BIC, Sakhir – Irregular rainfall and gloomy skies failed to dampen the mood at Bahrain International Circuit (BIC) today, as the action got underway in the Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix 2020.
Seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton was the fastest man in the first 90-minute F1 Practice of the weekend, sending a warning to his rivals that he still means business despite having already secured this season’s drivers’ title and the constructors’ crown for Mercedes.
The session experienced some light rain, but not enough to have a significant impact on the action.
Hamilton had the best lap of one minute 29.033 seconds around BIC’s 5.412-kilometer track, putting in 40 laps of work. He was 0.449 seconds quicker than teammate Valtteri Bottas, who finished with 41 laps in the other Mercedes car.
Racing Point’s Sergio Perez was third in the classification, 0.967s off the leader’s pace with 31 laps.
Rounding out the top eight in the first F1 practice were McLaren’s Carlos Sainz, AlphaTauri’s Pierre Gasly, the Red Bull Racing pair of Max Verstappen and Alexavder Albon, and Renault’s Esteban Ocon.
The remaining drivers were classified in the following order:
Lance Stroll of Racing Point, Daniel Ricciardo of Renault, Ferrari duo Charles Leclerc and Sebastian Vettel, Alfa Romeo’s Robert Kubica who was in the car for Kimi Raikkonen this session, Haas’ Romain Grosjean and Kevin Magnussen, AlphaTauri’s Daniil Kvyat, McLaren’s Lando Norris, and the Williams tandem of Nicholas Latifi and Roy Nissany, who filled in for George Russell in the practice.
Hamilton took his place atop the timesheet with around 30 minutes to go. Albon had earlier led momentarily at the half-hour mark.
Formula 1’s second 90-minute practice session of the weekend followed later in the evening under lights at 6pm.
The Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix marks the 15th of 17 rounds in the 2020 FIA F1 World Championship. It is the first time in the history of the event that it is being held so late in the season. It kicks off the first-ever F1 double-header to be hosted by the Kingdom.
The Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix will be followed by the F1 Rolex Sakhir Grand Prix from December 4 to 6, capping the Kingdom’s F1 double-header.
The Rolex Sakhir Grand Prix will be an additional spectacle for both competitors and fans, as it will be taking place along BIC's 3.543km Outer Track, where lap times are forecast to be under a minute.
The layout will be used for a competitive event for the very first time, and the race will feature 87 laps, which is the highest lap count of the season.
BIC, Sakhir – Irregular rainfall and gloomy skies failed to dampen the mood at Bahrain International Circuit (BIC) today, as action got underway in the Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix 2020.
Seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton was the fastest man in the first 90-minute F1 Practice of the weekend, sending a warning to his rivals that he still means business despite having already secured this season’s drivers’ title and the constructors’ crown for Mercedes.
The session experienced some light rain, but not enough to have a significant impact on the action.
Hamilton had a best lap of one minute 29.033 seconds around BIC’s 5.412-kilometre track, putting in 40 laps of work. He was 0.449 seconds quicker than teammate Valtteri Bottas, who finished with 41 laps in the other Mercedes car.
Racing Point’s Sergio Perez was third in the classification, 0.967s off the leader’s pace with 31 laps.
Rounding out the top eight in the first F1 practice were McLaren’s Carlos Sainz, AlphaTauri’s Pierre Gasly, the Red Bull Racing pair of Max Verstappen and Alexavder Albon, and Renault’s Esteban Ocon.
The remaining drivers were classified in the following order: Lance Stroll of Racing Point, Daniel Ricciardo of Renault, Ferrari duo Charles Leclerc and Sebastian Vettel, Alfa Romeo’s Robert Kubica who was in the car for Kimi Raikkonen this session, Haas’ Romain Grosjean and Kevin Magnussen, AlphaTauri’s Daniil Kvyat, McLaren’s Lando Norris, and the Williams tandem of Nicholas Latifi and Roy Nissany, who filled in for George Russell in the practice.
Hamilton took his place atop the timesheet with around 30 minutes to go. Albon had earlier led momentarily at the half-hour mark.
Formula 1’s second 90-minute practice session of the weekend followed later in the evening under lights at 6pm.
The Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix marks the 15th of 17 rounds in the 2020 FIA F1 World Championship. It is the first time in the history of the event that it is being held so late in the season. It kicks off the first-ever F1 double-header to be hosted by the Kingdom.
The Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix will be followed by the F1 Rolex Sakhir Grand Prix from December 4 to 6, capping the Kingdom’s F1 double-header.
The Rolex Sakhir Grand Prix will be an additional spectacle for both competitors and fans, as it will be taking place along BIC's 3.543km Outer Track, where lap times are forecast to be under a minute.
The layout will be used for a competitive event for the very first time, and the race will feature 87 laps, which is the highest lap count of the season.