P1racenews AI automatic summary:
With just a couple of hours remaining in pre-season testing, Charles Leclerc has placed himself at the head of the timesheets.
Charles Leclerc has claimed the top spot in the timesheets during Formula 1’s pre-season test in Bahrain, nearing the end of the final chequered flag. The day’s schedule had to be rearranged due to a significant delay caused by a loose drain cover. In response, F1 decided to bypass the midday break and continue running until the end of the day. Despite Leclerc’s strong performance with a best lap time of 1:30.322 on C4 tyres, it falls just short of the fastest time seen during testing, held by teammate Carlos Sainz on Thursday. Max Verstappen followed in second place for Red Bull, with Fernando Alonso’s Aston Martin securing third. The top rankings also included Oscar Piastri in fourth, Carlos Sainz in fifth, Sergio Perez in sixth, and Nico Hulkenberg in seventh. Seven-time World Champion Lewis Hamilton, concluding his testing, took the eighth spot, while Lance Stroll and Lando Norris completed the top 10 after swapping out with their teammates following the morning session. Fans can stay updated on F1 events with the help of the practical 2024 F1 calendar, ideal for quick access on smartphones or PCs.
