Seven-time Mercedes world champion Lewis Hamilton was two times faster, but the 0.739 second was slower.
while Frenchman AlphaTauri driver Pierre Gasly was third and more than a second and left the speed at about 50 degrees.
Max Verstappen of Red Bull completed a clean slate of self-promotion for the season’s opening of the Bahrain Formula One Grand Prix on Saturday. The 23-year-old Dutchman, who was the fastest in the pre-season test, beat the Sakhir circuit with a one-minute lead in one minute of 30.577 seconds after speeding in both directions on Friday.
Seven-time Mercedes world champion Lewis Hamilton was two times faster, but the 0.739 second was slower, while Frenchman AlphaTauri driver Pierre Gasly was third and more than a second and left the speed at about 50 degrees.
Alfa Romeo’s Kimi Raikkonen was the seventh fastest and Alpine’s Esteban Ocon was the most promising eighth.
Twice world champion Fernando Alonso, returning two years out, was 15 for Alpine.
Four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel was 14 after exclaiming that “something from the left corner until he hit me in the face” returned to the pits. German rookie Mick Schumacher, Ferrari’s eldest son and Michael seven times faster than his Haas teammate Nikita Mazepin.
