As the highly anticipated 2023 Formula 1 season opener loomed, the final day of pre-season testing in Bahrain delivered a thrilling preview of the potential contenders. Charles Leclerc, driving for Ferrari, seized the spotlight by setting the fastest lap time of the entire test during the morning session. His exceptional performance firmly positioned Ferrari as a formidable force, hinting at an exciting season ahead. Close behind, Mercedes’ George Russell showcased significant progress, affirming his team’s determination to challenge at the front of the grid.
Leclerc’s blistering lap of 1 minute 31.024 seconds, achieved on the Pirelli C4 medium-soft compound tyres, established a new benchmark for the Sakhir International Circuit during the three-day test. This time was impressively quicker than any other driver had managed, underscoring Ferrari’s raw pace. Russell, pushing his Mercedes W14 to its limits on the softer C5 compound tyres, secured the second-fastest time, a mere four-tenths of a second adrift of the Ferrari. The difference in tyre compounds used for their fastest laps provided intriguing data, suggesting that Leclerc’s C4 performance could translate to even greater speed on the C5s, should Ferrari choose to unleash it. The session wasn’t without its dramas, however, as Valtteri Bottas encountered the most notable mechanical issue, bringing his Alfa Romeo to a halt on the track with just under 90 minutes remaining.
The final crucial day of pre-season testing commenced with a flurry of activity as all ten teams promptly joined the circuit. Red Bull Racing entrusted the RB19 solely to Sergio Perez for the entirety of the day’s running. His car was initially adorned with various aero rakes and sensors, diligently gathering crucial aerodynamic data. However, an early hiccup occurred when one of these small but vital devices appeared to detach from his car at the exit of Turn 10, prompting an immediate red flag. Marshals swiftly recovered the debris, allowing the session to resume after a brief interruption, but highlighting the meticulous and often delicate nature of pre-season data collection.
Following a hydraulic problem that curtailed his running on Friday evening, George Russell was among the first drivers out on track in his Mercedes. He quickly established an early pace, posting a 1 minute 33.685 second lap. However, his initial dominance was short-lived as Nico Hulkenberg, driving for Haas, soon surpassed him by three-tenths of a second, demonstrating the competitive spirit pervading the midfield teams even in testing conditions.
McLaren rookie Oscar Piastri, nearing the completion of his maiden F1 pre-season test, experienced a challenging moment in the MCL60. He executed a 360-degree spin, momentarily losing control of the car over the notoriously bumpy section leading into Turn 9 and the tricky downhill braking zone for Turn 10. Despite the dramatic pirouette, Piastri expertly recovered his car and rejoined the track without further incident or damage. Demonstrating remarkable composure, he quickly regrouped and on his very next lap, improved his time significantly to climb into second position behind Hulkenberg, a testament to his rapid learning curve and natural talent.
The leaderboard continued to shuffle as Sergio Perez, now fully focused on performance runs after his earlier data collection, logged a 1 minute 33.167 second lap to claim the top spot for Red Bull for the first time during the session. However, the pace was relentlessly escalating. George Russell, re-emerging on a fresh set of C4 soft tyres, immediately responded by clocking a session-best 1 minute 31.707 seconds. This was an exceptionally strong showing, placing him just half a tenth shy of his teammate Max Verstappen’s personal best time from Friday. Not content with this, Mercedes then opted to equip Russell with the even softer C5 compound, and he promptly shaved over a tenth off his own time, setting a new overall best time for the entire test: a 1 minute 31.564 second lap, surpassing Zhou Guanyu’s impressive benchmark from the previous day.
Mercedes’ brief reign at the top of the timesheets was decisively brought to an end by Charles Leclerc. The Ferrari ace unleashed a phenomenal lap, posting a 1 minute 31.164 second time. What made this performance particularly significant was that Leclerc achieved this formidable pace on the C4 soft tyres, while Russell’s quickest time had been set on the stickier C5 compound. This suggested a fundamental speed advantage for the Ferrari. Not satisfied with merely claiming the top spot, Leclerc continued his relentless pursuit of perfection, shaving another tenth of a second off his own best time to ultimately lower the fastest lap of the test to an impressive 1 minute 31.024 seconds. This display of sustained speed and efficiency sent a clear message to the paddock about Ferrari’s potential for the upcoming season.
With approximately 80 minutes remaining before the mid-day lunch break, the session faced its second interruption of the day due to another red flag. Valtteri Bottas, who had an eventful morning, suffered a mechanical issue with his Alfa Romeo C43 and was forced to pull off the circuit on the approach to Turn 8. This incident brought a temporary halt to proceedings, as marshals once again worked to clear the stranded car. After a delay of around 15 minutes, the track went green again, and the remaining hour of the morning session was predominantly dedicated to longer, higher-fuel runs. Teams shifted their focus from absolute pace to understanding tyre degradation, fuel efficiency, and race simulation, gathering critical data for race strategy development.
In the final 15 minutes of the session, a crucial test of the Safety Car system and its procedures was conducted, providing drivers with valuable practice for race scenarios. Oscar Piastri and George Russell were among those who capitalized on the clear track conditions to perform practice starts on the grid, honing their reaction times and launch sequences. As the chequered flag waved, it signaled the conclusion of the morning session. Charles Leclerc remained firmly at the top, followed by George Russell. Aston Martin’s reserve driver, Felipe Drugovich, impressed by securing the third-fastest time, approximately one second slower than Leclerc’s ultimate benchmark, further highlighting the competitive nature of the 2023 grid.
Analysing the mileage covered, AlphaTauri emerged as the most industrious team during the morning session, with Nyck de Vries impressively completing 87 laps as he concluded his pre-season testing duties. George Russell also managed to significantly recover the mileage lost due to his Friday evening hydraulic issues, logging a commendable 83 laps for Mercedes. In contrast, McLaren recorded the lowest distance among the ten teams, with Oscar Piastri completing only 44 laps, underscoring some of the reliability challenges they faced. Similarly, Pierre Gasly for Alpine and Alexander Albon for Williams also fell short of the typical race distance of 57 laps, indicating that some teams still had work to do on optimizing their car’s endurance and consistency.
2023 F1 Pre-Season Bahrain Test – Day Three, Session One Times: A Detailed Overview
The following table provides a comprehensive breakdown of the lap times, gaps, and total laps completed by each driver during the concluding morning session of the 2023 F1 Pre-Season Test in Bahrain. This data offers crucial insights into individual and team performances leading into the new season.
| Pos. | Car number | Driver | Team | Model | Best time | Gap | Laps |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 16 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari | SF-23 | 1’31.024 | 67 | |
| 2 | 63 | George Russell | Mercedes | W14 | 1’31.442 | 0.418 | 83 |
| 3 | 34 | Felipe Drugovich | Aston Martin | AMR23 | 1’32.075 | 1.051 | 77 |
| 4 | 11 | Sergio Perez | Red Bull | RB19 | 1’32.459 | 1.435 | 69 |
| 5 | 10 | Pierre Gasly | Alpine | A523 | 1’32.762 | 1.738 | 56 |
| 6 | 23 | Alexander Albon | Williams | FW45 | 1’32.793 | 1.769 | 53 |
| 7 | 27 | Nico Hulkenberg | Haas | VF-23 | 1’33.329 | 2.305 | 77 |
| 8 | 81 | Oscar Piastri | McLaren | MCL60 | 1’33.655 | 2.631 | 44 |
| 9 | 77 | Valtteri Bottas | Alfa Romeo”>Alfa Romeo | C43 | 1’36.854 | 5.830 | 72 |
| 10 | 21 | Nyck de Vries | AlphaTauri | AT04 | 1’38.244 | 7.220 | 87 |
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