Ferrari's Hamilton 'actually having fun with' new automotive

Lewis Hamilton mentioned he was “actually having fun with” his new Ferrari as he set the second-fastest time on day two of Formulation 1 pre-season testing in Bahrain.

The seven-time champion, who has moved to the Italian staff this 12 months after 12 seasons with Mercedes, was pipped to quickest 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 quickest, simply 0.052secs behind Hamilton.

Hamilton mentioned: “I’m actually having fun with the automotive. We’re slowly bonding. Yesterday was a so-so day, simply OK. However we received via all our run-plan. I used to be not doing set-up adjustments or directing the place I would like the automotive to go.

“At present was a bit extra attending to discover a bit my interplay with my engineer.”

Each Sainz and Leclerc had spins in the course of the say – Sainz’s at Flip One and Leclerc’s on the last nook – simply as they have been beginning flying laps.

Mercedes drivers George Russell and Andrea Kimi Antonelli have been fourth and fifth quickest.

McLaren’s Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris have been thirteenth and 14th quickest.

Pre-season testing is a notoriously unreliable indicator of precise aggressive efficiency as a result of components equivalent to gasoline hundreds and engine modes aren’t revealed by the groups and have a significant impression on efficiency.

And regardless of Sainz’s quickest time, Williams staff principal James Vowles underlined that his staff weren’t quick sufficient to compete on the entrance this 12 months.

“The highest 4 are the highest 4,” Vowles mentioned. “McLaren, Ferrari, Pink Bull and Mercedes have all finished good work over the winter.

“The midfield goes to be very tight and if I am getting it proper, 0.1secs separates lots of us.”

Pink Bull’s world champion Max Verstappen didn’t drive whereas team-mate Liam Lawson was within the automotive all day, ending up seventh quickest; Verstappen will drive on the ultimate day on Friday.

Leclerc mentioned earlier than working within the afternoon: “It is solely testing. Everyone seems to be hiding their true efficiency however the feeling is fairly good. No dangerous surprises however too early to guage performances.”

Norris mentioned within the information convention earlier than driving within the second session: “We’ve simply tried to make the automotive faster all spherical. Add extra load. If we wish to enhance something for the time being, it is the rear however the remainder of it feels appropriate and feels in the identical ball park.

“I do not suppose we expect to be an enormous step forward of everybody. We expect to be near Pink Bull and Ferrari. If we’re there from the off, that is the primary factor.”

Neither McLaren driver did any brief efficiency runs throughout Thursday’s working.

Day two instances

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) Pink 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