F1 Bahrain Pre-season Test: Hamilton Leads Day 2's Morning Session Ahead of Russell and Sainz

Lewis Hamilton set the fastest time in the second morning of Formula 1’s pre-season test in Bahrain, becoming the first driver to break into the 1m29s. The Mercedes driver clocked a 1m29.670s before improving to 1m29.379s just before rain hit, bringing track action to a halt. Teams started the session with aerodynamic tests before switching to performance runs. However, rain caused an hour-long pause, with Oscar Piastri and Carlos Sainz both struggling for grip at Turn 11. Only Aston Martin and Haas had intermediate tyres, allowing Esteban Ocon to briefly run on a wet track before the team’s sole set was used up. As conditions improved, George Russell led the return to slick tyres, encouraging others to follow. He and Nico Hulkenberg encountered some slides on the damp surface, but Russell managed to go second fastest with a 1m29.879s, briefly challenging Hamilton’s time.

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Carlos Sainz, who had put Williams third on the timesheets with C2 tyres, aimed for a long-run simulation, but the rain interrupted his plans. He is expected to attempt another stint in the afternoon. Pierre Gasly finished fourth, followed by Fernando Alonso, who switched from C1 tyres to mediums after the rain.

Yuki Tsunoda focused on aerodynamic work before shifting to performance runs, ending just a tenth behind Alonso. Meanwhile, Piastri, after a slow start, faced further setbacks when rain forced him into a slide at Turn 11, limiting his running.

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Despite the interruptions, the afternoon session promises more action, with drivers eager to complete race simulations and fine-tune their setups under drier conditions.