P1racenews AI automatic summary:
2024 Bahrain F1 test: Sainz fastest as day two ends under red flag
Charles Leclerc topped the morning session, but it was cut short when he hit a loose drain cover, causing Ferrari to change the floor on its SF-24. The session didn’t restart, but an extra hour was added to the afternoon session, leading to changes in run plans for some teams. Sergio Perez had to stay in the Red Bull RB20 instead of handing over to Max Verstappen due to a brake issue, while Lance Stroll of Aston Martin dramatically improved to fourth. Carlos Sainz took the lead in the afternoon with fast laps, eventually setting a time of 1m29.921s, the first to break the 1m30 barrier. Perez set the fastest time of the day on C3 tires, knocking Lewis Hamilton down to third, while McLaren’s Lando Norris faced gremlins and dropped to fourth. Daniel Ricciardo, Leclerc, Stroll, and Ocon rounded out the top eight, with Bottas and Piastri completing the top 10. The day concluded without significant incidents, setting up the final day of testing before the start of the 2024 F1 season at Sakhir next week.
