{"id":22468,"date":"2024-03-01T09:06:45","date_gmt":"2024-03-01T14:06:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/sport\/bahrain-gp-carlos-sainz-fastest-from-fernando-alonso-ahead-of-friday-qualifying-in-sakhir-f1-news\/01\/03\/2024\/"},"modified":"2024-03-01T09:06:45","modified_gmt":"2024-03-01T14:06:45","slug":"bahrain-gp-carlos-sainz-fastest-from-fernando-alonso-ahead-of-friday-qualifying-in-sakhir-f1-news","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/sport\/bahrain-gp-carlos-sainz-fastest-from-fernando-alonso-ahead-of-friday-qualifying-in-sakhir-f1-news\/01\/03\/2024\/","title":{"rendered":"Bahrain GP: Carlos Sainz fastest from Fernando Alonso ahead of Friday qualifying in Sakhir | F1 News"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Carlos Sainz topped final practice from Fernando Alonso ahead of Friday qualifying at the Bahrain Grand Prix.<\/p>\n

Alonso topped the majority of the session but Sainz leapt to the front on a 1:30.824 to go 0.141s quicker than his fellow Spaniard with five minutes to go.<\/p>\n

Max Verstappen was third, with Charles Leclerc and Lando Norris completing the top five, which was split by less than three tenths of a second, leaving us with an exciting qualifying to come at 4pm on Friday – live on Sky Sports F1<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Mercedes’ George Russell finished sixth from Oscar Piastri and Sergio Perez, with Lewis Hamilton down in 12th.<\/p>\n

Ferrari were fastest in pre-season testing last week and seemingly didn’t show their full hand on Thursday but Sainz and Leclerc turned up their power units in final practice to prepare for qualifying.<\/p>\n

However, the session was held in daylight and the track temperature was much higher than it will be for qualifying and the race, which are held at night in Sakhir.<\/p>\n

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This weekend’s Bahrain Grand Prix will be taking place on Saturday rather than the usual Sunday slot!<\/span>
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Despite being in 12th, Hamilton was only six tenths off the pace and will still be buoyed by his fast pace in second practice, which represented similar conditions to qualifying.<\/p>\n

It seems there will be a big fight for pole position in the first qualifying of 2024 and Red Bull are going to be challenged by several times including Ferrari, Mercedes, Aston Martin and McLaren.<\/p>\n

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Bahrain GP Practice Three Timesheet<\/h2>\n
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Driver<\/b><\/th>\nTeam<\/b><\/th>\nTime<\/b><\/th>\n<\/thead>\n
1) Carlos Sainz<\/td>\nFerrari<\/td>\n1:30.824<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2) Fernando Alonso<\/td>\nAston Martin<\/td>\n+0.141<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
3) Max Verstappen<\/td>\nRed Bull<\/td>\n+0.238<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
4) Charles Leclerc<\/td>\nFerrari<\/td>\n+0.270<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
5) Lando Norris<\/td>\nMcLaren<\/td>\n+0.294<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
6) George Russell<\/td>\nMercedes<\/td>\n+0.366<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
7) Oscar Piastri<\/td>\nMcLaren<\/td>\n+0.386<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
8) Sergio Perez<\/td>\nRed Bull<\/td>\n+0.424<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
9) Nico Hulkenberg<\/td>\nHaas<\/td>\n+0.454<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
10) Lance Stroll<\/td>\nAston Martin<\/td>\n+0.572<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
11) Daniel Ricciardo<\/td>\nRB<\/td>\n+0.625<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
12) Lewis Hamilton<\/td>\nMercedes<\/td>\n+0.628<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
13) Yuki Tsunoda<\/td>\nRB<\/td>\n+0.807<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
14) Kevin Magnussen<\/td>\nHaas<\/td>\n+0.847<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
15) Alex Albon<\/td>\nWilliams<\/td>\n+1.141<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
16) Zhou Guanyu<\/td>\nSauber<\/td>\n+1.176<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
17) Valtteri Bottas<\/td>\nSauber<\/td>\n+1.272<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
18) Esteban Ocon<\/td>\nAlpine<\/td>\n+1.300<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
19) Logan Sargeant<\/td>\nWilliams<\/td>\n+1.301<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
20) Pierre Gasly<\/td>\nAlpine<\/td>\n+1.558<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

During the session, Red Bull team principal Christian Horner was briefly absent from the pit wall as he was seen speaking with FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem.<\/p>\n

Ben Sulayem is expected to meet with Formula 1 chief executive Stefano Domenicali on Friday to discuss the investigation by the team’s parent company that resulted in allegations of inappropriate behaviour against Horner being dismissed.<\/p>\n

Horner reiterated his denial of allegations of inappropriate behaviour<\/a> after material purporting to be the alleged evidence in the investigation into his conduct was leaked on Thursday.<\/p>\n

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Christian Horner was missing from the pit wall during P3 as he went to speak with FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem the Bahrain GP.<\/span>
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Close qualifying to come in Bahrain<\/h3>\n

Sky Sports F1 pundits Martin Brundle and Naomi Schiff predict an exciting qualifying at 4pm, with build-up from 3.10pm.<\/p>\n

“I don’t think the Red Bulls are performing in the windy conditions but I do think it’s absolutely clear that they are not miles clear like some people were feeling after the test,” reacted Sky Sports F1<\/em>‘s Martin Brundle.<\/p>\n

Naomi Schiff added: “It’s been highly exciting and ever-changing. We’ve seen the Mercedes being quick, the Aston being quick, the Ferrari being quick, and obviously you can never count out the Red Bull.<\/p>\n

“The most impressive thing for me there was that the top 10 was separated by about half a second – it was that tight. So I think it’s anybody’s game for qualifying today. There are quite a few teams in the mix. Mercedes have quick one-lap pace, so do Red Bull, Ferrari have shown it as well. We’ve got a really exciting day on our hands.”<\/p>\n

Sky Sports F1’s live Bahrain GP schedule<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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Friday March 1<\/strong><\/p>\n