Please use Chrome browser for a extra accessible video participant

George Russell’s W14 brings out the crimson flag at testing, after what’s believed to be a hydraulic challenge

Mercedes’ preparations for the brand new Method 1 season took a serious hit on the second day of pre-season testing after breaking down on monitor in Bahrain, the place Max Verstappen nonetheless seems the person to beat regardless of Zhou Guanyu’s shock late quickest time.

George Russell was driving Mercedes’ 109th lap of a blended day – after Lewis Hamilton struggled for dealing with within the morning session – when he was compelled to cease, inflicting solely the second crimson flag of testing to date.

Mercedes confirmed a hydraulics challenge quickly after and, whereas there have been 90 minutes remaining within the day, Russell didn’t get again out on monitor.

Russell completed thirteenth out of 17 drivers and Hamilton fifteenth, with Mercedes boss Toto Wolff insisting they’re “hiding” their actual tempo.

Verstappen and Pink Bull, nonetheless, can’t appear to cover their pace.

Please use Chrome browser for a extra accessible video participant

Alfa Romeo driver Zhou Guanyu shoots to the highest of the timesheet with a 1:31.610, which is nearly half a tenth faster than Max Verstappen

Persevering with their ominous begin to 2023, Verstappen posted the perfect time of the check – a 1:31.650 – within the least optimum afternoon situations on Day Two, earlier than being usurped late on by Zhou within the Alfa Romeo.

Zhou’s effort, on softer tyres and within the cooler night situations, was described as a testing “glory run” by the Sky Sports activities F1 commentators, though the workforce do appear to be real midfield contenders.

Fernando Alonso rubber-stamped Aston Martin’s potential by ending third, forward of AlphaTauri’s Nyck de Vries and Haas’ Nico Hulkenberg.

The real rivals for Pink Bull forward of subsequent weekend’s opening Bahrain GP, although, seem like Ferrari.

Please use Chrome browser for a extra accessible video participant

Pink Bull driver Max Verstappen secures the quickest time for his workforce on the identical C3 tyre because the Ferrari

Carlos Sainz comfortably set the tempo within the morning session as F1’s most profitable workforce eliminated the shackles from the opening day, earlier than handing over to Charles Leclerc, who went via a extra mundane long-run programme and completed two locations behind his team-mate in eighth.

Each drivers had been buoyed by Ferrari’s tempo, whereas refusing to touch upon battling Pink Bull.

They had been cut up by Logan Sargeant, Williams’ US rookie who accomplished a formidable 154 laps, whereas Oscar Piastri and Pierre Gasly accomplished the highest 10 for McLaren and Alpine respectively.

Extra to comply with.