Russell fastest from Hamilton in morning session

Russell Leads Hamilton in Bahrain Test, Signaling Potential Mercedes Shift

George Russell topped the timesheets on the final morning of Formula 1’s first pre-season test in Bahrain, edging out Lewis Hamilton, who is now with Ferrari. Russell clocked a 1:33.918, just 0.291 seconds ahead of Hamilton’s 1:34.209. The session offered a glimpse into the potential pecking order as teams prepare for the 2026 season.

Mercedes’ Early Pace: A Sign of Things to Come?

Russell’s fastest time suggests Mercedes is making strides with its new car. This represents particularly noteworthy given Hamilton’s departure at the end of 2024 and the team’s demand to establish a new leadership dynamic. The fact that Russell outperformed his former teammate, even while Hamilton is adapting to Ferrari, could indicate a positive trajectory for the Silver Arrows.

Max Verstappen was third fastest for Red Bull, with Oliver Bearman of Haas and Oscar Piastri of McLaren rounding out the top five. Liam Lawson, driving for Racing Bulls, completed the most laps of the morning session, focusing on endurance and consistency with medium tires.

Hamilton’s Ferrari Integration: Initial Impressions

While Hamilton wasn’t the fastest, his second-place finish is a promising start as he acclimates to the Ferrari environment. The move to Ferrari was described as a “childhood dream” for Hamilton, and early testing data suggests he’s quickly integrating into the team. His time of 1:34.209 demonstrates he’s immediately competitive, even in the initial stages of development.

Challenges for Audi and Cadillac

The test wasn’t without its challenges for all teams. Audi’s Gabriel Bortoleto and Lance Stroll of Aston Martin found themselves further down the order, with Stroll acknowledging the AMR26 is currently lacking around 4.5 seconds in performance. Cadillac experienced further setbacks, with Valtteri Bottas mirroring Sergio Perez’s Thursday issue, bringing the session to a halt and limiting his track time.

Bottas managed only 37 laps after a nearly two-hour delay to resolve the problem. This highlights the challenges new teams face in ironing out reliability issues during pre-season testing.

F1 Bahrain Pre-Season Test – Day 3 Morning Results

The Evolving Driver Dynamics

George Russell’s performance in the absence of Lewis Hamilton suggests a potential shift in the Mercedes team dynamic. Previously, Russell had outscored Hamilton in two of their three seasons together (2022 and 2024). With Hamilton now at Ferrari, Russell has the opportunity to fully establish himself as the team leader. This change in leadership could unlock further performance gains for Mercedes.

Impact of Hamilton’s Move

Lewis Hamilton’s move to Ferrari is not only a significant change for the drivers involved but also for the competitive landscape of Formula 1. His experience and skill will undoubtedly benefit Ferrari, while Mercedes faces the challenge of adapting to a new team structure. The early testing results hint at both teams adjusting well to these changes.

FAQ

Q: What does George Russell’s fast lap time indicate?
A: It suggests Mercedes is making positive progress with its new car and that Russell is well-positioned to lead the team.

Q: How is Lewis Hamilton adapting to Ferrari?
A: His second-place finish in the session indicates a smooth transition and immediate competitiveness.

Q: What challenges are Audi and Cadillac facing?
A: Both teams are experiencing reliability issues, which are common during pre-season testing for new entries.

Q: What does Lance Stroll mean when he says his car is 4.5 seconds off the pace?
A: It means the Aston Martin AMR26 is currently significantly slower than the fastest cars on track, indicating a substantial performance deficit.

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