Practice for the Bahrain Grand Prix, the opening race of the Formula One World Championship. Mexican racing driver Sergio Pérez of the Red Bull team is pictured in Sachiro on March 3, 2023.
Sáchir – Mexican racer Sergio Pérez from Red Bull won the first practice session for the inaugural Formula 1 Bahrain Grand Prix. Last season's third man set a time 438 thousandths of a second faster than Fernando Alonso from Aston Martin on the Sáchir track. Pérez's teammate and reigning world champion Max Verstappen was third. The Dutchman was 0.617 seconds behind.
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Photo gallery: World Championship of Formula 1 cars in the 2023 season
Aston Martin confirmed good form from pre-season tests. In addition to Alonso, Lance Stroll, who returned to the cockpit less than two weeks after injuring his wrist, also fought his way to the sixth place.
The drivers of Ferrari and Mercedes, who should be among Red Bull's biggest competitors for the championship, did not take part in the first practice session soft tires. Charles Leclerc from Ferrari was fifth, the second driver of the Italian stable Carlos Sainz had “hours” in the first practice and finished in the last twentieth place. Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton set the tenth time, with George Russell right behind him.
Second practice starts at 16:00 CET.
Practice for the Bahrain Grand Prix, the opening race of the Formula One World Championship 1 in Sáchir:
First training: 1. Pérez (Mex./Red Bull) 1:32.758, 2. Alonso (Sp./Aston Martin) -0.438, 3. Verstappen (Netherlands/Red Bull) -0.617, 4. Norris (Brit./McLaren) -1.407, 5. Leclerc (Mon./Ferraril) -1.499, 6. Stroll (Can./Aston Martin) -1.540.
16:00 second practice >
