The first Grand Prix of the year in Formula 1 is always the most difficult to measure expectations. No team knows where they really are and they all play the same game, that of hiding their cards until the classification. It happened on the first day of free practice for the Bahrain GP, ??held this Thursday.
Although it is difficult to draw serious and objective conclusions because the engines are not yet at full capacity and the variations in gasoline and tires are constant, for now it does seem that the Spanish drivers should not be too far from the lead.
If we stick to the times of each driver based on the tires they have fitted in the first two free practice sessions, the Mercedes of Hamilton and Russell have been the fastest, followed by the two Spaniards, Alonso and Sainz.
Will it be real or just a gesture for the gallery will not be known until Friday. But the truth is that Fernando Alonso and his Aston Martin have lapped at great pace during both sessions and he has always been in the lead.
For their part, the Ferraris have been more hidden. In fact, although Carlos Sainz achieved the fourth best lap, Leclerc was ninth, behind Lance Stroll. He makes it seem like they are saving the dynamite for the real fire.
The same happens with Red Bull and Max Verstappen. The world champion finished with the sixth best time, while his teammate Checo Pérez did not go beyond tenth. Without a doubt, they are saving everything they have for this Friday, when we finally know the true potential of each car for this new world championship that begins.
