Ferrari’s Hamilton ‘really enjoying’ new car

Lewis Hamilton said he was “really enjoying” his new Ferrari as he set the second-fastest time on day two of Formula 1 pre-season testing in Bahrain.

The seven-time champion, who has moved to the Italian team this year after 12 seasons with Mercedes, was pipped to fastest lap by 0.031 seconds by Williams ‘ Carlos Sainz.

Charles Leclerc, who took over the Ferrari from the seven-time champion for the post-lunch session, was third fastest, just 0.052secs behind Hamilton.

Hamilton said: “I am really enjoying the car. We’re slowly bonding. Yesterday was a so-so day, just OK. But we got through all our run-plan. I didn’t change the setup or direct the car’s direction.

Just as they were beginning to fly laps, Sainz and Leclerc both had spins during the final corner and Sainz at Turn One.

George Russell, the driver for Mercedes, and Andrea Kimi Antonelli, the other, were the fastest.

McLaren’s Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris were 13th and 14th fastest.

Because pre-season testing is notoriously unreliable and doesn’t reveal team performance information, such as fuel loads and engine modes, which have a significant impact on performance.

And despite Sainz’s fastest lap, Williams team principal James Vowles emphasized that his team was unable to lead the pack this year.

” The top four are the top four, “Vowles said”. McLaren, Ferrari, Red Bull and Mercedes have all done good work over the winter.

“A lot of us will be separated by 0.1 seconds, and the midfield will be very tight,” said one player.

Max Verstappen, the reigning world champion of Red Bull, did not drive while Liam Lawson, his teammate, spent the entire day in the lead. He will start on Friday for the final day.

Leclerc said before running in the afternoon: “It’s only testing. Everyone is disclosing their true performance, but the overall impression is admirable. No bad surprises but too early to judge performances”.

In the press conference prior to the second session, Norris stated, “We have just tried to make the car all around quicker.” Add more load. The rear is where we want to go with the current situation, but the rest of it still feels right and fits the bill.

” I don’t think we are expecting to be a big step ahead of everyone. We anticipate competing with Ferrari and Red Bull. If we are there from the off, that’s the main thing. “

Carlos Sainz (Spa) Williams – 1: 29.366

Lewis Hamilton (GB) Ferrari – 1: 29.379

Charles Leclerc (Mon) Ferrari – 1: 29.431

George Russell (GB) Mercedes -1: 29.778

Andrea Kimi Antonelli (Ita) Mercedes – 1: 29.784

Lance Stroll (Can) Aston Martin – 1: 30.229

Liam Lawson (NZ) Red Bull – 1: 30.252

Jack Doohan (Aus) Alpine – 1: 30.368

Pierre Gasly (Fra) Alpine – 1: 30.430

Isack Hadjar (Fra) Racing Bulls -1: 30.675

Fernando Alonso (Spa) Aston Martin -1: 30.700

Yuki Tsunoda (Jpn) Racing Bulls – 1: 30.793

Oscar Piastri (Aus) McLaren – 1: 30.821

Lando Norris (GB) McLaren – 1: 30.882

Gabriel Bortoleto (Bra) Sauber – 1: 31.057

Nico Hulkenberg (Ger) Sauber – 1: 31.457

Esteban Ocon (Fra) Haas – 1: 33.071