Sebastian Vettel led almost from start to finish as testing resumed at the Bahrain circuit on Wednesday morning, seven-tenths up on his closest competitor.
As the sun shone down on the Bahrain International Circuit, the teams were eager to make up for the track time lost on Tuesday when the rain fell.
Carlos Sainz fired the opening salvo but that was quickly beaten by Vettel, a 1:30.984.
The Ferrari driver, sporting aero rakes on his SF90, upped his pace to a 1:29.435 before shaving a further 0.012s off his time to sit 1.3s ahead of his nearest rival, Lando Norris, after the opening two hours.
Over the next two hours Vettel went even quicker, a 1:29.319, to top the timesheet on Wednesday morning.
#F1Testing undergoing. #Seb5 is in the #SF90 today, ready for some laps around the @BAH_Int_Circuit ?? #essereFerrari ? pic.twitter.com/ebmLsx5sQ3
— Scuderia Ferrari (@ScuderiaFerrari) April 3, 2019
Lance Stroll had a fast start to the day with Racing Point as he clocked a time of 1:30.049s. That put him up into second place, 0.730s off the pace.
George Russell was third fastest as he swapped his Williams for the Mercedes W10. Although with Williams this season, the reigning Formula 2 champ remains a member of Mercedes’ young driver programme.
His fastest lap time on Wednesday, a 1:30.373s, was 1.4s faster his qualifying time from the Bahrain Grand Prix.
Back behind the wheel of a Silver Arrow ?#F1 #BahrainTest ?? @MercedesAMGF1 pic.twitter.com/BDs5w7Gauu
— George Russell (@GeorgeRussell63) April 3, 2019
Alexander Albon was next in line ahead of Pietro Fittipaldi, Lando Norris and Dan Ticktum.
Ticktum, making his Red Bull debut, covered 64 laps with a best time of 1:31.447.
Carlos Sainz, Mick Schumacher in the Alfa Romeo and Daniil Kvyat completed the top ten.
Nicolas Latifi, the Williams test driver, was slowest of all with a 1:33.808.
Back in to the pits for @NicholasLatifi after another run ?#F1Testing pic.twitter.com/5b3rrRb2kW
— ROKiT WILLIAMS RACING (@WilliamsRacing) April 3, 2019
Times
1. Sebastian Vettel Scuderia Ferrari 1m 29.319s 47 laps
2. Lance Stroll SportPesa Racing Point F1 Team 1m 30.049s 35 laps
3. George Russell Mercedes AMG Petronas Motorsport 1m 30.373s 58 laps
4. Alexander Albon Red Bull Toro Rosso Honda 1m 30.566s 69 laps
5. Pietro Fittipaldi Rich Energy Haas F1 Team 1m 31.209s 48 laps
6. Lando Norris McLaren F1 Team 1m 31.303s 47 laps
7. Dan Ticktum Aston Martin Red Bull Racing Honda 1m 31.447s 64 laps
8. Carlos Sainz McLaren F1 Team 1m 32.269s 60 laps
9. Mick Schumacher Alfa Romeo Racing 1m 32.296s 31 laps
10. Daniil Kvyat Red Bull Toro Rosso Honda 1m 33.091s 70 laps
11. Jack Aitken Renault F1 Team 1m 33.560s 53 laps
12. Nicolas Latifi ROKiT Williams Racing 1m 33.808s 48 laps
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