita Mazepin.

More soon.