Friday winner Hamilton only 12th: Ferrari-Sainz at the front – Kick-Sauber at the back

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For Friday’s winner Sir Lewis Hamilton (39), the third training session was a nightmare at only 19 degrees in the Mercedes. Can he bounce back from 12th in the pile chase?

Hamilton is just an outsider

It would be his 105th pole position with Mercedes power. He last had the best starting position on July 23, 2023 in Budapest and finished fourth.

The Briton celebrated his last and 103rd GP victory 45 races ago – on December 5, 2021 in Jeddah. The title drama followed a week later in Abu Dhabi. Mercedes boss Wolff: “Lewis and I will never be able to forget this black day.”

Was Verstappen bluffing?

The lead changed from the first minute. Most drivers went out quickly with the soft red rubber. Only the two bull cars with world champion Max Verstappen (26) and number two Sergio Pérez (34) initially relied on the hardest rubber, the C1.

When the red light turned red, the two Red Bull Hondas were immediately in the lead together. For Alonso, Russell, Leclerc, Zhou and Sargeant! That was 13 minutes before time.

Sauber fans are shaking

Shortly afterwards, ‘Senior’ Alonso (42) took the lead in the Aston Martin-Mercedes until Sainz appeared at the front four minutes before the end in the Ferrari (which he will have to relinquish at the end of the season). Teammate Leclerc only managed fourth place.

Things are becoming critical for the two Hinwiler C44 cars. Behind them is probably the worst driver in the field, Sargeant (Williams) and the Alpine cucumbers of Ocon and Gasly.

Results 3rd training in Bahrain

Source : Blick