Fernando Alonso made his Aston Martin debut in style setting the best time of the day

Spanish Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin), two-time Formula 1 world champion, set the best time this Friday in the second free practice for Bahrain Grand Prix, first at the 2023 World Championship, at the Sakhir track; a test in which everyone recorded their best laps -before the race simulation- and in which his compatriot Carlos Sainz (Ferrari) recorded the fourteenth place in the time table.

Alonso, in his second youth at 41, could not have started his career at Aston Martin, his new team, on a better footing. After completing the first test with the second time trial, he set the best time of the day in the night session, matching the qualifying and race times, covering the 5412 meters of the Sakhir circuit in 1 minute 30 seconds and 907 thousandths, 169 off Dutchman Max Verstappen – who is aiming third World Cup win in a row – and 171 points ahead of the other Red Bull driver, Mexican Sergio Pérez, who signed for the third time. Like the previous one, with soft rubber.

Sainz set the fourteenth time of the day, at the end of the second free practice – one second and 49 thousandths behind – whose partner, Monaco’s Charles Leclerc, was fourth, four tenths behind the brilliant Asturian driver. The third and final free practice will take place this Saturday, a few hours before qualifying, which will determine the starting formation for Sunday’s race, scheduled for 57 laps to complete the 308.2 kilometer route.