Mercedes Dominates Season Opener in Bahrain Grand Prix Practice

Mercedes showcased their prowess in the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix practice, with Lewis Hamilton leading the pack ahead of teammate George Russell under the dazzling floodlights of the Bahrain International Circuit.

Hamilton’s blistering lap of 1’30.374 on soft tires proved to be the fastest of the day, edging out Russell by two tenths of a second, with Fernando Alonso trailing closely in third position.

As the teams transitioned to the cooler night session, all ten outfits opted for the red-walled soft compound tires, seeking to exploit the more representative conditions. Despite a cautious approach from some teams initially avoiding the soft tires, the majority of the field committed to them for the entirety of the session.

With an emphasis on high-fuel runs towards the latter stages of the session, drivers set their quickest times during the mid-phase. Hamilton’s stellar performance was complemented by Russell’s impressive showing, placing the Mercedes duo at the forefront.

Behind the Mercedes pair, Alonso clinched third place, followed by Carlos Sainz Jr. for Ferrari and Oscar Piastri for McLaren. Reigning world champion Max Verstappen secured the sixth position, aiming to challenge the Mercedes dominance as the season progresses.

Nico Hulkenberg of Haas rebounded from a slow start in first practice to claim the seventh spot, with Lance Stroll, Charles Leclerc, and Sergio Perez rounding out the top ten.

While minor grievances about traffic persisted throughout the session, the only notable incident occurred at the outset when Valtteri Bottas allegedly crossed the pit exit light under a red signal before practice commenced, prompting an investigation by the stewards.