Carlos Sainz has finished his participation in the preseason tests, leaving Bahrain as the leader on his second day behind the wheel of the Williams FW47. While it’s tempting to get caught up in the excitement and euphoria of surpassing the two Ferrari cars, including Hamilton, it’s essential to put things into perspective. Williams won’t be fighting for victory or podiums, except in cases of incidents or rain, and their main goal is to make it into Q3 and secure points in Melbourne.
Sainz’s first-place finish on both Wednesday and Thursday can be explained by the fact that Williams has been the only team to simulate qualification. Maybe not with the exact 5 kilos they’ll have in Melbourne’s Q3, but they’ve been running very lightweight. The rest of the teams, including the top contenders and mid-zone rivals, seem not to have done the same, so it’s essential to wait for the tests to end on Friday and then see the reality in Albert Park.
Looking at the times, it’s clear that McLaren and Ferrari seem to be the best-placed teams in a hard struggle. Norris had a spectacular afternoon in terms of rhythm, similar to Leclerc. Mercedes and Red Bull might have been penalized by their two rookies, Antonelli and Lawson, but they could still be very close or above with Russell and Verstappen at the wheel on Friday.
Aston Martin had a discreet second day, but it’s not all bad. Lance Stroll managed to get up to sixth place in the afternoon, doing background work with long runs. His rhythm was worse than Sainz’s in the race, but with Alonso behind the wheel on Friday afternoon, things could change. Fernando had a morning where he was fifth among the 10 pilots on track, two positions behind Sainz, but there aren’t many clear conclusions to be drawn from that.
It’s also possible that Aston Martin is changing its approach to focus on working without looking at times, similar to what Andy Cowell, their new boss, did at Mercedes. We all remember the two weeks of ‘silver arrows’ in Barcelona, working with the toughest compounds without showing a time until the first race. If that’s the case, there won’t be a problem, but if not, the signals left by the AMR25 in a day and a half are not exactly impressive. A low profile, a good base, and taking firm steps is the program to start, and then they can make a real leap with the first evolutions.
The Strongest Teams
Out of the immediate results, it’s clear that McLaren and Ferrari seem to be the strongest teams. Norris and Leclerc have shown impressive rhythm, and while Mercedes and Red Bull might be a bit behind, they still have the potential to be very close or above with their experienced drivers.
Aston Martin’s Concerns
Aston Martin’s discreet second day has raised some concerns, but it’s essential to consider their approach and not jump to conclusions. With Alonso behind the wheel on Friday afternoon, they could still change their fortunes. The team’s focus on working without looking at times, similar to Mercedes’ approach, might be the key to their success. However, if that’s not the case, the signals left by the AMR25 are not exactly alarming, but they do indicate a need for improvement. A low profile, a good base, and firm steps are the way to start, and then they can make a real leap with the first evolutions.