Mercedes get one-two in Bahrain FP2 amid Red Bull struggles

In an unexpected turn of events, Lewis Hamilton led a surprising one-two finish for Mercedes in the second practice session ahead of the Bahrain Grand Prix, marking the only representative practice session of the race weekend.

The session, conducted under the same conditions as qualifying and the race – under lights and at night, raises hopes for a more competitive Formula One season. Despite Max Verstappen being the clear favorite for a fourth consecutive drivers’ crown in 2024, the Dutchman faced challenges on Thursday, finishing sixth in the second practice, nearly half a second behind the leading Mercedes.

More on this topic:

McLaren defeat Ferrari to Formula 1 constructors’ title

George Russell, Hamilton’s teammate, secured the second position, trailing by 0.206 seconds, with Fernando Alonso of Aston Martin claiming the third spot. Sergio Perez in the second Red Bull finished 10th, 0.741 seconds behind Hamilton’s top pace. While Red Bull may be holding back and addressing any minor issues overnight, it’s essential not to get carried away based on one session.

The size of the gap between Mercedes and Red Bull suggests that pole position might not be a certainty, but race simulation runs indicate that the Red Bull RB20 could perform strongly, similar to the RB19 throughout 2023.