F1: little fear for Hamilton, Bottas sets the best time of the second day of the pre-season tests (video)

Valterri Bottas (Mercedes) set the fastest time on the second day of pre-season testing in Formula 1 on Saturday. The Finn clocked a time of 1; 30,289 on the 5.412 km circuit from Sakhir to Bahrain in 57 laps.

Bottas, reigning vice-world champion, beat Frenchman Pierre Gasly (AlphaTauri / + 0.124) and Canadian Lance Stroll (Aston Martin / + 0.171). Lando Norris (McLaren / + 0.297) and Antonio Giovinazzi (Alfa Romeo / + 0.471) complete the top 5.

Lewis Hamilton, Bottas’ teammate at Mercedes, had a rowdy session on Saturday morning with a track excursion on turn 13. prompting the race marshals to interrupt the session for 10 minutes.

The seven-time world champion was finally able to get back behind the wheel of his car a few minutes later and finished the day with the 15th and penultimate time (+3.110). Sebastian Vettel (Aston Martin) brings up the rear after having experienced gearbox problems on his car on Saturday morning (+8.560).

Author of the best time during the morning session on Saturday in 1: 32.215, Daniel Ricciardo (McLaren) finally finished 9th (+1.926). With the second fastest time on Saturday morning, Fernando Alonso (Alpine) is the driver who spent the most time on the circuit, completing 128 laps, just ahead of Giovinazzi (125).

The pre-season tests run until Sunday with two four-hour sessions per day and each team can only field one single-seater per session. Sunday, the morning session will start at 8:00 a.m. and the last session will start at 1:00 p.m.

The 2021 Formula 1 season begins on Sunday March 28 with the Bahrain Grand Prix after the postponement of the Australian Grand Prix, the traditional start of the season, to November 21.