If it was a joke, it’s not funny anymore. The paddock begins to believe it. The Aston Martin also leads the last practice sessions of the Bahrain GP and Fernando Alonso improved Max Verstappen’s time by… five thousandths. Sakhir’s Free Practice 3 is not relevant because it is hot and the track reaches 40ºC when the conditions will be cooler in the race. In any case, the numbers of the last few days are maintained: Fernando and the Red Bulls in front, and increasingly better feelings around the green garage. Pérez was third, one tenth behind the Spaniard.
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The two Mercedes stayed after two tenths, although this latest effort seems satisfying coming from a team that has struggled in recent days. “I thought that Ferrari had the second car, in the long run we are quite close but It seems that Aston is second and we are third and fourth. More or less like we were last year. It’s difficult for everyone, nobody on the team wants this and this team doesn’t deserve to be like this. We work very hard and we focus on the process but we are going the wrong way, ”said Hamilton this Friday when he got out of the car after Free Practice 2.
Ferrari did not want to attract much attention, although an attempt with the new tires was left for the last moment. Leclerc was fifth, between the two Mercedes, and Sainz, eighth behind Stroll. Fuel loads are still unknown, plus track conditions cannot be representative. But every time these cars take to the tarmac, Aston Martin and Red Bull end up meeting. Qualifying is this Saturday at 4:00 p.m. CET (6:00 p.m. in Bahrain), the same time as the race on Sunday.