Mercedes in Bahrain this Thursday morning caused a stir by landing in these last winter tests with a deeply modified car from a session in Barcelona. The world champion team has once again demonstrated its innovative capabilities by introducing very narrow flanks in its W13, taking the concept of sidewall removal to a revolutionary level, which will now spark its legal debate. Season opener, still in Bahrain, next week. “It’s interesting and it will inevitably lead to a lot of debate.”F1 TV’s Ross Brawn, F1’s technical and sports director, also agreed.

Louis Hamilton, before handing the wheel to George Russell in the afternoon, showed off the new version of the Mercedes, finishing 62 laps throughout the morning, finishing with a best time of 1’36 ” 365 in fifth place. With each team focusing on its own test plan, the sequence doesn’t make much sense.

Charles LeClerk’s Ferrari did not actually originate from Barcelona, ​​at 1’34”531, ahead of Williams’ Alex Alban (1’35”070). Following this, Sebastian Vettel’s Aston Martin (1’35”706) and Sergio Perez’s Red Bull (1’35”977) were the strongest drivers on the track, completing 70 laps.

Stephen O’Connor is sixth (1’36”768) in the Alpine wheel this Thursday morning, before giving up his seat to Fernando Alonso for the rest of the day. Pierre Gasly (Alpha Tauri) ninth and last Haas could not get on track due to delay in his cargo delivery. Suffering, Daniel Ricciardo was replaced by Lando Norris, who finished only 21 laps on the McLaren wheel.