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2021 F1 pre-season testing highlights

Formula 1 2021: Bahrain March testing

Formula 1 2021: Bahrain March testing

Introduction

 

After a relatively short winter break, the drivers and teams are back to it, as they concluded the 2021 Aramco pre-season testing on March 12-14 – ahead of what’s set to be the longest season in Formula 1’s history.

Pre-season testing was influenced by local conditions. The first day was consistently windy with gusts that reached 47kph (25 knots), affecting the aerodynamics of the cars. As a result of the wind, there was plenty of sand on the track that compromised grip. Temperatures were also particularly high, so the combination of these factors led to some surface overheating and increased tyre degradation.

Throughout all three days, all the compounds performed well and no problems such as graining emerged: only light abrasion on the softest compounds. As well as the weather conditions, lap times were naturally influenced by the different fuel loads run by each team, making performance comparisons with last year’s race and free practice at Bahrain very difficult.

Mario Isola
Head of Formula 1 and Car Racing, Pirelli

On the second day, the wind still remained but temperatures were lower, which reduced the overheating. As a result, the teams had a better balance with their cars, with plenty of set up work carried out over generally short runs, as was the case on an opening day.

The third and final day was run in better track conditions with moderate winds and a cool breeze but track temperatures similar to the first day. Many teams carried out long runs using the C2, C3 and C4 compound tyres nominated for the Bahrain Grand Prix.

Best times and compounds overall March 12-14

Driver Team Time  Compound
Max Verstappen Red Bull Racing 1m28.960s (Day 3) C4
Yuki Tsunoda Scuderia AlphaTauri 1m29.053s (Day 3) C5
Carlos Sainz Scuderia Ferrari 1m29.611s (Day 3) C4
Kimi Raikkonen Alfa Romeo Orlen 1m29.766s (Day 3) C5
Lewis Hamilton Mercedes-AMG Petronas 1m30.025s (Day 3) C5
George Russel Williams Racing 1m30.117s (Day 3) C5
Daniel Ricciardo McLaren Racing 1m30.144s (Day 3) C4
Sergio Perez Red Bull Racing 1m30.187s (Day 3) C4
Valtteri Bottas Mercedes-AMG Petronas 1m30.289s (Day 2) C5
Fernando Alonso Alpine F1 Team 1m30.318s (Day 3) C4
Pierre Gasly Scuderia AlphaTauri 1m30.413s (Day 2) C5
Lance Stroll Aston Martin F1 Team 1m30.460s (Day 2)  C5
Charles Leclerc Scuderia Ferrari 1m30.486s (Day 3) C3
Lando Norris McLaren Racing 1m30.586s (Day 2) C4
Antonio Giovinazzi Alfa Romeo Orlen 1m30.760s (Day 2) C5
Esteban Ocon Alpine F1 Team 1m31.146s (Day 1) C4
Nikita Mazepin Uralkali Haas F1 Team 1m31.531s (Day 3) C4
Nicholas Latifi Williams Racing 1m31.672s (Day 2) C4
Mick Schumacher Uralkali Haas F1 Team 1m32.053s (Day 3) C3
Sebastain Vettel Aston Martin F1 Team 1m33.742s (Day 1) PROTO
Roy Nissany Williams Racing 1m34.789s (Day 1) C3

Here are the team-by-team highlights:

Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team

 

Day 1:

A gearshift problem in the morning session hindered the early progress of the Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team on day one of pre-season testing in Bahrain but a solid afternoon of running helped to recover some of the testing and development targets for the day.

Valtteri was up first in the morning session but his initial run was disrupted by a gearshift problem on lap one. The Finn went on to complete a further 5 laps collecting aerodynamic data after his gearbox was replaced.

Lewis took to the track in the afternoon session, completing 42 laps exploring various set-up changes and signing-off several test items and procedures.

Day 2:

The 2021 Mercedes-AMG F1 W12 E Performance managed 600km of running at the Bahrain International Circuit on day two of pre-season testing, with drivers Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas splitting driving duties.

Lewis took to the track in the morning session, putting together a solid run of aerodynamic data collection and setup checks. Despite a brief pause after a spin at turn 13, Lewis clocked up 58 laps.

Valtteri assumed driving responsibilities for the afternoon session, topping the classification charts with a lap of 1:30.289 while performing qualifying simulations on the C3, C4 and C5 tyre compounds.

Day 3:

A solid day for the Mercedes AMG-Petronas F1 Team saw the W12 E Performance manage 750km of running to conclude pre-season testing in Sakhir, with Valtteri and Lewis sharing driving duties.

Valtteri took to the track this morning under clear blue skies, putting together 86 laps of long-run set-up work and general
balance learning.

Lewis jumped in the cockpit for the afternoon session completing a mix of long-run and qualifying work over 54 laps. The team covered 304 laps over the three-day test.

Mercedes-AMG Petronas best pictures:

2021 Bahrain Pre-Season Test, Day 2 – Wolfgang Wilhelm

2021 Bahrain Pre-Season Test, Day 1 – LAT Images

2021 Bahrain Pre-Season Test, Day 3 – LAT Images

2021 Bahrain Pre-Season Test, Day 3 – Wolfgang Wilhelm

2021 Bahrain Pre-Season Test, Day 1 – Wolfgang Wilhelm

Red Bull Racing

 

The first 2021 FIA Formula One World Championship pre-season test finished on Sunday around the Bahrain International Circuit with Red Bull Racing’s Max Verstappen top and Scuderia AlphaTauri’s exciting rookie Yuki Tsunoda completing a Honda-engined one-two.

The Dutchman edged out the young Japanese driver by just 0.093s as Verstappen’s new teammate Sergio Perez topped the morning session on C4 tyres and Frenchman Pierre Gasly got 76 laps under his belt.

After three valuable testing days, the F1 roadshow returns to Sakhir for the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix on March 28.

Max Verstappen

“It was another good day and we got through the whole programme. Conditions were a bit different to day one so we had to adjust the car a bit as we went along but from our side, it was very smooth, as it has been throughout the whole test. I think we can say it has been a good weekend but of course that doesn’t give you any guarantees and all teams are doing different programmes at testing. We always look into what we can improve and for sure there are still things we want to work on but I think all teams will have that. We’ll find out for sure in a couple of weeks in Q3 where we really are but in general, I would say the car feels good and I’m looking forward to going racing.”

Sergio Perez

“It’s crazy to think that pre-season has already finished, it feels like it only just started. I think this is the shortest pre-season ever in my career! There’s a very limited amount of running and testing but we managed to work through a lot of set-up options and are improving every time we get into the car. I’m very excited about the season and I think we’ve got a good car underneath us but I still have a lot to learn in the car to get the maximum out of it. The Team is doing a fantastic job. It doesn’t really matter where we start in Bahrain, it matters where we finish in Abu Dhabi. Now we just want to look forward to the race weekend. We’re going to take it step by step and be patient in the beginning and then things will come to us.”

Head of Race Engineering Guillaume Rocquelin

“Both sessions today were identical in terms of the run plan. As opposed to the first couple of days, today was more about trying to optimise the car and understand where we’re going, so shorter runs, more set-up items, a bit more time in the garage. We were still doing some development work but also really getting the crew and the drivers up to speed in terms of procedures and pit stops. It was a similar plan for both drivers and similar results for both. Overall, this has been a positive test phase. Three days are never going to be enough; I don’t think anyone would say they are, but in terms of the time available, what we got out of this test was very useful. We’ve got a really good base to build from and we’re looking forward to coming back to Bahrain in a couple of weeks.”

Red Bull Racing best pictures:

BAHRAIN, BAHRAIN – MARCH 12: Max Verstappen of the Netherlands driving the (33) Red Bull Racing RB16B Honda stops in the Pitlane during Day One of F1 Testing at Bahrain International Circuit on March 12, 2021 in Bahrain, Bahrain. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images)

BAHRAIN, BAHRAIN – MARCH 13: Red Bull Racing team members work in the Pitlane during Day Two of F1 Testing at Bahrain International Circuit on March 13, 2021 in Bahrain, Bahrain. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images)

BAHRAIN, BAHRAIN – MARCH 13: A detail shot of the garage floor of Sergio Perez of Mexico and Red Bull Racing during Day Two of F1 Testing at Bahrain International Circuit on March 13, 2021 in Bahrain, Bahrain. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images)

BAHRAIN, BAHRAIN – MARCH 14: Sergio Perez of Mexico driving the (11) Red Bull Racing RB16B Honda on track during Day Three of F1 Testing at Bahrain International Circuit on March 14, 2021 in Bahrain, Bahrain. (Photo by Joe Portlock/Getty Images)

BAHRAIN, BAHRAIN – MARCH 14: Sergio Perez of Mexico driving the (11) Red Bull Racing RB16B Honda on track during Day Three of F1 Testing at Bahrain International Circuit on March 14, 2021 in Bahrain, Bahrain. (Photo by Joe Portlock/Getty Images)

McLaren Racing

 

Lando Norris

“Our last day in the car was good. We struggled with a few things which is, in a way, bad and good. You never want to run into issues, but it’s good we’ve learned about the car and have time to address it before we come back for the race. So, positives and negatives, but all in all it’s a positive, and this is exactly what we’re here to do during the test. It’s nice to be back at a track and I feel like I’m in a good place going into the race in a couple of weeks, so I’m excited to come back. A big thanks to the guys here at the track and back in the factory, as well as the team at Mercedes HPP, for their hard work. It’s been a good few days of pre-season testing.”

Daniel Ricciardo

“So that wraps up the test. I’m really happy to have got it done reliably with no real issues or concerns, it’s been a really smooth three days. I’m really thankful to the team, both here at the track and back at the factory, for putting together a good car for these days at the test. They’ve really made me feel at home, so I’m feeling comfortable and I can’t wait to come back here and get on track for the Bahrain Grand Prix.”

Andreas Seidl, Team Principal

“It’s been a productive pre-season test for us in Bahrain. The reduced number of days meant it was crucial to maximise our running time and we’re pleased with the amount of work we’ve been able to complete. Lando’s feedback gave us a good benchmark on the MCL35M compared to our previous car, while Daniel was able to get more familiar with the car and provide useful data and insight for the engineers.

“The conditions out on track were slightly different from what we’re used to here in Bahrain. Running during the day means the track temperatures are much higher than usual, and the sandstorm on Friday evening proved an interesting challenge for the team and drivers. Despite this, we completed our run plans as expected throughout the weekend, with both drivers covering 328 laps over the three days.

“The team, both here in Bahrain and back at the factory, has done an excellent job alongside our Mercedes colleagues to deliver a reliable car, which is crucial to a productive test. Thanks to Lando and Daniel for their hard work and valuable feedback during this pre-season test. We head back to Woking to analyse all the data and make our final preparations before we return to Bahrain for the start of the season.

“Once again, the competition is looking very tight between the teams. The stability of the regulations makes it likely that we’re in for another close season of Formula 1, with plenty of battles ahead. As always, we appreciate all the support of our brilliant fans and our superb partners from around the world, which we carry with us as we embark on an exciting season ahead.”

McLaren Racing best pictures:

Lando Norris, McLaren, and Daniel Ricciardo, McLaren, pose on the grid

Daniel Ricciardo, McLaren

Daniel Ricciardo, McLaren MCL35M driving past the McLaren pit wall

Lando Norris, McLaren MCL35M

Daniel Ricciardo, McLaren MCL35M

Aston Martin Cognizant Formula One Team

 

The Aston Martin Cognizant Formula One Team completed its highest amount of mileage in the 2021 Bahrain pre-season test on the final day.

In a reverse of Friday and Saturday, Lance began the day in the AMR21 before handing over to Sebastian for the final four hours of running. Between them, the team completed over 100 laps.

Lance Stroll

Lance was able to conduct significant running in the morning, taking advantage of much improved conditions compared to the first two days.

His total of 80 laps in the morning was only one less than the total laps completed across the entire eight hours of running yesterday, boosted by a session that ran without interruption by red flags until the final five minutes.

Lance began the day with a run on Softs, before switching to the Medium and Hard compound tyre for the majority of his running. The focus was on longer race simulations, with 14-15 lap stints on Soft, Medium and Hard. Lance would set his best lap time on the Medium tyre, lapping in 1.36.100, before continuing with his long runs.

“I’m very happy with today’s work. We ran to our programme and collected lots of useful data by doing race simulations and long runs.

“We completed our job list for the day, which is a really good way to end the test after we lost out on a bit of running yesterday.

“We’ve got plenty of data to go over now to improve our understanding of the car, so that’s a nice position to be in – especially considering there were only three days of testing this year.

“I’m looking forward to starting the season here in Bahrain. We can go away now and make more improvements before we come back for the race.”

Sebastian Vettel

Sebastian took over from Lance for the afternoon session and benefitted from a cleaner track and more ideal conditions. Like his team-mate, Sebastian’s focus was largely on longer runs, completing laps on the Medium and Hard tyres.

After an hour of the four-hour session, Sebastian took the team’s total laps for the day past the 100-lap mark. He would continue to build on his experience in the AMR21, reaching 56 laps by the midway point. Sadly, a loss of boost pressure ended Sebastian’s running with just over an hour’s running left on the clock.

While it wasn’t the end to the test the team wanted, Sebastian’s earlier running had completed a productive day for the team.

“We got plenty of laps on the board today, despite an early finish [caused by a loss of boost pressure]. Lance did a good amount of laps this morning too, so there’s a lot of data for us to work with.

“My running today was very useful and the track conditions were better, so that was a big help in understanding this car.

“This test has definitely helped me learn where I can improve as a driver with the car and where the team can improve the AMR21 too.

“It’s been a good learning curve and I’m excited to keep progressing with the car. I’m looking forward to racing here in Bahrain in two weeks.”

Aston Martin Cognizan F1 Team best pictures:

Lance Stroll on track testing the AMR21

Making adjustments on AMR21 before going out in Bahrain

Under the spotlight: Sebastian Vettel and the AMR21

Practise pitstops in Bahrain

Sebastian heads out on track to experience the AMR21 in Bahrain

Scuderia Ferrari Mission Winnow

 

Over the course of the three-day pre-season test at Sakhir’s Bahrain International Circuit, Scuderia Ferrari Mission Winnow’s SF21 completed a total of 403 laps, equivalent to 2,182 kilometres. Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz shared the driving every day.

Carlos Sainz #55

“In general I think today was a positive first day of testing, where the target was to complete our whole run programme and we did it, so happy with that. I guess everyone wants to figure out the performance of each car after today, but I think it is way too early to tell and very difficult to know in these kinds of conditions – full of sand, very windy and with big variations in temperatures. All in all, I think we can consider today a very good day. Thanks to everyone at the track and back at the factory. We keep working!”

Charles Leclerc #16

“The first day in a new car is always very interesting after all the work carried out over the winter. We completed the whole programme without any major problems and the first impression of the car is pretty good. But obviously, it’s far too early to give a full assessment. Now I can’t wait to get behind the wheel again tomorrow!”

Laurent Mekies Racing Director

“Another very busy day of testing in Bahrain, with almost 700 kilometres covered during the eight hours of track time. The weather was much better than yesterday, although the wind was still a feature, especially in the first part of the day. We worked a lot on the management of the Pirelli tyres over long runs and we got plenty of data which we will now analyse carefully. In the final hour, we also began to look at how the SF21 went in terms of outright performance and here too, we gathered a lot of useful information.
These three days are vitally important and we are taking a methodical approach because the work we do now will be the key to how we get on during the season. Therefore the most important thing is to complete the planned programme and that’s what we have done so far. As for the competition, we can start thinking about that in two weeks time, in qualifying for the Bahrain Grand Prix.”

Mattia Binotto Team Principal

“These were three very busy days of testing. One of our priorities was to make the most of the short time available to gain an understanding of the behaviour of the SF21 and we succeeded in doing that. I feel we have improved in many areas compared to last season. It’s hard to say where we are compared to our opponents because this test was even harder than usual to interpret.
I was particularly pleased with the way Charles and Carlos worked with the team and the good relationship between the two of them, which has helped Sainz fit in with his new team very quickly.
For our part, we have to carefully analyse all the data to be as well prepared as possible for the start of the championship. There’s a lot to do, but we all really want to do well.”

Scuderia Ferrari best pictures:

FERRARI F1 TEST BAHRAIN – VENERDI 12/03/2021 credit: @Scuderia Ferrari Press Office

FERRARI F1 TEST BAHRAIN – VENERDI 12/03/2021 credit: @Scuderia Ferrari Press Office

FERRARI F1 TEST BAHRAIN – VENERDI 12/03/2021 credit: @Scuderia Ferrari Press Office

FERRARI F1 TEST BAHRAIN – SABATO 13/03/2021 credit: @Scuderia Ferrari Press Office

FERRARI F1 TEST BAHRAIN – SABATO 13/03/2021 credit: @Scuderia Ferrari Press Office

Alpine F1 Team

 

Alpine F1 Team rounded off the pre-season test weekend in Bahrain with 139 laps completed on the third and final day split between Esteban Ocon and Fernando Alonso at the Bahrain International Circuit. 

Alpine F1 Team rounded off the pre-season test weekend in Bahrain with 139 laps completed on the third and final day split between Esteban Ocon and Fernando Alonso at the Bahrain International Circuit. 

The team now has its sights firmly set on the season-opening race in Bahrain in two weeks’ time. Today’s century of laps brings the teams’ lap tally for the whole of testing to 396, equivalent to 2,143km, with each daily programme running to plan. 

Esteban took control of the A521 in today’s morning session, completing 61 laps with the best time a 1min 31.310secs on the C3 compound tyre. Fernando drove in the second, and final, session of the weekend as he accumulated 78 laps with a 1min 30.318secs on C4 tyres his best lap-time. 

The target today was to keep adding laps to the total, progress through a busy run plan filled with experimenting ideas on car balance and set-up choices on both high and low fuel. 

Now, the team will analyse its data, ready for its return to the Bahrain International Circuit on 26 March when the opening practice session takes place ahead of the first race of the season, the 2021 Bahrain Grand Prix. 

Marcin Budkowski, Executive Director: 

“This was a very solid test for us. We had an intense programme, almost trying to fit six days of testing into three, and we accomplished all of it without any significant problems. Our programme mostly focused on aerodynamic testing, especially in the area affected by the regulation changes, exploring set-up directions and getting the drivers accustomed to and confident in the new car.

The team did an excellent job at the track matched with faultless support from the factories. We achieved our target of 130 laps per day and found some decent performance improvements over the three days. Each team had its own programme, so we won’t see what everyone’s got in hand before the first race in two weeks’ time. That said, we focus on ourselves and we feel well prepared for the start of the season.” 

Alpine F1 Team best pictures:

Fernando Alonso (ESP) Alpine F1 Team A521 practices a pit stop. Formula One Testing, Saturday 13th March 2021. Sakhir, Bahrain.

Marcin Budkowski (POL) Alpine F1 Team Executive Director. Formula One Testing, Saturday 13th March 2021. Sakhir, Bahrain.

Esteban Ocon (FRA) Alpine F1 Team A521. Formula One Testing, Friday 12th March 2021. Sakhir, Bahrain.

Fernando Alonso (ESP) Alpine F1 Team A521. Formula One Testing, Saturday 13th March 2021. Sakhir, Bahrain.

Fernando Alonso (ESP) Alpine F1 Team A521. Formula One Testing, Saturday 13th March 2021. Sakhir, Bahrain.

Alfa Romeo Racing ORLEN

 

Day 1:

Alfa Romeo Racing ORLEN began the three-day testing session at the Bahrain International Circuit with a solid day of running in challenging conditions. Despite the morning sun giving way to something akin to a sandstorm in the afternoon, the team completed 133 laps without technical issues, a good way to begin our final approach to the start of the season.

Kimi Räikkönen started the day in the car, racking up nearly 350km before lunch. After the break, Antonio Giovinazzi took over testing duties, tackling the now dusty track to complete the team’s programme for the day. In total, the nearly 720km accrued by the team represent a good return from today’s work, with the promise of more to come tomorrow.

Day 2:

Antonio Giovinazzi didn’t shy away from putting in the miles during the second day of testing in Bahrain. The Italian racked up a whopping 125 laps on a day that saw the team complete its testing programme in full, despite some red flags interrupting both the morning and afternoon sessions.

Antonio and the team devoted the best part of the morning to long runs, with the man in car #99 quickly settling into a rhythm and grinding lap after lap with impressive consistency. In the afternoon, the focus shifted to shorter stints, with performance runs showing a glimpse of our car’s qualifying potential.

The chequered flag brought an end to Antonio’s short pre-season, with Kimi Räikkönen returning to the cockpit tomorrow for the final day of testing ahead of the first race of the season – in this very venue.

Day 3:

Alfa Romeo Racing ORLEN’s pre-season came to a successful conclusion as the sunset on Bahrain. The third day of running on the Sakhir circuit saw Kimi Räikkönen notch the highest lap count across the board, with 166 laps to Finn’s name. Today’s total brings our overall mileage for the three days of testing to 422 laps – 2,283.86km.

Kimi’s programme for the day mirrored that of Antonio Giovinazzi from a day earlier, with a busy morning devoted to long runs and a race simulation, followed by an afternoon centred on performance runs. With no mechanical issues to hamper our day, Kimi and the team were able to complete the full programme on schedule – the third clean day in a row.

Armed with the knowledge gathered in this week of testing, the team’s focus now switches to the first race of the season in two weeks’ time. Returning to the Bahrain International Circuit to start the 2021 campaign will give us the first, real indications about the pecking order. The time to practice is over – now the real battle begins.

Alfa Romeo ORLEN F1 Team best pictures:

RAIKKONEN Kimi (fin), Alfa Romeo Racing ORLEN C41, portrait during the Formula 1 Pre-season testing 2021 from March 12 to 14, 2021 on the Bahrain International Circuit, in Sakhir, Bahrain

99 GIOVINAZZI Antonio (ita), Alfa Romeo Racing ORLEN C41, action during the Formula 1 Pre-season testing 2020 from March 12 to 14, 2021 on the Bahrain International Circuit, in Sakhir, Bahrain

Alfa Romeo Racing ORLEN Team, ambience pitstop during the Formula 1 Pre-season testing 2021 from March 12 to 14, 2021 on the Bahrain International Circuit, in Sakhir, Bahrain

GIOVINAZZI Antonio (ita), Alfa Romeo Racing ORLEN C41, pitlane atmosphere during the Formula 1 Pre-season testing 2021 from March 12 to 14, 2021 on the Bahrain International Circuit, in Sakhir, Bahrain

RAIKKONEN Kimi (fin), Alfa Romeo Racing ORLEN C41, portrait during the Formula 1 Pre-season testing 2020 from March 12 to 14, 2021 on the Bahrain International Circuit, in Sakhir, Bahrain

Scuderia AlphaTauri

 

Jody Egginton (Technical Director) comments about the three-day test:

“Scuderia AlphaTauri concluded a positive third – and final – day of pre-season testing here on the Bahrain International Circuit, racking up an impressive 422 total laps (2283.86 km). Following two days of changeable conditions, today marked the first day of calmer weather – and cooler track temperatures – for both drivers. Starting in the morning session, Pierre continued to add to his impressive mileage tally, amassing a further 76 laps before the lunch break. Meanwhile, Yuki spent the afternoon finishing his testing plan with a race simulation, before finishing the test on a high, achieving a strong second place as the chequered flag fell.

Over the course of three days, the team completed a successful testing programme – including a vast amount of aero testing, with rakes fitted, and collected a large amount of data that the team will now analyse ahead of the first race again here in Bahrain at the end of the month. Following running, the team remain cautiously optimistic about the performance of the car but will now return to the factory to further understand the level of correlation between wind tunnel data and performance on the track.”

Yuki Tsunoda:

“Jumping out of the car in P2 today is a great feeling – of course you can’t get too ahead of yourself, as it’s only testing, but it’s great to finish the three days on a high. I’ve learnt so much over the last few days and collected crucial data for the team that we’ll now go back and analyse ahead of the first race. I think for me it’s great that we’re returning here so soon for the start of the season as I’ve managed to complete a lot of running here now and understand the track well.

We’ve had a few small teething problems but that’s exactly what you’d expect from testing – we’re here to work everything out so we have the best possible package available to us come race day. I’ll continue working hard over the next few weeks and I’m excited for it to start!”

Pierre Gasly:

“Now that the three days of testing are over, I can’t wait to start racing, we’ve managed to complete our full testing schedule and have a good understanding of everything. Preparing for the race, we know the car’s strengths and we know where we can still make some improvements. I feel confident in the car and I think we’re in a much better place than we were this time last year. I think we know where we’ll be fast, and we have understood how to work on the car further.

I really hope we can be in the fight this season and get some good points. Honda has also done a great job with the Power Unit and so far, we’re really happy with it – it’s a strong step forward, compared to last year, and the reliability has been perfect all three days, which is really positive. I’m excited for us to get to qualifying at the Bahrain Grand Prix because I think that’s when we’ll really see what everyone can do.”

Franz Tost (Team Principal):

“We’ve had three really good test days here in Bahrain and we managed to complete 2,284 km in total. We’ve learnt a lot about the car because we managed to complete so many laps. Both drivers did a fantastic job across all three days, Pierre was very consistent in every session and Yuki performed very well this afternoon.

The AT02 seems to be competitive, but we won’t know how representative this is until the first qualifying session here in Bahrain. I would like to thank everyone in the team for the good job which has allowed us to get into this position and we’re looking forward to the season ahead.

I also would like to thank the organisers here at the Bahrain International Circuit for such a warm welcome and for organising a great test.”

Scuderia AlphaTauri Team best pictures:

BAHRAIN, BAHRAIN – MARCH 12: Pierre Gasly of France and Scuderia AlphaTauri prepares to drive in the garage during Day One of F1 Testing at Bahrain International Circuit on March 12, 2021 in Bahrain, Bahrain. (Photo by Peter Fox/Getty Images) // Getty Images / Red Bull Content Pool

BAHRAIN, BAHRAIN – MARCH 13: Yuki Tsunoda of Scuderia AlphaTauri and Japan during Day Two of F1 Testing at Bahrain International Circuit on March 13, 2021 in Bahrain, Bahrain. (Photo by Peter Fox/Getty Images) // Getty Images / Red Bull Content Pool

BAHRAIN, BAHRAIN – MARCH 14: Pierre Gasly of France driving the (10) Scuderia AlphaTauri AT02 Honda during Day Three of F1 Testing at Bahrain International Circuit on March 14, 2021 in Bahrain, Bahrain. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images) // Getty Images / Red Bull Content Pool

BAHRAIN, BAHRAIN – MARCH 12: Yuki Tsunoda of Japan and Scuderia AlphaTauri looks on with Scuderia AlphaTauri team members in the garage during Day One of F1 Testing at Bahrain International Circuit on March 12, 2021 in Bahrain, Bahrain. (Photo by Peter Fox/Getty Images) // Getty Images / Red Bull Content Pool

BAHRAIN, BAHRAIN – MARCH 13: Pierre Gasly of France driving the (10) Scuderia AlphaTauri AT02 Honda on track during Day Two of F1 Testing at Bahrain International Circuit on March 13, 2021 in Bahrain, Bahrain. (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images) // Getty Images / Red Bull Content Pool

Uralkali Haas F1 Team

 

Over and out. Pre-season testing in Bahrain was completed with Mick Schumacher and Nikita Mazepin both in the car on Sunday.

Sunday at Bahrain International Circuit saw Uralkali Haas F1 Team split driving duties again between Mick Schumacher and Nikita Mazepin on the final day of pre-season testing with its VF-21.

Schumacher, having set 88 laps on Saturday, successfully completed his morning program accumulating another 78 laps around the 5.412-kilometre (3.363-mile), 15-turn track. The 21-year-old German ran through a variety of items on the day’s test list – working through procedures, learning more on the balance of the car, and gaining additional experience managing tires on high fuel. He ended the session 15th on the timesheets with a best lap of 1:32.053.

Mazepin returned in the afternoon keen to build on the combined 146 laps recorded through Friday and Saturday’s track outings. The 22-year-old rookie focused initially on shorter timed runs on the Pirelli C3 and C4 tires before some high-fuel runs to cap the day. With the fastest lap of 1:31.531 – Mazepin took the checkered in the evening completing the session 14th overall.

Uralkali Haas F1 Team’s total for pre-season testing was 394 laps – equating to 2132.328 kilometres (1325.022 miles) split between Mazepin (213) and Schumacher (181).

Mick Schumacher, Car No. 47

“Obviously, it was a bit sad that this was the last day of testing before driving here on the Grand Prix weekend. Nevertheless, we have 23 races coming up this season, which is great. Again, it was a good productive day for me with a lot of laps – that’s always good. We’ve caught up with the losses from the first day. In general, I’d say we’re happy with how the test has gone. Day one was obviously a bit of shame as we lost opportunities for running but we’ve caught up and we got some pit stops in yesterday too. I’ve been able to experience day and night driving here, which was amazing. I’m very impatient to get going with the season now and I’m very much looking forward to it. It can’t come soon enough. I feel prepared and I’m very ready.”

Nikita Mazepin, Car No. 9

“The conditions were very nice out there today, certainly in comparison to Friday’s afternoon session – when the conditions weren’t good for getting the performance out of the car. That said, for a rookie, it was a great learning experience to see how the car behaves with less grip. Today we focused on low fuel runs for the first part of the afternoon and then we moved on to high fuel. We then finished off with some very productive pit stops. Testing’s been fun – and a very good learning curve. We started with very difficult conditions on day one, then we’ve progressed towards a more grippy track which means more opportunities to attract a lap time. The year is going to be a long one, but I think we’ve got the most out of these three days and the team’s done a great job.”

Guenther Steiner, Team Principal

“It was a good last day, we got through everything as planned without any problems. The drivers did a good job. I think they’re learning and pretty satisfied with the laps they could get in. We got what we needed today including more pit-stop practice – it’s good that they get used to that one for Formula 1. So, with the exception of the little glitch on Friday morning, the three days of testing have been good with almost 400 laps completed. I’m pretty happy with how the test panned out.

We now need to look at all the data we’ve collected and how to prepare for the Bahrain Grand Prix. I think the drivers have to let a lot of things sink in over the next week before heading into the first race weekend. The team will be doing the same. We just need to see that we find some more speed, but there will be something coming. We don’t really know where we’re at, so we just have to wait for the race weekend to see that.”

Uralkali Haas F1 Team best pictures:

BAHRAIN INTERNATIONAL CIRCUIT, BAHRAIN – MARCH 14: Mick Schumacher, Haas F1 during the Bahrain March testing at Bahrain International Circuit on Sunday March 14, 2021 in Sakhir, Bahrain. (Photo by Sam Bloxham / LAT Images)

BAHRAIN INTERNATIONAL CIRCUIT, BAHRAIN – MARCH 13: Nikita Mazepin, Haas F1 in the garage during the Bahrain March testing at Bahrain International Circuit on Saturday March 13, 2021 in Sakhir, Bahrain. (Photo by Sam Bloxham / LAT Images)

BAHRAIN INTERNATIONAL CIRCUIT, BAHRAIN – MARCH 12: Nikita Mazepin, Haas VF-21 during the Bahrain March testing at Bahrain International Circuit on Friday March 12, 2021 in Sakhir, Bahrain. (Photo by Sam Bloxham / LAT Images)

BAHRAIN INTERNATIONAL CIRCUIT, BAHRAIN – MARCH 14: Mick Schumacher, Haas VF-21 during the Bahrain March testing at Bahrain International Circuit on Sunday March 14, 2021 in Sakhir, Bahrain. (Photo by Mark Sutton / LAT Images)

BAHRAIN INTERNATIONAL CIRCUIT, BAHRAIN – MARCH 13: Mick Schumacher, Haas VF-21 during the Bahrain March testing at Bahrain International Circuit on Saturday March 13, 2021 in Sakhir, Bahrain. (Photo by Mark Sutton / LAT Images)

Williams Racing

 

Day 1:

Dave Robson, Head of Vehicle Performance: Conditions were tough throughout the day, with high temperatures, strong winds and a lot of sand on the track this afternoon. This made performance testing very difficult, however, we were able to change focus to data gathering and operational practice, including pitstops and race start simulations.

Roy did a very good job in the difficult conditions, making no mistakes as he and his engineers worked nicely through their programme. He provided valuable feedback throughout the day, including on the new 2021 Pirelli tyres, which we had previously only run for a limited time at the final races of last season.

We have plenty to look through tonight as we continue our preparation for the race here in a few weeks’ time, but there were no issues with the car today and we are now in a good position to push it harder tomorrow. Hopefully, the conditions will improve enough overnight to allow Nicholas the opportunity to try a range of test items as he begins to optimise the FW43B ready for racing.

Roy Nissany: I think it was a strong first day even with the poor conditions where we experienced a lot of sand and dust in the air. We got the most out of the car and I am happy with my performance, and I think the engineers were as well. We collected all of the data that we wanted and tested a lot of items so it has definitely been a very productive day, a lot of fun and a great opening to the season.

Day 2:

Dave Robson, Head of Vehicle Performance: We had a busy day, completing 132laps without any major issues. The track changed throughout the day making comparisons difficult, but we were still able to complete some useful work. It was good for Nicholas to get a trouble-free day and to experience the car in a range of conditions and on a range of tyres.

It looks like the weather will be a bit different again tomorrow when George will be in the car to complete our pre-season testing. We still have a lot to do, but we are confident that we can have another productive today tomorrow and get ourselves into the best possible position for the first race.

Nicholas Latifi: It was great to get some proper running back behind the wheel. It was nice to push the car in the dry and knock the dust off from the winter. It was a tricky day with the wind, but it was good to get some running in these conditions as there were lots to learn. As is normal in pre-season testing, there were a few half-spins as I was pushing to see what the limits were. I think we can be happy with the number of laps we completed today, and we now have a lot of data to analyse to be as prepared as possible for the first race of the season.

Day 3:

Dave Robson, Head of Vehicle Performance: We can be pleased with our day’s work today. The car ran reliably throughout, which is a testament to the skill and effort of all those in Grove and at the track involved in designing, manufacturing and operating it. We were able to complete over 850km of valuable running, which enabled us to do a lot of testing and to gain further experience with the new Pirelli tyres. We worked through a good programme that included all aspects of a typical race weekend and which stressed the team, including George. Everyone rose to the challenge and is now looking forward to the real test in a few weeks’ time.

It is too early to comment on the pace of FW43B, but we are pleased with our initial findings. There are a lot of things to work on and improve, but we have a good understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of the car. We have a good opportunity over the next few days to identify areas that we can develop before the first race, and out of this will come some new test items and a run programme for FP1. We are looking forward to running the car again soon and seeing just how much we can extract from it.

George Russell: It was a very productive day and we put a lot of laps on the board, 158 in the end. The team did a great job over these three days, we have had no reliability issues, and everything ran smoothly. Ultimately performance is what we are here for and I think we have a lot to analyse. Some of our competitors do seem very quick, but equally, I think the conditions did not always favour us. We have lots to analyse but overall, it has been a positive test for the team.

Roy Nissany (ISR) Williams Racing FW43B Development Driver. Formula One Testing, Friday 12th March 2021. Sakhir, Bahrain.

Roy Nissany (ISR) Williams Racing FW43B Development Driver. Formula One Testing, Friday 12th March 2021. Sakhir, Bahrain.

George Russell (GBR) Williams Racing. Formula One Testing, Sunday 14th March 2021. Sakhir, Bahrain.

George Russell (GBR) Williams Racing FW43B. Formula One Testing, Sunday 14th March 2021. Sakhir, Bahrain.

George Russell (GBR) Williams Racing FW43B. Formula One Testing, Sunday 14th March 2021. Sakhir, Bahrain.

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