Lando Norris of McLaren demonstrated remarkable speed during the first day of pre-season testing in Bahrain despite facing disruptions from a power outage attributed to a substation failure. The unexpected outage plunged the garages into darkness, forcing teams to rely on backup generators and torches as they continued their preparations.
Drivers shared their experiences amid the chaos, including Mercedes’ George Russell, who remarked on the unsettling absence of floodlights during the incident. “It would have been hectic if this was an hour later and the sun had already set,” he noted, underscoring the importance of timing in such dynamic situations.
Meanwhile, seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton, who recently transitioned to Ferrari from Mercedes, completed an impressive 70 laps before lunch, surpassing the distance of a full race. Hamilton focused on experimenting with his new car, ultimately finishing fifth in the day’s standings, which bodes well for his strategy and performance moving forward.
Norris excelled during the session, clocking the fastest lap at 1:30.430 seconds. He expressed enthusiasm for the productive day, stating, “It was a good, fun day on track, and we progressed through a lot of the tests that we wanted to do.”
Additionally, Red Bull’s Max Verstappen showcased confidence in the new car with 74 completed laps, while his new teammate Liam Lawson had a minor setback but managed to achieve the second-fastest time in his session despite a spin on the track.
The day’s events set a positive tone for the remaining testing period, leading up to the season opener in Australia on March 16. As teams continue to refine their strategies and performance ahead of the new season, there is a sense of optimism and excitement among fans and competitors alike for the thrilling challenges that lie ahead in Formula One.
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