P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Mercedes "not getting carried away" with surprising Bahrain F1 pace
In Thursday evening’s second free practice session, Lewis Hamilton led a Mercedes 1-2 ahead of Russell, with Fernando Alonso in third. Max Verstappen was sixth as Red Bull focused on long runs, while Russell noted Mercedes’ progress but acknowledged Red Bull’s superior race pace. Russell emphasized the need to understand their qualifying performance and focus on long run speed. Mercedes’ improved one-lap pace gives hope of closing the gap to Red Bull, but Hamilton highlighted the continued challenge of matching their long run pace. Ultimately, Mercedes remains cautious about their competitive position and recognizes the work needed to challenge Red Bull on race day.
