Ocon Paces Friday; Williams Struck by Brake Fire

The exhilarating world of Formula 1 pre-season testing continued its high-octane spectacle in Bahrain, with the morning session of the second day delivering a mix of promising performances and unexpected drama. As teams pushed their new machinery to the limits, it was Esteban Ocon who ultimately claimed the top spot for Alpine, setting a blistering pace that hinted at the team’s potential for the upcoming 2022 season.

The French driver showcased Alpine’s impressive progress aboard a freshly stickered A522, adorned with a striking special pink livery destined for the initial two races of the championship. Ocon clocked a formidable best time of 1’34.276 on the softer C4 compound tyres, underlining both his skill and the car’s speed. This strong performance, achieved over a productive 59 laps during the four-hour session, placed him just under a tenth quicker than Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, who also demonstrated formidable pace and consistency.

Leclerc, piloting the sleek Ferrari F1-75, maintained a close pursuit throughout the session, accumulating 54 laps and indicating that the Maranello squad is keen to challenge at the very front this year. His presence at the sharp end of the timing sheets provided further evidence of Ferrari’s strong pre-season form, building anticipation for their true competitive level as the season draws nearer. Meanwhile, reigning world champion Max Verstappen secured the third fastest time in his Red Bull RB18. Opting for the harder C2 tyres for his best run, Verstappen’s focus appeared to be more on long-run data gathering and understanding the car’s characteristics rather than outright single-lap pace. His measured approach, characteristic of testing, nevertheless kept Red Bull firmly within the top contenders.

Adding to the morning’s intense competition, Sebastian Vettel posted the fourth fastest time for Aston Martin in the AMR22. His performance underscored the team’s efforts to find improvements, though his session would later be interrupted by an unforeseen issue. The conditions at the Bahrain International Circuit proved more challenging than on the opening day, with blustery winds sweeping across the track. Many drivers found themselves grappling with pronounced understeer, particularly through the technical and challenging downhill left-hander of Turn 10, necessitating careful car management and highlighting the intricate balance required from the new generation of F1 cars.

Not all teams enjoyed a smooth morning. McLaren, already admitting to brake problems with their MCL36 after the first day of testing, continued to face setbacks. Lando Norris, stepping in for the unwell Daniel Ricciardo for a second consecutive full day of running, experienced further delays due to the persistent brake issues. This severely limited his track time, with Norris managing to complete only 29 laps – a significant blow to McLaren’s testing schedule as they strive to understand and rectify the critical reliability concerns affecting their crucial braking system. The team will undoubtedly be working tirelessly to resolve these issues before the season commences.

However, the most dramatic incident of the morning involved Williams driver Nicholas Latifi, whose session was brought to a terrifying halt by severe braking concerns. As Latifi exited the pits, his rear brakes began to smoke ominously before spectacularly catching aflame. In a desperate attempt to nurse his stricken FW44 back to the safety of the garage, Latifi lost control, spinning violently at Turn 13 before grinding to a halt amidst a cloud of smoke and fire. The red flags were immediately deployed, bringing the session to a standstill. Marshals, along with Latifi himself, bravely rushed to extinguish the rapidly spreading flames. The intensity of the fire was such that one of the rear tyres eventually exploded, sending debris across the track and further emphasizing the severity of the malfunction. Once the inferno was finally brought under control, the heavily damaged car was recovered to the Williams garage. The team faces a significant repair job and a thorough investigation to determine the root cause of the catastrophic brake failure, which severely impacted their valuable testing time and raised questions about the durability of components.

Aston Martin also encountered problems during the session when Sebastian Vettel, after leaving the pits, immediately sensed an issue with his AMR22. The four-time world champion prudently cruised around Turn 4 before pulling off the circuit and stopping safely on the Outer Circuit. This quick action allowed the session to continue without interruption, avoiding a potential red flag. The car was retrieved and returned to the garage for inspection. Remarkably, after rapid work by the Aston Martin mechanics, Vettel was able to rejoin the circuit in the dying minutes of the session, making up for some lost time and gathering crucial data.

For Haas, the morning marked Mick Schumacher’s first appearance in this particular test, but his run in the VF-22 was severely curtailed. Schumacher completed a mere 23 laps – the fewest of any driver apart from the unfortunate Latifi. The team later confirmed that his limited running was due to an exhaust problem, adding to Haas’s pre-season challenges as they work to improve the reliability and performance of their new car. Such mechanical setbacks are not uncommon during testing, but they can be costly in terms of lost development time.

The final moments of the session saw the FIA attempt to conduct a crucial test of a race standing restart procedure. This involved drivers being instructed to join the track, complete a formation lap, and then perform a dummy race restart from the grid. This procedure is vital for safety and operational efficiency during actual race weekends. The FIA briefly delayed the start of the attempt to allow Max Verstappen and George Russell to join the circuit, ensuring more cars participated. However, the comprehensive test was ultimately abandoned when Valtteri Bottas, driving for Alfa Romeo, came to a halt at Turn 8. This unforeseen stoppage, although minor, prevented the full execution of the restart drill, meaning the FIA will likely need to schedule another opportunity to practice this important race procedure.

Overall, the morning session provided a rich tapestry of events – from impressive lap times set by Alpine and Ferrari, to the challenging conditions and various technical woes that plagued several teams. The incident involving Nicholas Latifi’s brake fire served as a stark reminder of the inherent dangers and complexities of motorsport, even in a testing environment. As teams continue to gather vital data and fine-tune their machines, every lap, every data point, and every resolved issue brings them closer to being fully prepared for what promises to be an enthralling 2022 Formula 1 season. The competitive landscape is clearly taking shape, with early indications suggesting a thrilling battle for supremacy at the front of the grid.

2022 F1 pre-season testing day five morning times:

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