In a scorching first practice session at the Bahrain Grand Prix, Lando Norris dominated the track, leaving his competitors in the dust. The blistering conditions at the circuit pushed the air temperature to a sweltering 95 degrees F, making it a challenging return for Formula 1 to this venue after the preseason testing six weeks ago.
McLaren’s Norris set the pace early on, with a lightning-fast time of 1m33.204s, showcasing the team’s strength once again. Despite attempts from other teams to outdo him towards the end of the session, Norris held onto the top spot with an iron grip.
His teammate, Oscar Piastri, had the potential to rival Norris but a small mistake cost him dearly, pushing him down to 10th place. This slip-up allowed Pierre Gasly from Alpine to claim the second position, trailing Norris by 0.238s.
Seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton faced a tough session, struggling with the Ferrari car and referring to it as “horrendous” to drive. With hopes pinned on car upgrades for the weekend, Hamilton found himself in third place, 0.596s behind Norris.
The rest of the field saw Alex Albon in fourth, followed by Esteban Ocon, Nico Hulkenberg, and Jack Doohan. Red Bull Racing’s Yuki Tsunoda and Gabriel Bortoleto from Sauber also made their mark in the session.
Notable performances came from stand-in drivers like Luke Browning, who topped the rookie session in Carlos Sainz’s Williams car. Dino Beganovic impressed in Charles Leclerc’s Ferrari, while Ryo Hirakawa had a remarkable week transitioning from Alpine reserve driver to Haas.
As the practice session unfolded, Mercedes junior Frederic Vesti and Red Bull Racing’s stand-in Ayumu Iwasa showcased their skills, adding to the intensity on the track. Andrea Kimi Antonelli faced challenges with a suspected water leak, relegating him to the bottom of the classification.
The Bahrain Grand Prix is shaping up to be a thrilling and unpredictable race, with drivers pushing themselves to the limit in the harsh desert conditions. Stay tuned for more updates as the action unfolds on the track.