Spanish drivers Carlos Sainz and Fernando Alonso led the second day of official Formula 1 preseason testing at the Bahrain International Circuit, with Sainz claiming the fastest time and Alonso close behind after a measured morning session that leaned heavily on consistency and reliability. Logan Sargeant, piloting Williams, delivered an unexpectedly strong performance by landing in second place and drawing attention for the American team’s pace on the track that mirrors the conditions of the upcoming season opener.
Typically the fastest laps arrive in the afternoon when teams opt for lighter fuel loads and optimum tyre choices, but the morning window in Bahrain resembled the track’s late-season conditions, offering valuable data for teams fine-tuning their setups ahead of the 2023 season. In this second morning session, Sainz and his Ferrari SF-23 seemed to settle in, using the session to push the car toward a stronger baseline while preserving engine and tire wear for longer runs. The mood around the garages suggested a focus on durability and long-run performance as much as outright speed, a common strategy when teams plan to compare endurance capabilities across different compounds and configurations. [Source: FIA Formula 1]
Across a tight window of time, Sainz posted a best time of 1:32.486 before the lunch break, marking a small but notable improvement for Ferrari over the previous day. The Spaniard’s lap provided a clear signal that the SF-23 has matured through the first two days of testing, delivering stronger traction and a more stable balance as corners were attacked with careful precision. Observers noted that the test coverage spanned 70 laps for Sainz, highlighting the driver’s willingness to push the package through long runs and monitor tire degradation in a controlled way. This emphasis on endurance running was a recurring theme in Sakhir’s order, underscoring how teams want a reliable baseline before introducing more aggressive setup changes.
In the same session, Sargeant delivered a standout performance for Williams, narrowly missing Sainz by only a few thousandths of a second. The rookie’s run came on soft tyres with a light fuel load, a deliberate choice to extract a high-speed lap while keeping fuel consumption low. That contrast against the Ferraris’ longer-run focus demonstrated the variety of testing strategies at play, as teams balance single-lap pace with the ability to endure sustained stints on track. The Williams car showed competitiveness that could buoy their position in early-season simulations and tests.
Fernando Alonso, making his debut with the Aston Martin team, completed 64 laps in Bahrain, continuing to acclimate to his new machine. The Spaniard’s impact on the car’s balance and the driving dynamics was evident as he navigated the laps with a smooth rhythm, closing the morning session just under half a second behind Sainz with a best of 1:32.969. The pace suggested a vehicle capable of a solid performance envelope, complemented by his experience in extracting maximum efficiency from the aero and suspension package during quiet, controlled runs.
Absent the reigning world champion Max Verstappen, Red Bull’s development program was represented by Sergio Perez, who logged a solid seventh place ahead of Lewis Hamilton. Hamilton completed 76 laps but did not push the new W14 to an outright lap record, opting instead for a steady accumulation of data with the Mercedes team. This approach mirrored the overall testing philosophy of many outfits this week: accumulate consistent data, refine setups, and build confidence in the base package while avoiding unnecessary risks.
Yuki Tsunoda, the Japanese driver for AlphaTauri, finished the session well behind the leaders, with a time gap around 3.2 seconds. Yet Tsunoda’s effort translated into a high-lap count, totaling 85 sessions that included a simulated race running on Bahrain’s track. The emphasis here was more on long-run reliability and strategy evaluation than on sprint performance, which is a familiar theme during preseason days when teams seek to understand fuel strategy, tyre life, and system reliability under race-like conditions.
From a safety and process perspective, the session proceeded smoothly with no accidents and only a few notable incidents that prompted brief yellow and red flag checks. Moments before the end of the scheduled time, a routine grid deployment drill produced a crisp, brief pause that reminded teams of the discipline involved in managing a busy testing day. No major disruptions occurred, keeping focus squarely on evaluating the mechanical and aerodynamic behavior of each car under real track conditions.
As the morning concluded, Sainz and Alonso demonstrated the expected discipline of seasoned drivers, while newer talent like Sargeant and the rest of the field demonstrated the growing competitiveness of their packages. The messages from the track were clear: Ferrari and Aston Martin appear to have laid down credible foundations for the season, with Williams showing credible speed in short stints and Red Bull continuing to push for performance gains, even if Verstappen himself was not on track this round. The Bahrain test remains a critical barometer for the teams to quantify improvements, fine-tune driveability, and establish a coherent plan for the opening rounds of the season. [Citation: Official FIA Test Reports]