The three-day pre-season test of Formula ended in Bahrain on Friday, with all 10 teams and 20 drivers gaining significant experience before the 24-stage season.
Given that it is a pre-season test, it is difficult to determine the true hierarchy, as teams keep their fuel loads and race plans confidential, but this provides some information.
Haas anticipates a challenging start to the season, but in an attempt to better understand their modified car, they completed the highest number of laps among all 10 teams, totaling 439.
Although there were no major reliability issues, Williams encountered some problems and was limited to the fewest number of laps, completing 298 with the FW46.
The number of laps completed is important as it allows teams to gather more data and improve their understanding as they prepare for the upcoming season.
When it comes to lap times, it is more difficult to interpret the significance of a single fast lap during testing compared to the actual season starting next weekend.
Max Verstappen set the fastest time with over a second advantage before Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc topped the rankings on the following two test days.
Although Red Bull’s pace at the front looks promising before the Bahrain Grand Prix, it is important to take into consideration Ferrari’s performance in the last two test days with a pinch of salt.
Both Sainz and Leclerc achieved their best times during the test using the C4 tire, which is the second softest compound from Pirelli and is not part of the allocation of three compounds for the Bahrain Grand Prix, where the C3 tire will be the softest available option.
