Carlos Sainz made it three different pace-setters to start F1 2024 season by topping FP3 of Bahrain GP from Max Verstappen and Lando Norris.

It was back again in daylight for FP3 of F1 Bahrain GP weekend as Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz (1m30.824s) made it three different pace-setters in three practice sessions. He pipped Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso (1m30.965s) after a late quick lap.

This dropped Red Bull’s Max Verstappen (1m31.962s) to third, with Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc improving to fourth after a late lap to drop McLaren’s Lando Norris to fifth from Mercedes’ George Russell and McLaren’s Oscar Piastri in sixth and seventh.

Red Bull’s Sergio Perez was eighth from Haas’ Nico Hulkenberg, who improved late on to find himself in the Top 10 again in ninth, as Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll rounded out the Top 10 after his late quick lap along with Visa Cash App RB’s Daniel Ricciardo.

Both dropped Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton to 12th, who had a lock-up at Turn 11 to have a wide moment. Visa Cash App RB’s Yuki Tsunoda was 13th from Haas’ Kevin Magnussen, with Williams’ Alexander Albon only 15th ahead of Stake F1 Team’s Zhou Guanyu.

His teammate Valtteri Bottas was 17th from Alpine’s Esteban Ocon, Williams’ Logan Sargeant and Alpine’s Pierre Gasly in the Top 20. There was a second PU component already for Norris, who took a new CE and ES already in Round 1.

Here’s details of that: https://www.fia.com/sites/default/files/decision-document/2024%20Bahrain%20Grand%20Prix%20-%20New%20PU%20elements%20for%20this%20Competition.pdf

Here’s what was said after Thursday in F1 Bahrain GP

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