F1 pre-season testing has come to an end after three days of running at the Bahrain International Circuit.
It’s not long until we have the cars back on track, but whilst the paddock is taking a breather lets take a look at how each team fared with their new machines.
AlphaTauri
Total Laps – 456, Fastest Lap – 1m 31.261s (Yuki Tsunoda)
Alpha Tauri topped the mileage charts in Bahrain as Nyck de Vries and Yuki Tsunoda complete 456 laps of Bahrain. The Italian team have more reasons to be happy as Tsunoda sets the sixth-fastest time of the whole test, and De Vries was second in mileage charts as he readies for his maiden season.
Williams
Total Laps – 439, Fastest Lap – 1m 32.549s (Logan Sargeant)
With a combined total of 439 laps of Bahrain, or 2,376km Logan Sargeant and Alex Albon notched up the second-highest lap count of pre-season testing. Bar an unusual issue with the car’s electrical system, Williams’ three days of testing were trouble-free.
Ferrari
Total Laps – 416, Fastest Lap – 1m 31.024s (Charles Leclerc)
The Scuderia had a positive three days, with both Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc occasionally finding themselves at the top of the timesheets, and matching Red Bull. They did contend with a few issues, such as bouncing and the degradation of their tyres.
Haas
Total Laps – 414, Fastest Lap – 1m 31.381s (Kevin Magnussen)
Kevin Magnussen set the seventh-fastest time of testing on Friday and the Dane notched up 95 laps as the team had a smooth three days. Returnee Nico Hulkenberg also got useful mileage – a minor throttle issue on Day 1 was the only hurdle they faced in reliability.
Red Bull
Total Laps – 413, Fastest Lap – 1m 30.305s (Sergio Perez)
It was a strong pre-season test for Red Bull that ended in Sergio Perez setting the fastest time of the week on the final day. They enjoyed a trouble free three days with limited reliability woes, putting them in a good position ahead of the season.
Alfa Romeo
Total Laps – 402, Fastest Lap – 1m 30.827s (Valtteri Bottas)
It was a mixed pre-season for Alfa Romeo. They managed a good haul of laps, and Zhou Guanyu topping the timesheets on Day 2. But they also caused two red flags, the first when Zhou stopped at the end of the pitlane and the other when Valtteri pulled over with a power unit problem.
Mercedes
Total Laps – 398, Fastest Lap – 1m 30.664s (Lewis Hamilton)
Mercedes, endured a mixed pre-season as well, as they were able to go through their programme on Day 1, George Russell stopped on track on Day 2 with a hydraulics issue. They were able to get the car fixed for Day 3, with Lewis Hamilton ending the day 2nd, although they seemed to struggle with the balance of their 2023 challenger.
Aston Martin
Total laps – 387, Fastest Lap – 1m 31.440s (Fernando Alonso)
While Felipe Drugovich did an admirable job in the two sessions he drove as he stepped in for Lance Stroll, Fernando Alonso was the one to watch. The Spanish driver settled in well at his new environment, with the car seemingly responding to his every request.
Alpine
Total Laps – 353, Fastest Lap – 1m 32.762s (Pierre Gasly)
Alpine had a low-key three days of running in Sakhir, with both Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly finishing towards the bottom the combined timesheets. Ocon was keen to talk up the A523 as a clear step forward, with the general feeling that there is more to come.
McLaren
Total Laps – 312, Fastest Lap 1m 32.160s (Lando Norris)
McLaren had another challenging pre-season in Bahrain after their brake related woes 12 months ago, with aerodynamic efficiency – or rather an apparent lack of it. Add in the need for temporary strengthening work on the front winglets between runs on Saturday, McLaren ended the test with the least mileage out of all 10 teams.
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