Aston Martin driver Fernando Alonso pips Red Bulls of Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez in free practice 2 of Bahrain GP

Aston Martin driver Fernando Alonso continued his impressive start to the 2023 Formula 1 season as he set the pace in free practice 2 ahead of the Bahrain Grand Prix.

The two-time world champion finished second – sandwiched between the Red Bulls of Sergio Perez, who topped the session, and defending world champion Max Verstappen – during free practice 1.

And the 41-year-old went one better in free practice 2, pipping Verstappen and Perez to top spot with a time of 1:30.907. Alonso finished 0.169 seconds clear of Verstappen with Perez a further 0.002s back.

Charles Leclerc was the quickest of the Ferraris, 0.460s off the Spaniard Alonso, and Haas driver Nico Hulkenberg completed the top five.

Lewis Hamilton was eighth, some 0.636s shy of the time set by Alonso, and George Russell set the 13th fastest time of the second practice session.

“We found out we are a long way off,” Hamilton said after the session.

“I thought that the Ferraris were second but on the long run we are quite closer to Ferrari, and it looks like Aston Martin are second and we are between third or fourth.

“We are either where we were last year, if not, a little bit further behind.

“It is not where anyone in the team wants to be or deserves to be because everyone works so hard, but we are just on the wrong track. We have to graft away and get ourselves on the right track, but right now we are a long way off the guys in front.”

Free practice 3 is scheduled for 11:30 on Saturday, March 4 at 11:30, with qualifying set for 15:00. The race will commence at 15:00 on Sunday, March 5.

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