The Mercedes drivers, Lewis Hamilton and George Russell, were the fastest on the first day of the season at the renowned Bahrain International Circuit. The qualifying order is starting to take shape, but there are still many unknowns, including what Red Bull has planned for Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez when they unleash the RB20 in qualifying on Saturday night.
Here are some quotes from the team reports after the practice sessions on Thursday:
Max Verstappen, Red Bull: “The practice sessions today weren’t perfect, but we were close. The long runs were decent, and I think we can improve on those laps. We had some balance issues that we will work on, but overall, I’m happy with the car. We are focusing on ourselves and not worrying too much about the others. Qualifying will be tight, but we will fight for pole position.”
Sergio Perez, Red Bull: “These sessions were crucial and very interesting. We have a lot to explore with the car that we didn’t have a chance to do during testing. We are looking for a more balanced car, which will improve our performance in the race and in qualifying. It seems competitive throughout the grid, and qualifying will be close.”
Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes: “It was windy in FP1, and the track conditions were different from testing. We had a positive session in FP2, but we know there is more to extract from the car. Our long-run pace is not on the same level as Red Bull, but overall, I’m happier with the car compared to last year. We have made improvements, and it feels more like a race car.”
George Russell, Mercedes: “We won’t get carried away after one day of practice. Our qualifying pace looked strong, and we made some changes that exceeded our expectations. But our long-run pace is what matters. It’s going to be a battle with the other teams, and we want to be in good positions on Saturday.”
Carlos Sainz, Ferrari: “It was a more challenging day of practice compared to testing, but we are where we expected to be in terms of competitiveness. We completed our program and tests, and now we are analyzing the data and preparing for tomorrow’s qualifying. It’s going to be tight!”
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari: “There’s not much to say after the first day. It’s difficult to evaluate our competitiveness, but there were no surprises. It’s good to be back in the car and start the season. We have work to do in terms of balance, and we’ll see where we stand tomorrow.”
These are just some of the team quotes after the practice sessions in Bahrain. The teams are still analyzing the data and preparing for qualifying, where the true qualifying order will be revealed.
