As the setting sun cast long shadows across the Bahrain International Circuit, the final free practice session for the 2023 Formula 1 Bahrain Grand Prix served up a tantalizing glimpse of the intense competition awaiting fans. In a performance that sent ripples of excitement through the paddock, Fernando Alonso, piloting his Aston Martin, astonishingly clinched the fastest time. His blistering lap was just five-thousandths of a second quicker than reigning world champion Max Verstappen of Red Bull Racing, setting the stage for an electrifying qualifying session and race.
This remarkable showing marked the second consecutive practice session where Aston Martin showcased their formidable pace, firmly establishing themselves as dark horses for the opening race of the season. The minuscule gap at the top underscored the fiercely competitive landscape of the 2023 Formula 1 season, with an incredible 13 cars separated by less than nine-tenths of a second. Such tight margins promise thrilling battles throughout the grid, igniting debates among fans and pundits about whether Aston Martin’s resurgence is a true reflection of their new AMR23’s potential or a strategic early-weekend peak. Regardless, Alonso’s commanding presence at the front has injected a fresh wave of anticipation into the sport.
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With teams having already completed an extensive four days of running at the challenging Bahrain International Circuit, including pre-season testing and the first two free practice sessions, the final hour before qualifying began with a measured intensity. Drivers and engineers were meticulously fine-tuning their setups, focusing on specific car behaviors and optimizing tyre performance rather than immediate outright speed. McLaren’s Lando Norris was the first to venture out, breaking the quiet of the Sakhir track. He set an initial benchmark of 1’34.321 on soft compound Pirelli tyres, gathering crucial data as the track conditions gradually improved with more rubber laid down.
As the session progressed and the 10-minute mark approached, more cars began to pour onto the circuit, each team executing its predetermined program. The Mercedes duo then made their statement. George Russell initially bettered Norris’s time by two-tenths, only for his seasoned teammate, Lewis Hamilton, to go even quicker, posting a commanding 1’33.508 to seize the provisional top spot. This early display of speed from Mercedes offered a significant morale boost for the Brackley-based squad, hinting at improved single-lap performance compared to earlier sessions. Following closely, the Ferraris of Carlos Sainz Jnr and Charles Leclerc expertly split the two Mercedes drivers on their initial soft tyre runs, indicating a tightly contested fight among the sport’s most iconic teams.
The true heart of the session’s drama, however, unfolded around the 20-minute mark when the pre-season favorites and the surprise package finally entered the fray. Fernando Alonso, alongside the formidable Red Bulls of Verstappen and Sergio Perez, joined the circuit. Intriguingly, Red Bull adopted a distinct strategy, opting to send both their cars out on the hard compound tyres. This decision suggested a clear focus on understanding race pace, fuel loads, and long-run tyre degradation, rather than chasing ultimate one-lap glory. In stark contrast, Alonso, exuding confidence, was immediately unleashed on a fresh set of soft tyres. The veteran Spaniard wasted no time, promptly rocketing to the fastest time of the session with a blistering 1’33.121, unmistakably demonstrating the raw speed of the AMR23 and Alonso’s unparalleled ability to extract every ounce of performance.
The session continued its dynamic ebb and flow, with the top spot changing hands multiple times. Lance Stroll, Alonso’s teammate, further underscored Aston Martin’s impressive form by taking a new set of soft tyres and momentarily claiming the quickest time. However, his reign at the top was short-lived. The Mercedes pair quickly responded, with Hamilton clocking a time four-tenths faster than Stroll, and Russell two-tenths faster, showcasing the W14’s improved handling and speed on the softer compounds. This continuous back-and-forth battle highlighted the intense strategic dance occurring in FP3, where teams tirelessly adjusted their setups and pushed the limits, all in pursuit of the perfect balance for the upcoming qualifying session.
As the final precious minutes of FP3 dwindled, all eyes were fixed on the battle between the prime contenders. It was then the turn of Friday’s fastest, Alonso and Verstappen, to engage in their ultimate qualifying simulations on fresh soft tyres. Verstappen, a driver synonymous with relentless perfection, delivered a phenomenal lap, setting a new best time of 1’32.345. This put Red Bull at the very summit of the timeheets for the first time in the session, eliciting a wave of relief and satisfaction in their garage. Yet, their joy was fleeting. Mere moments later, Fernando Alonso, showcasing the guile and precision that have defined his illustrious career, found an astonishing extra five-thousandths of a second, snatching back the top spot in a truly heart-stopping finale. This incredible duel not only perfectly set the stage for qualifying but also intensified the excitement for a potential multi-team fight at the very front of the grid.
Behind the sensational front two, Sergio Perez maintained a strong and consistent performance for Red Bull, securing the third-fastest time, exactly one-tenth of a second adrift of his teammate. His consistent pace confirmed Red Bull’s formidable package, even if the gap to their rivals appeared to have narrowed. Lewis Hamilton held onto the fourth position for Mercedes, further showcasing their improved single-lap potential, placing ahead of Charles Leclerc, who was the fastest of the Ferraris in fifth. George Russell completed a solid outing for Mercedes in sixth, while Lance Stroll secured seventh, emphatically underlining Aston Martin’s impressive overall team performance. Carlos Sainz Jnr was eighth for Ferrari, followed by McLaren’s promising rookie Oscar Piastri in ninth – an encouraging result for the young Australian – and Pierre Gasly rounding out the top ten for Alpine.
The tightly packed midfield promised an equally enthralling fight for Q3 spots in qualifying. Esteban Ocon, in the second Alpine, just missed the top ten, placing 11th, highlighting the narrow margins in this competitive segment. Further down the order, the Alfa Romeos of Zhou Guanyu (Zhou Guanyu) and Valtteri Bottas, along with the Haas cars of Kevin Magnussen and Nico Hulkenberg, were all locked in a fierce battle, demonstrating that even minor gains in setup could make a significant difference. AlphaTauri and Williams continued to show signs of struggle, with Yuki Tsunoda, Logan Sargeant, Alexander Albon, and Nyck de Vries occupying the lower end of the grid, yet still striving to find precious tenths ahead of the crucial qualifying session.
Beyond the raw lap times, the final practice session also offered critical insights into the teams’ potential tyre strategies for both qualifying and the arduous race ahead. While most teams ultimately opted for the soft compound for their ultimate qualifying simulation runs, the earlier stints on hard and medium tyres by Red Bull and others indicated a keen focus on understanding degradation and long-run pace. The Sakhir circuit is renowned for its abrasive surface, which places exceptionally high demands on tyres, making strategic tyre management a pivotal factor for Sunday’s Grand Prix. The close proximity of the top teams suggests that tyre performance and degradation could play an even more crucial role in determining the final race outcome, adding another layer of complexity and excitement to the eagerly awaited weekend.
2023 Bahrain Grand Prix Third Practice Result
| Position | Number | Driver | Team | Model | Time | Gap | Laps |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 14 | Fernando Alonso | Aston Martin-Mercedes | AMR23 | 1’32.340 | 13 | |
| 2 | 1 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull | RB19 | 1’32.345 | 0.005 | 13 |
| 3 | 11 | Sergio Perez | Red Bull | RB19 | 1’32.446 | 0.106 | 12 |
| 4 | 44 | Lewis Hamilton | Mercedes | W14 | 1’32.555 | 0.215 | 17 |
| 5 | 16 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari | SF-23 | 1’32.624 | 0.284 | 21 |
| 6 | 63 | George Russell | Mercedes | W14 | 1’32.731 | 0.391 | 17 |
| 7 | 18 | Lance Stroll | Aston Martin-Mercedes | AMR23 | 1’32.919 | 0.579 | 16 |
| 8 | 55 | Carlos Sainz Jnr | Ferrari | SF-23 | 1’32.945 | 0.605 | 21 |
| 9 | 81 | Oscar Piastri | McLaren-Mercedes | MCL60 | 1’33.045 | 0.705 | 12 |
| 10 | 10 | Pierre Gasly | Alpine-Renault | A523 | 1’33.064 | 0.724 | 13 |
| 11 | 31 | Esteban Ocon | Alpine-Renault | A523 | 1’33.116 | 0.776 | 16 |
| 12 | 24 | Zhou Guanyu | Alfa Romeo-Ferrari | C43 | 1’33.180 | 0.840 | 13 |
| 13 | 4 | Lando Norris | McLaren-Mercedes | MCL60 | 1’33.202 | 0.862 | 16 |
| 14 | 20 | Kevin Magnussen | Haas-Ferrari | VF-23 | 1’33.381 | 1.041 | 21 |
| 15 | 27 | Nico Hulkenberg | Haas-Ferrari | VF-23 | 1’33.423 | 1.083 | 23 |
| 16 | 22 | Yuki Tsunoda | AlphaTauri-Red Bull | AT04 | 1’33.475 | 1.135 | 15 |
| 17 | 77 | Valtteri Bottas | Alfa Romeo-Ferrari | C43 | 1’33.629 | 1.289 | 14 |
| 18 | 2 | Logan Sargeant | Williams-Mercedes | FW45 | 1’33.665 | 1.325 | 15 |
| 19 | 23 | Alexander Albon | Williams-Mercedes | FW45 | 1’33.882 | 1.542 | 15 |
| 20 | 21 | Nyck de Vries | AlphaTauri-Red Bull | AT04 | 1’34.082 | 1.742 | 18 |
Combined Practice Times: A Weekend Overview
While the final practice session offers the most recent snapshot of performance, analyzing the combined fastest times across all three sessions provides a broader perspective on team dynamics and driver consistency throughout the Bahrain Grand Prix weekend. These aggregated results often reveal underlying trends in car setup, tyre management, and the overall package strength of each team, giving a more complete picture of who holds the advantage heading into qualifying and the race.
| Position | Number | Driver | Team | FP1 time | FP2 time | FP3 time | Gap | Laps |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 14 | Fernando Alonso | Aston Martin-Mercedes | 1’33.196 | 1’30.907 | 1’32.340 | 1 | |
| 2 | 1 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull | 1’33.375 | 1’31.076 | 1’32.345 | 0.169 | 2 |
| 3 | 11 | Sergio Perez | Red Bull | 1’32.758 | 1’31.078 | 1’32.446 | 0.171 | 3 |
| 4 | 16 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari | 1’34.257 | 1’31.367 | 1’32.624 | 0.460 | 4 |
| 5 | 27 | Nico Hulkenberg | Haas-Ferrari | 1’35.043 | 1’31.376 | 1’33.423 | 0.469 | 5 |
| 6 | 18 | Lance Stroll | Aston Martin-Mercedes | 1’34.298 | 1’31.450 | 1’32.919 | 0.543 | 6 |
| 7 | 10 | Pierre Gasly | Alpine-Renault | 1’35.455 | 1’31.475 | 1’33.064 | 0.568 | 7 |
| 8 | 44 | Lewis Hamilton | Mercedes | 1’34.917 | 1’31.543 | 1’32.555 | 0.636 | 8 |
| 9 | 4 | Lando Norris | McLaren-Mercedes | 1’34.165 | 1’31.570 | 1’33.202 | 0.663 | 9 |
| 10 | 24 | Zhou Guanyu | Alfa Romeo-Ferrari | 1’34.575 | 1’31.586 | 1’33.180 | 0.679 | 10 |
| 11 | 31 | Esteban Ocon | Alpine-Renault | 1’35.105 | 1’31.608 | 1’33.116 | 0.701 | 11 |
| 12 | 77 | Valtteri Bottas | Alfa Romeo-Ferrari | 1’34.689 | 1’31.793 | 1’33.629 | 0.886 | 12 |
| 13 | 63 | George Russell | Mercedes | 1’34.966 | 1’31.882 | 1’32.731 | 0.975 | 13 |
| 14 | 55 | Carlos Sainz Jnr | Ferrari | 1’36.072 | 1’31.956 | 1’32.945 | 1.049 | 14 |
| 15 | 81 | Oscar Piastri | McLaren-Mercedes | 1’34.997 | 1’32.024 | 1’33.045 | 1.117 | 15 |
| 16 | 20 | Kevin Magnussen | Haas-Ferrari | 1’34.402 | 1’32.110 | 1’33.381 | 1.203 | 16 |
| 17 | 23 | Alexander Albon | Williams-Mercedes | 1’36.018 | 1’32.440 | 1’33.882 | 1.533 | 17 |
| 18 | 22 | Yuki Tsunoda | AlphaTauri-Red Bull | 1’35.015 | 1’32.525 | 1’33.475 | 1.618 | 18 |
| 19 | 21 | Nyck de Vries | AlphaTauri-Red Bull | 1’35.402 | 1’32.605 | 1’34.082 | 1.698 | 19 |
| 20 | 2 | Logan Sargeant | Williams-Mercedes | 1’35.749 | 1’32.749 | 1’33.665 | 1.842 | 20 |
As evident from the combined times, Fernando Alonso’s stellar performance, particularly his fastest overall lap of the weekend (1’30.907) in FP2, strongly indicated Aston Martin’s raw pace even before his FP3 heroics. Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez were consistently competitive across all sessions, affirming Red Bull’s position as a leading force, though perhaps not with the dominant margin many anticipated. Ferrari, while showing flashes of speed, seemed to be grappling with consistency compared to the top two teams, suggesting areas they need to address. Mercedes, particularly in FP3, showed encouraging signs of closing the gap, setting the stage for a potentially thrilling qualifying session where every thousandth of a second will count. The midfield remains incredibly tight, promising fierce battles for every position on the grid and making every moment of the Bahrain Grand Prix weekend unmissable.
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2023 Bahrain Grand Prix: Further Reading
- FIA no longer applying its limit on F1 cars ‘porpoising’
- Why F1’s 2023 tyres are requiring drivers to change their management style
- The familiar and unfamiliar problems holding McLaren back at the start of 2023
- ‘Not like a rookie’: How McLaren glimpsed Piastri’s potential in curtailed debut
- “I’m a shouty guy”: Tsunoda told to rein in “emotional” radio chatter
Browse all 2023 Bahrain Grand Prix articles