Kimi Antonelli leads Mercedes 1-2 in Bahrain F1 testing on final day as Lewis Hamilton car stops

Kimi Antonelli was the fastest driver in Bahrain with a time of 1:32.803. This was faster than Max Verstappen and Oscar Piastri on the final day of testing.
By Newsroom | Formula 1, Bahrain |

Testing Concludes with Mixed Fortunes for Top Teams

The final day of pre-season Formula 1 testing in Bahrain saw Kimi Antonelli of Mercedes achieve the fastest lap time. This performance capped a strong showing for the Mercedes team, with George Russell securing the second-fastest time. However, the day was also marked by disruptions, most notably for Lewis Hamilton of Ferrari, whose running was cut short by an issue, and Fernando Alonso of Aston Martin, who also encountered a stoppage on track.

Context of the Final Testing Day

The Bahrain International Circuit hosted the concluding day of the first official pre-season test. Teams aimed to gather crucial data and fine-tune their cars before the season officially begins. The sessions, which typically span morning and afternoon periods, are vital for evaluating car performance and reliability.

Antonelli fastest as Hamilton endures disrupted final testing day - 1

  • Key Actors:

  • Mercedes: Kimi Antonelli and George Russell

  • Ferrari: Lewis Hamilton

  • Aston Martin: Fernando Alonso

  • Red Bull: Max Verstappen

  • McLaren: Oscar Piastri

  • Timeline of Events:

  • Morning Session: Drivers focused on initial laps, with some teams like Ferrari experiencing minor issues, such as their rear wing activating unexpectedly.

  • Afternoon Session: Teams attempted qualifying simulations and race preparations. Antonelli set his fastest lap, while Hamilton and Alonso faced mechanical or operational issues that led to on-track stops.

  • Red Flags: Several red flags were deployed throughout the day due to cars stopping on track, impacting the flow of the sessions for multiple drivers.

Performance Data and Lap Times

Analysis of the final day's results indicates varying levels of performance and reliability among the leading teams.

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| Driver | Team | Best Lap Time | Laps Completed ||—————————|———————|———————-|————————|| Kimi Antonelli | Mercedes | 1:32.803 | N/A || Oscar Piastri | McLaren | 1:32.861 | 160 || Max Verstappen | Red Bull | 1:33.103 | 139 || Lewis Hamilton | Ferrari | 1:33.408 | 78 || George Russell | Mercedes | 1:33.918 | 78 || Fernando Alonso | Aston Martin | N/A | N/A |

Antonelli fastest as Hamilton endures disrupted final testing day - 2

Note: Lap count for Antonelli and Hamilton on this specific day is inconsistent across sources, but overall testing mileage was significant.

Antonelli's Pace and Mercedes' Strong Finish

Kimi Antonelli emerged as the quickest driver on the final day, setting a lap time of 1:32.803. This performance, coupled with George Russell's second-place time, highlighted Mercedes' potential pace.

Antonelli fastest as Hamilton endures disrupted final testing day - 3

  • Antonelli's fastest lap was significantly faster than the times set by drivers in the latter stages of the day.

  • Mercedes ran without major issues, contrasting with the difficulties faced by some rivals.

  • The team's performance offers a promising outlook for the upcoming season.

Hamilton's Disrupted Run and Ferrari's Challenges

Lewis Hamilton experienced a frustrating end to the testing period. Despite completing a considerable number of laps on some days, his final day was hampered by issues.

  • Hamilton made repeated errors during qualifying simulations in the final hour.

  • An issue for his Ferrari car brought the session to an early end, resulting in a red flag.

  • Ferrari also experienced a brief interruption when their rear wing activated unexpectedly on the main straight earlier in the day.

Rival Team Performance and Incidents

Other prominent teams also saw varying degrees of success and setbacks.

Antonelli fastest as Hamilton endures disrupted final testing day - 4

  • McLaren's Oscar Piastri finished second fastest, demonstrating consistent performance and a high lap count.

  • Red Bull's Max Verstappen was third, accumulating the most laps on one of the days, indicating a focus on race simulation.

  • Fernando Alonso's Aston Martin also stopped on track, contributing to the day's interruptions.

Expert Analysis and Team Statements

While direct expert quotes on the specific day's events are limited in the provided data, the reported outcomes suggest several points of discussion within the paddock.

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  • The Mercedes 1-2 finish suggests the team has made notable progress, with Antonelli's speed being a particular talking point.

  • Hamilton's issues raise questions about Ferrari's reliability and the seamless integration of new components.

  • The presence of multiple red flags across the teams highlights the inherent challenges of intensive pre-season testing, where pushing limits can reveal weaknesses.

Conclusion and Implications

The final day of Bahrain testing concluded with Kimi Antonelli setting the pace for Mercedes, indicating strong performance from the German constructor. However, the day was not without its complications, particularly for Lewis Hamilton and Ferrari, whose running was cut short.

  • Mercedes appears to have a competitive package, with both its drivers showing strong pace.

  • Ferrari's reliability concerns, evidenced by Hamilton's stoppage, will need to be addressed.

  • The mixed fortunes of other teams like Aston Martin, McLaren, and Red Bull suggest a tightly contested season ahead.

  • The data gathered from this final session will be paramount for teams as they prepare for the opening race, with engineers analyzing every detail to identify areas for improvement.

Used Sources:

  1. Sky Sports: Published 16 hours ago. Covers Lewis Hamilton's disrupted final day and Kimi Antonelli's pace for Mercedes.🔗 Link: https://www.skysports.com/f1/news/12433/13509488/f1-bahrain-testing-lewis-hamilton-endures-disrupted-final-day-on-track-as-kimi-antonelli-sets-pace-for-mercedes

  2. Crash.net: Published 6 days ago. Reports on Mercedes being fastest and an issue for Lewis Hamilton ending the test.🔗 Link: https://www.crash.net/f1/news/1089439/1/mercedes-fastest-lewis-hamilton-issue-brings-bahrain-f1-test-end

  3. Formula1.com: Published 30 minutes ago. Details Antonelli topping Day 2 of the second Bahrain test, with lap times and other team activities.🔗 Link: https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article/antonelli-ends-day-2-of-second-pre-season-bahrain-test-on-top-ahead-of.7DFlQfWLFHVl6WPLUPtSbN

  4. FIA: Published 5 days ago. Announces Mercedes finishing 1-2 on the final day of the first official test in Bahrain.🔗 Link: https://www.fia.com/news/f1-mercedes-finish-1-2-final-day-first-official-test-bahrain

  5. Autosport: Seen on Bing. Reports Antonelli as quickest on day five of Bahrain pre-season testing, mentioning Aston Martin's and Lewis Hamilton's troubles.🔗 Link: https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/f1-bahrain-pre-season-test-antonelli-quickest-on-day-five/10798969/

  6. Autoevolution: Published 5 days ago. Covers Antonelli leading a Mercedes 1-2 as Lewis Hamilton breaks down during testing.🔗 Link: https://www.autoevolution.com/news/f1-testing-round-up-kimi-antonelli-leads-mercedes-12-as-lewis-hamilton-breaks-down-265652.html

  7. ESPN: Published 6 days ago. Details Mercedes showcasing pace with Antonelli and Russell topping Day 3 in Bahrain, and Hamilton's car stopping.🔗 Link: https://www.espn.co.uk/f1/story//id/47920180/f1-testing-mercedes-showcase-pace-kimi-antonelli-george-russell-top-day-3-bahrain

  8. F1technical.net: Published 5 days ago. Reports Antonelli leading a dominant Mercedes one-two on the final test day in Bahrain.🔗 Link: https://www.f1technical.net/news/28222

  9. GPBlog: Published 6 days ago. Highlights Mercedes dominating the timesheet on the final day, with Hamilton causing a red flag.🔗 Link: https://www.gpblog.com/en/breaking-news/mercedes-dominates-the-timesheet-on-final-day-hamilton-causes-red-flag

  10. SI.com: Published 6 days ago. Provided results for Day 3 of the first Bahrain Pre-Season Test.🔗 Link: https://www.si.com/onsi/f1/news/f1-bahrain-preseason-test-1-day-3-results

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Who was the fastest driver on the final day of F1 testing in Bahrain?
Kimi Antonelli from Mercedes was the fastest with a lap time of 1:32.803. He beat Oscar Piastri and Max Verstappen to take the top spot on the final day of pre-season testing.
Q: Why did Lewis Hamilton stop his car during the Bahrain testing session?
Lewis Hamilton had mechanical problems with his Ferrari car during the final hour of testing. This caused a red flag and stopped the practice for other drivers while his car was moved off the track.
Q: How did the Mercedes team perform during the last day of Bahrain testing?
Mercedes performed very well with Kimi Antonelli in first place and George Russell in second place. The team showed they have a very fast car and completed their plan without the big mistakes seen by other teams.
Q: Which other drivers had problems during the F1 testing in Bahrain?
Fernando Alonso from Aston Martin also had to stop his car on the track because of a mechanical issue. These stops caused several delays for all teams trying to finish their race simulations before the season starts.