F1 test race pace analysis: Hamilton quick, Verstappen relentless, Piastri solid
The second day of Formula 1 testing in Bahrain has come to an end, and attention now turns to race pace analysis among the top four teams. As expected, the focus was not on outright qualifying performance, but rather on long-run consistency and how the new-generation cars behave over extended stints. Tire management and degradation remain crucial themes, even if they are not always in the spotlight during pre-season testing.
Several drivers completed race simulations, but this analysis compares only the work carried out by the four leading teams: Ferrari, McLaren, Red Bull and Mercedes. Only a single stint per driver has been considered, as fuel loads, track evolution and tire strategies varied significantly throughout the day.
Ferrari quick, Verstappen relentless
Ferrari, after debuting a revolutionary rear wing specification in the morning session, reverted to the previous configuration after only a few laps. In the afternoon, Lewis Hamilton completed a short race pace simulation on the C1 compound. During this stint, the seven-time world champion proved competitive, starting with a 1:36.6.
After two laps, his times increased slightly, but he returned consistently to the 1:36 range before moving into the 1:37s after eight laps. The run ended after just 12 laps, showing good overall consistency and limited degradation across the stint.
Max Verstappen, meanwhile, once again demonstrated why he is considered a benchmark in race pace. The Red Bull driver completed a 21-lap stint on the C1 compound with remarkable consistency, lapping within a tenth for a significant portion of the run. Max Verstappen began with a 1:37.5 and maintained that pace – with only a couple of tenths variation – for 12 laps.
He then moved into the low 1:37s to high 1:38s for another four laps, with visible degradation appearing only after 17 laps. The stint concluded with lap times in the 1:39 range, confirming a very controlled tire management phase.
Piastri consistent, Antonelli less convincing
Oscar Piastri also showed encouraging consistency in his new McLaren MCL40. The Australian driver completed a 20-lap stint on the C2 compound. He began in the high 1:36 to low 1:37 range, maintaining that level for seven laps before lap times increased by two to three tenths starting from lap nine.
He then stabilized in the low 1:38s until lap 19, when he recorded a 1:39 before returning to the pits, completing a solid and structured long run.
Kimi Antonelli’s stint was more difficult to interpret. The Mercedes driver completed only 11 laps on the C2 compound. He started with a 1:38.0 and briefly dipped below that mark for a couple of laps. However, degradation gradually increased – albeit in a steady manner – with lap times rising into the 1:39.5 to 1:39.7 range before he returned to the garage shortly after.
The numbers observed yesterday provide an initial indication of the competitive order in Bahrain. However, it must be emphasized once again that these simulations were conducted under different fuel loads, track conditions and tire strategies. For a clearer and more realistic picture, we will have to wait for the Australian Grand Prix weekend in Melbourne, where teams will no longer be able to hide their true performance levels.
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