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Stefan Tonev
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Perez leads opening practice in Bahrain
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Aston Martin's new recruit Fernando Alonso set the second fastest time, world champion Max Verstappen finishing the practice in third place

Mexican driver Sergio Perez set the pace in the opening practice for the Bahrain Grand Prix with his teammate Max Verstappen taking third, finishing the practice over six tenths of a second adrift of the Mexican.

Aston Martin’s new recruit Fernando Alonso set the second fastest time in a soft-tyred lap, splitting the two Red Bull drivers in the first practice session of the 2023 season.

Lando Norris finished fourth overall for McLaren, while Charles Leclerc was the fastest driver on medium compounds in P5, 1.5s off the pace.

Canada’s Lance Stroll, who returned after injuring his wrist in a cycling accident, which caused him to miss testing, came sixth.

He spent much of the first half of the practice session in the garage with an ignition problem, only setting his first flying lap with 23 minutes left.