track limits
This is not the case during the test drives. If that were the case, then we would definitely recommend turns 4 and 10. There are drivers constantly on the road next to the track. Turn 10 in particular remains the hotspot for braking, which has been the case since day 1.
Schumacher sits crooked in the car
If the German takes over the Haas after the summer break, he will sit crooked in the car. “My head is centered, but I’m pretty much shifted to the left. Something doesn’t seem right with my physique,” he smiles. There had already been problems with his unusual seating position in 2021.
The full story is here!
New best time!
Perez puts on the soft tires and clocks a 1:33.105. This is the fastest time of the previous test drives! He is eight tenths ahead of the rest of the field. However, this is far from the end of the road.
If Perez is already running a 1:33.1, then at least 1:32 times are actually guaranteed during the day.
Magnussen drives again
Good news from Haas: Magnussen is driving again, the leak didn’t cost too much time this time. Otherwise, all teams seem to be running more or less problem-free today.
Apart from Perez, who started with a delay, all drivers have already completed at least 23 laps after less than two hours. Not a matter of course.
Fresh technique pictures!
As promised, we have filled up our technology photo series again. Take a look when you get a chance!
Photo gallery: Formula 1 technology: The best detailed shots in the Sachir test
lap table
Let’s take the opportunity to take a look at the current round table. As a reminder, Magnussen already has an hour’s lead, so the picture is a bit distorted.
Magnussen (33)
Alonso (31)
Gasly (29)
Sainz (29)
zhou (28)
Norris (27)
Latifi (23)
Stroll (20)
Hamilton (20)
Perez (12)
Another leak
Honestly, I’ve lost track of things by now, but it feels like there are two to three leaks on the VF-22 every day – and that’s been the case since Barcelona. Magnussen is currently being knocked out again by a water leak. Haas urgently needs to get this under control!
Zhou follows up
1:33.9 now for him, again on soft C4 tires. Perez behind them improves to 1:34.1 on the C3 tires. For comparison: On the two test days before, we only saw three times of 1:33.
That gives hope that it will be much faster today. Because it’s not even 90 minutes over yet!
leadership change
Zhou moved to P1 on soft tires with a 1:34.5. Nothing against him, but it shows that times are still not important here. In any case, we expect performance runs rather shortly before the lunch break – and the fastest times of the day, as already mentioned, only in the late afternoon anyway.
Morning shift at Williams
Albon has revealed on ‘F1 TV’ that the team received new parts today so that yesterday’s problem doesn’t repeat itself. “The guys worked pretty hard. The parts arrived quite late,” he says.
That’s why you had to start early today to get the car ready in time for the start. “They did a great job,” said Albon, who will be back in the car in the afternoon.
Meanwhile, here’s another look at the Red Bull updates:
Anger about Vettel helmet
Actually, he only wanted to send a signal against war with his helmet design. However, the flag of Northern Cyprus, an internationally (with the exception of Turkey) unrecognized state, could also be seen on Vettel’s helmet.
A lot of people were bothered by that, which is why the flag has now been removed from the helmet. Jens Munser Designs, who provided the paintwork, even felt compelled to make a statement, which you can read here:
Summary (Hour 1/8)
– Red Bull shows new sidepods and underbody…
– … and sets the best time straight away
– McLaren gets important new parts
– Williams drives again after fire on Friday
– Alpine back on the road in a special design
Perez P1
Apparently the Bulls don’t want to lose any time after the late start: With his first flying lap, Perez moves straight up to P1: 1:34.7 on C3 tires. Of course, that will be much faster today, just a snapshot.
Red Bull drives
It took almost 50 minutes, now Sergio Perez is on his installation lap. We see changes to the sidepod and also to the underbody. However, it is not quite as extreme as with Mercedes. Our technical experts will of course take a very close look at it!
Good news from McLaren
And not because Norris is currently at the top with a 1:35.5. Time is secondary, more important is that the new parts have arrived in Bahrain. We also spot FloViz paint on the MCL36’s brake vents. These should already be the new parts that are now being tested.