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F1 2023, Bahrain Test: Perez fastest from Hamilton on final day

F1, F1 2023

BAHRAIN, BAHRAIN - FEBRUARY 24: Sergio Perez of Mexico driving the (11) Oracle Red Bull Racing RB19 on track during day two of F1 Testing at Bahrain International Circuit on February 24, 2023 in Bahrain, Bahrain. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images) // Getty Images / Red Bull Content Pool // SI202302240154 // Usage for editorial use only //

Sergio Perez set the pace on final day of F1 2023 Bahrain pre-season test from Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas.

The final day of F1 2023 Bahrain pre-season test saw Red Bull back on top wit Perez this time after a C4 lap of 1m30.305s, as he headed Mercedes’ Hamilton and Alfa Romeo’s Bottas – where both of them set their best on the C5 compound.

Perez had a full day at his disposal and went trough his race and qualifying stints as he caused the day’s first red flag after leaving debris on track. For Mercedes, it was return to the track for the full day after overnight deep analysis of a troubled Day 2.

Bottas, meanwhile, was another with a full day at is disposal but had a disrupting day after a seemingly power unit issue held him up in the morning session. He stopped on track to cause a red flag, as he led the two Ferrari cars in the standings.

It was Carles Leclerc ahead of Carlos Sainz despite running in the morning hours, with AlphaTauri’s Yuki Tsunoda and Haas’ Kevin Magnussen in sixth and seventh – where all four set their best time on the C4 compound.

All the four drivers had trouble-free run and a calm day. Much like his teammate, Mercedes George Russell in eighth set his best time on the C5 tyre as the Top 10 was rounded out by Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso and Felipe Drugovich.

The Aston Martin pair also used the C5 tyre as they seemingly had some issue to fix in the afternoon session. McLaren’s Lando Norris was 11th as the team continued to fix up the wheel barrow issue, which they note will be fixed by next week.

Alpine’s Pierre Gasly was 12th as both the Brit and the Frenchman set their best time on the C3 tyre. The other Alpine of Esteban Ocon was 14th behind Williams’ Alexander Albon, with Haas’ Nico Hulkenberg in the Top 15.

McLaren’s Oscar Piastri was 16th as the Australian caused a brief yellow flag during the morning session after his spin as AlphaTauri’s Nyck de Vries rounded the 17 runners, where everyone from Ocon until de Vries set their pace on C3 tyre.

Apart from few hiccups, it was a smooth final day in F1 2023 Bahrain pre-season test, with the FIA getting their routing Virtual Safety Car and red flag checks as well towards the end of each session. In terms of laps done, the Haas pair did the most with 172 laps.

Here’s how Day 1 of Bahrain Test panned out

Here’s how Day 2 of Bahrain Test panned out

Here’s what drivers said after Day 1

Here’s what drivers said after Day 2