The British Formula 1 driver George Russell started an excellent run for Lewis Hamilton and set the fastest time in the introductory training for the Sáchir Grand Prix. The 22-year-old, who got a chance for this weekend in the cockpit of a Mercedes after a certain world champion Hamilton had a positive coronavirus test, beat all competition in Bahrain. In the next two places behind him, a pair of Red Bull pilots Max Verstappen and Alexander Albon lined up.
George Russell on the track in Sáchir.
Kamran Jebreili, Reuters
Second Mercedes driver Valtteri Bottas, who was more than three tenths of a second behind Russell, had to settle for fourth place. At the same time, the Brit is still getting used to the new car. During the training, he complained about adjusting the posture, which did not suit him and according to him he will still need to tailor.
The penultimate Grand Prix of the season takes place in the same way as a week ago at the Bahrain Grand Prix on the Sáchir circuit, but it is run on a modified and shortened track. The circuit measures 3,543 kilometers and the formulas go around it in less than a minute.
| Trainings for the Sahara Grand Prix, Formula 1 World Championship in Bahrain: | |
| First training: | |
| 1. Russell (Brit./Mercedes) | 54,546 |
| 2. Verstappen (Niz./Red Bull) | -0,176 |
| 3. Albon (Thaj./Red Bull) | -0,265 |
| 4. Bottas (Fin./Mercedes) | -0,322 |
| 5. Kvjat (Rus./Alpha Tauri) | -0,465 |
| 6. Gasly (Fr./Alpha Tauri) | -0,620. |
| 18:30 second practice. | |
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