Test F1 Bahrain 2022, Day 1: Gasly leader, Sainz 2nd and Alonso 12th

The Frenchman Pierre Gasly has led the first day of F1 2022 testing in Bahrain, where the great protagonists have been the Mercedes and Williams teams, which have presented some surprising updates just one week before the start of the season.

Carlos Sainz and Fernando Alonso returned to the track this afternoon with their respective single-seaters. While the Madrid native finished second, the Spaniard suffered mechanical problems on his Alpine A522 and was only able to complete 24 laps to achieve the twelfth fastest time.

VIDEO: This is the Alpine A522

The second part of the 2022 F1 pre-season is already underway. The Bahrain Circuit hosts the last three days of training that will serve the different teams to prepare for the start of the course, which will take place in this same circuit in just one week.

The Frenchman Pierre Gasly has started this test session in good shape, as he has led with a time of 1:33.902 that he has set with the second softest tire, the C4. The one from Alpha Tauri has beaten Carlos Sainz by four tenths, who has been second with a harder rubber, the C3. Charles Leclerc, the other Ferrari, was third on the same tire as Sainz.

Lance Stroll and Alex Albon, at the wheel of their respective Aston Martin and Williams, closed out the top five on the C4 tyre, more than a second off the lead.

The great protagonists of the start of this week of tests have been the Mercedes and Williams teams, which have presented two innovative updates to their single-seaters that are already beginning to raise doubts about their legality.

Fernando Alonso got on the Alpine A522 in the afternoon, but he was only able to do 24 laps, to which must be added the 42 of his teammate Esteban Ocon in the morning. The French car has had to spend a lot of time in the pits due to various mechanical problems and that is why we have not been able to see great progress on the track.

The Haas team, protagonist in recent days after its sudden change of drivers, has been affected by the delay in the arrival of its material in Bahrain due to a logistical problem. Although they did not ride in the morning, Pietro Fittipaldi was able to go out on the track in the afternoon. He in total he completed 37 laps.

F1 Test Results – Day 1 Bahrain

The 2022 F1 pre-season tests will continue tomorrow with a new test session, which will run from 08:00 in the morning until 17:00.