What the teams said - Thursday practice at the 2024 Bahrain Grand Prix | Formula 1®

Similar to other teams, Mercedes prioritized testing out the medium tires during the initial session while the heat of the track was high. Nevertheless, when the event transitioned to nighttime, their vehicle became more dynamic. Hamilton had the fastest finish time amongst all drivers on his first and second instances of utilizing soft tires. The difference in time for his second set of tires was genuinely significant, indicating potential success in tomorrow's qualifying round. Russell's completion time was slightly slower by a few tenths of a second, but he is well-known for his excellent performance in one-lap races and will likely feel confident about his chances in qualifying.

Find out more: Hamilton expresses surprise at Mercedes' incredible performance in early Bahrain racing.

Lewis Hamilton had a mixed day during the first and second practice sessions. His finishing position in FP1 was ninth with a time of 1:33.302. However, he made an impressive comeback during FP2 by securing the top position with a time of 1:30.374.

During the first practice session (FP1), we experienced intense wind conditions which made for a challenging track. It was notably different from the track we had tested on before. We weren't entirely sure how we would compare to our competitors at this point. However, we had a satisfying second practice session (FP2) where we felt the car was performing well. It's important to remain level-headed, though, and not become overconfident. We're aware that we have room for improvement and our ability to maintain a steady pace over long distances doesn't match up to the Red Bulls.

In general, I am now more satisfied with the car compared to last year. We have implemented some positive changes that have transformed it into a real racing machine. This gives us a solid foundation to work from. Our goal now is to remain focused and continue to strive for success.

During the first practice session, George Russell achieved a lap time of 1 minute and 33.251 seconds, earning him a position of 7th place. In the second practice session, he managed to improve his time significantly with a lap time of 1 minute and 30.580 seconds, resulting in a 2nd place position.

We shouldn't get too excited after just one day of practice. Although our speed during qualification seemed promising. We introduced some modifications from the previous practice and the progress exceeded our initial predictions. However, what really matters is our performance during a long race. Verstappen appeared to be the fastest with ease, while the Ferraris, McLarens, and Aston Martins were neck-and-neck. So, we'll probably have to put up a real fight to emerge victorious.

However, we are satisfied with how our day has progressed. The vehicle is functioning excellently, and we will evaluate its strengths to maintain this performance. Our objective is to compete for favorable rankings come Saturday evening.

at Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team, recently discussed the challenges the team faced during the 2020 season. According to Shovlin, the pandemic made it difficult for the team to travel to different races and adapt to new regulations. Additionally, the condensed schedule and number of races made it a physically and mentally demanding season for both the drivers and the team. Despite these challenges, the Mercedes-AMG Petronas team was able to retain their title of Constructors' Champions for the seventh consecutive year. Shovlin credits the team's hard work, dedication, and adaptability for their success.

After completing the test, our main focus became our speed during a single lap. Both our drivers trained in the simulator before coming back to the track. After today's run, it appears that we have made progress in this area. However, we are aware that there is still room for improvement as other cars may have different power unit modes and fuel loads that can affect their lap times. While we are optimistic, we remain cautious as we remember the challenges we faced last week."

The data for the long-term seems similar. Verstappen is still in the lead, but the competition for the remaining spots on the podium is intense. We have to work on the balance of our vehicle. We have just started with the W15 and need more time to learn how to get the most out of it, but already it feels distinct from the past two years at this track.

On February 29, 2024, Lewis Hamilton from Great Britain was behind the wheel of the (44) Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team W15, driving on the track during practice before the F1 Grand Prix of Bahrain. The Bahrain International Circuit in Bahrain was the setting for this exciting event, as Lewis Hamilton revved up his engine and prepared for the race ahead. Clive Rose, a talented photographer, captured the moment and created a stunning image that epitomized the energy and excitement of this fantastic sporting event.

In Bahrain, on the 29th of February 2024, George Russell from the United Kingdom and who drives for Mercedes, was observed in the garage while practicing for the F1 Grand Prix of Bahrain at the Bahrain International Circuit. Peter Fox, who is a part of Formula 1/Formula 1 via Getty Images, captured this moment.

Apart from Sainz's significant lock-up, FP1 was a peaceful session for Ferrari as they focused on their medium tyre programme. At the beginning of the evening session, they chose to perform some qualifying simulation runs, and both drivers performed admirably. On his final run, Leclerc made an error in the last corner which caused him to fall behind his teammate Sainz, and he took responsibility for it immediately.

In the first practice session, Charles Leclerc had a time of 1 minute and 33.268 seconds, placing him in position 8. During the second practice session, he improved with a time of 1 minute and 31.113 seconds, earning him position 9.

The initial day has ended. There is not much to report since it is challenging to determine our level of competitiveness at this point, but everything seemed to go as planned. It was enjoyable to get behind the wheel and begin the season with all of the fellow racers. Now is the time to focus on finding the proper balance, as there is still much work to be done. We will have to wait until tomorrow to see how we fare.

In the first practice session, Carlos Sainz recorded a time of 1 minute and 33.385 seconds, earning him the 11th position. During the second practice session, he did even better with a time of 1 minute and 30.769 seconds, putting him in 4th place.

Today's practice was more challenging than our previous testing due to the cold weather and the stronger winds. These conditions made it harder for us to maintain a consistent performance on the track. While we don't have insight into the other teams' plans, it seems that we are in a competitive position as we anticipated. Overall, we had a productive Thursday, accomplishing everything we had set out to do in terms of testing our tires and completing our program. Now, it's time to examine and assess all of the data we collected and get ready for tomorrow's qualifying event. I am eager for the next stage and believe it will be a very tight competition.

On February 29th, 2024, Carlos Sainz of Spain was spotted driving the Ferrari SF-24 in the Pitlane during practice for the F1 Grand Prix of Bahrain at the Bahrain International Circuit in Bahrain. The picture captured by Peter Fox - Formula 1/Formula 1 via Getty Images.

On February 29, 2024, in Bahrain, Charles Leclerc from Monaco zoomed his Ferrari SF-24 during practice for the F1 Grand Prix of Bahrain. The event took place at the Bahrain International Circuit and was captured in a photo by Bryn Lennon for Formula 1/Formula 1 via Getty Images.

Verstappen experienced some problems with gear shifting at the beginning of the day, but despite this, he was still able to drive fast on medium tyres. However, in the evening, Red Bull was not able to keep up with Mercedes on soft tyres. Verstappen was even slower than Aston Martin, McLaren, and Ferrari and ended up in sixth place. Perez finished in P10, raising questions about whether Red Bull is facing difficulties or intentionally holding back. We'll just have to wait and see.

Check out more: Verstappen is feeling pretty relaxed after his practice runs in Bahrain and he's anticipating a closely contested qualifying session.

In the first practice session, Max Verstappen recorded a time of 1:33.238, placing him in sixth position. However, in the second practice session, he improved his time to 1:30.851, again placing him in sixth position.

Today's practice sessions were not flawless, but we were close to achieving our goals. The long runs went well, and there is always room for improvement. We had a few minor balance issues to address, but overall, I am satisfied with the performance of the car. Today was about finding the right equilibrium and balance in the car. Qualifying is critical, and we will ensure that our car is ready for tomorrow. I am not too concerned about the gap from P1, and we are concentrating on our efforts. Qualifying will be competitive, but we will strive to improve and aim for pole position tomorrow.

In the first practice session, Sergio Perez achieved a time of 1 minute and 33.4413 seconds which placed him in 12th position. However, in the second practice session, he improved his time to 1 minute and 31.115 seconds and secured the 10th position.

I found these sessions to be crucial and fascinating. There are several aspects of the car that we were not able to explore during testing, but we are now addressing them by adjusting the mechanical balance here and there. The best part is that any improvement we make during performance runs seems to benefit the long runs as well. Our only goal is to create a more balanced car, which will enhance our chances in qualifying and the race. Today's session went just as I anticipated. I heard a lot of people saying that we were a whole second ahead after testing, which made me chuckle because I expected it to be much closer. The competition across the grid is intense, and I anticipate that the qualifying on Friday night will be a tight one.

In Bahrain on February 29, 2024, Max Verstappen from the Netherlands and Oracle Red Bull Racing team got ready to drive during the practice session before the F1 Grand Prix at Bahrain International Circuit. The photo was captured by Mark Thompson, Getty Images.

In Bahrain, on February 29, 2024, there was a practice session for the F1 Grand Prix. Sergio Perez from Mexico was driving the Oracle Red Bull Racing RB20 car and had to make a pit stop. It happened at the Bahrain International Circuit and was captured by Mark Thompson, who took a photo that you can see.

During FP1, McLaren was the sole top team that utilized soft tyres. Nonetheless, they used them before RB, while the track wasn't adequately rubbered up. Consequently, the team only had a single C3 rubber set for the subsequent FP2, limiting their flying lap count to one. Piastri performed exceptionally, putting McLaren among the front runners. However, Norris botched his run, leaving him placed much lower on the leaderboard.

Find Out More: Piastri maintains a hopeful outlook, suggesting McLaren is still a contender, whereas Norris expresses disappointment over the disorderly nature of the practice day.

In the first free practice session, Lando Norris secured the second position by completing the lap in 1 minute and 32.901 seconds. However, in the second free practice session, he dropped to the twentieth position, clocking 1 minute and 32.608 seconds.

Today was a decent day and I'm quite content with how Thursday played out. We were able to enhance our car, but there are still numerous areas that require improvement. Nonetheless, we were able to improve the car's balance and I felt more at ease driving it, which is definitely a positive. Unfortunately, I didn't perform too well when it came to completing a lap, so the results on the timesheets weren't entirely accurate. However, taking everything into consideration, it was a great commencement to the weekend.

In the first practice session, Oscar Piastri achieved a time of 1 minute and 33.113 seconds, earning him third place. During the second practice session, he performed even better with a time of 1 minute and 30.784 seconds, placing him in fifth position.

The practice went well. We were evenly matched during our runs with low and high fuel, which made it exciting. Looking forward to the next practice, but I think today was a success. I'm content with the way I drove and we gained some valuable knowledge from the session. Once everyone gives their best, we'll have a better understanding of where we stand. Nevertheless, I believe we're positioned where we anticipated and feel positive entering tomorrow's race.

of the Racing Point team, was interviewed about the team's performance in the upcoming Formula One season. The main focus of the interview was on the new RP20 car, which has already caused a stir with its strikingly similar design to Mercedes' championship-winning car. During the interview, Stella emphasized that the team is confident in the legality of the RP20, which they believe has been designed within the regulations of the sport. He also pointed out that the similarities between the two cars are due to Racing Point's use of Mercedes' powertrain and gearbox components, which are allowed under the rules. Stella also addressed concerns that the RP20 may not be able to compete with the top teams due to its budget and resources. He acknowledged that Racing Point is a smaller team in terms of funding compared to the likes of Mercedes, Ferrari, and Red Bull, but added that they have still managed to build a competitive car. Overall, Stella expressed optimism for the upcoming season and believes that the RP20 has the potential to be a strong contender. However, he emphasized that it all comes down to the team's performance on the track and their ability to execute race strategies effectively.

All in all, our first day of practice was very successful. We didn't have any significant problems and we were able to complete our testing plan. Even with three days of testing under our belt, there are always a lot of loose ends to tie up before a race weekend. On this particular day, we focused on perfecting our setup. It was crucial to gain a better understanding of the tires in cooler conditions than we had experienced during testing.

During the session, Oscar had a successful experience on both new tyres and long runs. Unfortunately, Lando was unable to finish his timed lap on the Soft, which made his ranking in the classification unimportant. However, we are content with the knowledge we gained, and it appears that we have a satisfactory chance to earn points. Tomorrow, we will do our best to make the most of our equipment and set ourselves up for success for the rest of the weekend.

In Bahrain on February 29, 2024, Lando Norris from Great Britain and the McLaren team got ready for a practice session before the F1 Grand Prix of Bahrain at the Bahrain International Circuit. The photo, captured by Peter Fox, shows Norris in the garage, preparing to hit the track.

On February 29, 2024, Oscar Piastri from Australia was seen racing the (81) McLaren MCL38 Mercedes on the track during a practice session leading up to the F1 Grand Prix in Bahrain. This exciting event took place at the Bahrain International Circuit in Bahrain and was captured by renowned photographer Clive Mason in a stunning image.

During the first practice session, Stroll had a difficult time due to locking up a few times. The wind seemed to affect his balance and rhythm. However, he did better during the night practice once the wind calmed down. Unfortunately, he wasn't able to outperform his teammate. Alonso showed excellent speed and continued his success from the previous year at this track. However, it's important to note that he set his final flying lap later than some, which allowed him to take advantage of a more rubbered in track.

Fernando Alonso achieved a time of 1 minute and 33.193 seconds, placing him in fifth position during the first free practice session. In the second free practice session, he improved his time to 1 minute and 30.660 seconds, placing him in third position.

Today, we dedicated our attention to our program and we feel content with the achievements we have accomplished.

During the first practice session, we utilized Medium tyres, but in the second session, we shifted our attention to Softs. We gained further insight about the car by making some advantageous adjustments to our configuration, which we're content with.

It's crucial to not overanalyze the timesheets right now due to various factors and variables, but I am feeling optimistic and excited for the initial Qualifying of the year.

Lance Stroll recorded a time of 1 minute and 33.868 seconds in the first free practice session, earning himself 14th position on the leaderboard. In the second free practice session, he made an improvement with a time of 1 minute and 30.891 seconds, which put him in a respectable 8th position.

In general, the day here in Bahrain has been satisfactory. I believe we achieved progress during FP2, as the car felt efficient with the modifications we performed in the setup.

I haven't thoroughly examined the sustained speed for the distant future, but the vehicle felt quite satisfactory, which is encouraging.

Clearly, it's too soon to make any conclusions about the fuel loads employed by other teams during the session. We will have a better understanding once Qualifying and the Grand Prix have taken place.

In Bahrain on February 29, 2024, Fernando Alonso from Spain was seen driving the (14) Aston Martin AMR24 Mercedes car on the track during a practice session leading up to the F1 Grand Prix of Bahrain, which will take place at the Bahrain International Circuit. A photo of this moment can be seen, taken by Clive Mason and released through Getty Images.

On February 29, 2024, Canadian driver Lance Stroll was seen practicing on the track in Bahrain, Bahrain ahead of the F1 Grand Prix. He was driving an Aston Martin AMR24 Mercedes, as captured in a photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images.

During the first practice session, the Haas drivers were not performing as well as expected since they were mainly focused on testing new components and perfecting their setups instead of trying to achieve the fastest times. Nonetheless, Hulkenberg managed to make a significant improvement from being in last place during FP1 to securing a spot in the top 10 during FP2 after running on soft tires. This is positive news for the team. Unfortunately, Magnussen couldn't keep up with his teammate's performance and needs to enhance his skills in one-lap after being outshined by Hulkenberg in the previous year.

In the first practice session, Nico Hulkenberg recorded a lap time of 1 minute and 37.938 seconds, which put him in the twentieth position. However, he improved his performance in the second practice session and managed to secure the seventh position with a lap time of 1 minute and 30.884 seconds.

The first Friday of the year was decent. Our focus today was on long-distance running and maintaining a good race pace. We tried a few new things. Our afternoon program was more typical. The speed we achieved over one lap was unexpected, but it's not worth getting too worked up about it. Some people haven't done low-fuel runs yet, so they may have more potential. Qualifying is going to be extremely tight and competitive, just like last year. Any mistake can have a major impact. I'm not sure where we'll be placed, but we'll give it our all tomorrow.

Kevin Magnussen had a disappointing start to the day during FP1 as he only managed to secure P19 with a time of 1:37.477. However, he was able to make a significant improvement during FP2 where he delivered a time of 1:31.764 and secured P14. Overall, it was a mixed day for Magnussen and his team.

Today has been fairly good overall, although there is a lot of uncertainty regarding other people's fuel loads. Regardless, our focus has been on race runs and we've had some success in that area, which is encouraging. However, we still have much to learn when it comes to low-fuel runs - yesterday's FP2 was our first opportunity to truly test these conditions. From what we've seen so far, low-fuel running seems simpler than high-fuel running, and we've made some progress in terms of managing tire-wear. I'm interested in seeing our car's pace in actual race conditions, but it seems like our tire degradation has improved.

of the Toyota Gazoo Racing Team, recently shared his thoughts on the future of motorsport. The head of the Toyota Gazoo Racing crew, Ayao Komatsu, recently expressed his views on where the motorsport industry is headed.

During the first practice session, we continued to work on what we had done in the previous week which was analyzing the car's performance during long runs with high fuel. This aspect is still our main challenge, which explains why our times were not among the best in the session. However, we were not concerned about our position and remained focused on our strategy, similar to how we were during testing. I am pleased that we gained some useful insights that prompted us to make changes for the second practice session.

During FP2, the weather was vastly different from the testing period, as it was quite chilly. Both sessions were also more challenging due to increased winds. In FP2, the team examined their low-fuel performance for the first time since the third day of testing, although they did not achieve optimum results. However, Nico's lap was impressive. The team then conducted a high-fuel run, which was satisfactory but indicated that further work was necessary. Given today's results, it is evident that the team has made progress since testing, but there is still another step to take, and they are committed to achieving it.

Nico Hulkenberg, a German driver, was seen driving the Haas F1 VF-24 Ferrari (car number 27) during a practice session leading up to the F1 Grand Prix happening in Bahrain. This photo was captured by Clive Mason/Getty Images on February 29, 2024, in Bahrain.

On February 29, 2024, Kevin Magnussen from Denmark was behind the wheel of the Haas F1 VF-24 Ferrari as he practiced on the track before the upcoming F1 Grand Prix of Bahrain at the Bahrain International Circuit. The picture captured by Clive Mason/Getty Images shows Magnussen in action as he prepared for the upcoming race in Bahrain.

Williams faced some difficulties during a challenging test due to various technical difficulties causing them to lose significant time. Nevertheless, they managed to improve their performance during the opening day of the race weekend. The drivers showed progress in their standings from the afternoon to the evening session, and Albon came close to reaching the top 10. With his exceptional one-lap speed, he appears to be confident in his ability to achieve an unexpected Q3 berth tomorrow.

During the first practice session, Alex Albon had a time of 1 minute and 33.583 seconds, ranking him at position 13. In the second practice session, he improved his time to 1 minute and 31.333 seconds, resulting in a ranking of 11th place.

We were a bit surprised by how fast we were going in the first practice session, but by the second practice session, we found a good speed when using the Medium tires. However, we struggled a little bit when we switched to the Soft tires. Other cars around us, especially the Haas, are faster than we would like, so we need to figure out how to improve. The way the car feels when I'm driving it is different, but we haven't seen it reflected in the results yet, so we have some work to do. It seems like everyone made some big improvements during the break, so it's hard to judge at this point. But it's still early, and we have a lot to learn about the car.

During the first free practice session, Logan Sargeant completed a lap in a time of 1 minute and 34.213 seconds, putting him in 16th place. In the second free practice session, he managed to improve his lap time significantly, completing the track in 1 minute and 31.715 seconds, which earned him 13th place.

I had a great day today! The car felt much better than during the test drive and it's clear that the hard work that Alex and the team put in on day three really paid off. I'm pretty satisfied with the car's performance and how it handles. Of course, there's always room for improvement and some minor adjustments are needed, but I'm feeling pretty confident with the current state of the car. Hopefully, we'll have a good idea of our pace tomorrow. I'm excited to kick off my second season this weekend and I'm committed to making progress throughout the year while staying consistent.

at Williams Racing, shared some insights about the team's preparations for the Formula 1 season. Dave Robson, who leads the Vehicle Performance team at Williams Racing, gave us some interesting information on how the team is getting ready for the upcoming Formula 1 season.

It was great to see the vehicle back in action and all 20 drivers competing on the track. Typically, teams begin to work together on their race plans as the weekend progresses, making the competitive landscape clearer. However, we won't have a clear picture of the ranking until tomorrow evening.

Even though it was windy, both drivers had successful days. The FW46 car ran well and didn't have any issues. We also experimented with different setups, which allowed us to compare the track to the simulator and get ready for hotter races in the future.

Today, we didn't fully utilise the Soft tyres and we have room for improvement tomorrow. Plus, we have to keep an eye on the weather, as it's expected to become cooler and more tranquil as the event goes on. Although there's work ahead, we have a stable foundation to develop on.

In Bahrain on February 29, 2024, Alexander Albon from Thailand was seen practicing on the race track while driving the (23) Williams FW46 Mercedes before the F1 Grand Prix of Bahrain at Bahrain International Circuit. A photo was captured by Rudy Carezzevoli/Getty Images of this event.

On February 29, 2024, Logan Sargeant from the United States and representing Williams geared up for practice before the F1 Grand Prix of Bahrain at the Bahrain International Circuit. The event took place in Bahrain, Bahrain and was captured by photographer Peter Fox - Formula 1/Formula 1 via Getty Images.

During the first practice session, Zhou faced difficulty with the brakes, causing him to miss some laps. However, the team managed to attach the softer tires, which only a select few teams opted to do. Unfortunately, things didn't improve during their second session, as Bottas mistakenly crossed the pit lane before the signal to commence. The stewards reviewed the situation and gave Bottas a warning instead of a penalty.

Valtteri Bottas had a varied performance on the practice tracks during the day. In the first practice session, he completed the lap in 1 minute and 33.354 seconds, landing the 10th spot. In the second session, he managed to finish in 1 minute and 32.001 seconds, securing the 17th place.

Finally, the season started with the first practice sessions, giving us a chance to gather more experience. We have gained a lot of knowledge since our testing last week, and we've been exploring the setup of our car. However, we still need to put in more effort, particularly when it comes to single-lap performance. Our primary focus is working hard until the final practice session tomorrow to improve our performance and beat our main competitors, who we are almost neck-to-neck with. It will all come down to a few tenths during Qualifying tomorrow.

Zhou Guanyu put up a solid performance during both FP1 and FP2 sessions. In the first round, he clocked in at 1:33.923 and took the 15th spot. For the second session, he improved his time to 1:32.048, ending up at the 19th position.

Returning to an official session felt great. The conditions we faced today were quite diverse from what we encountered during testing, which made the experience rather fascinating. We had some difficulties in the morning, but thankfully our afternoon went smoothly, and we were able to take care of everything that needed attention. Currently, our main focus is on ensuring that everything is in order for tomorrow's qualifying round. It's tough to gauge where we stand in comparison to others, given that FP2 didn't reveal our real potential and we don't know what strategies everyone else was using. The midfield is highly competitive once again, and we'll likely have a challenging qualifying session.

Valtteri Bottas from Finland, along with his team Stake F1, is getting ready to race in the upcoming Bahrain Grand Prix. They were seen practicing in the garage at the Bahrain International Circuit on February 29, 2024. A picture of them was captured by Peter Fox, courtesy of Formula 1 via Getty Images.

On February 29, 2024, Zhou Guanyu from China was seen driving the Kick Sauber C44 Ferrari with the number 24 on it during a practice session before the F1 Grand Prix of Bahrain at the Bahrain International Circuit located in Bahrain. A photo of his drive was captured by Clive Rose and is now available for viewing.

On Thursday, Alpine faced difficulties in Bahrain and as a result, both of their drivers finished behind the others in the sessions. This may not be a good sign for the French team, who had previously mentioned that they were not expecting great results at this event. Ocon was unhappy about the stability of his A524, whereas Gasly expressed his frustration over the radio at certain points. Therefore, Alpine has their work cut out for them as they try to improve overnight.

During the first practice session, Esteban Ocon obtained a time of 1 minute and 34.807 seconds, placing him in the seventeenth position. In the second practice session, he managed to complete the track in 1 minute and 32.027 seconds, ranking him in the eighteenth position.

We had a productive day of practicing today where we went through different exercises and learned more about our car. The morning session was quite challenging due to the strong winds, but our car felt much smoother in the afternoon. We appear to perform better in cooler conditions during the evening compared to the morning session. This is something we can be optimistic about, as those conditions are what we will be facing for qualifying tomorrow and racing on Saturday. We seem to be doing well during our long practice runs, but we need to improve our speed during a single lap to give us a better chance in qualifying. We will analyze our data overnight and work hard to improve our performance, especially during qualifying.

Pierre Gasly had a decent performance during the first free practice (FP1) session, where he obtained P18 with a lap time of 1:35.144. During the second free practice session (FP2), he showed some improvement by achieving P16 with a faster lap time of 1:31.951.

We have completed the first Practice of the season and we experimented with some adjustments on the car throughout the day. These adjustments taught us valuable lessons. The weather was hot and gusty during the first session making the car a bit challenging to handle. However, we made some changes which improved the car's performance during the evening session. We acknowledge that we still have room for improvement, and we are continuously striving to understand and enhance our performance. We need to be patient and use the resources we have available to us. The team and I will keep working tirelessly to improve the car's performance. We are looking forward to tomorrow and Saturday, and I am eager to maintain our progress.

In Bahrain, Pierre Gasly from France drove the (10) Alpine F1 A524 Renault car during a practice session leading up to the F1 Grand Prix of Bahrain at the Bahrain International Circuit on February 29, 2024. The event was captured by Clive Rose via Getty Images.

On February 29, 2024, Esteban Ocon from France and the Alpine F1 team got ready to hit the track during a practice session leading up to the F1 Grand Prix of Bahrain at the Bahrain International Circuit. The photo was captured by Mark Thompson from Getty Images.

of Tesla's Autopilot program, recently stated in a blog post that the company's new Full Self-Driving (FSD) system will soon be ready for a wider release. Berra emphasized the importance of ensuring the system's safety and reliability before making it available to customers. The FSD system aims to provide a completely autonomous driving experience, allowing the vehicle to navigate challenging roads and traffic situations without human intervention. In his blog post, Simone Berra, who is in charge of the Autopilot program at Tesla, announced that the company is nearing completion of its new Full Self-Driving system. Berra stressed the need to ensure that the system is safe and dependable before making it accessible to clients. The FSD system's goal is to offer a fully automated driving experience that enables the car to handle difficult road and traffic circumstances without the need for human assistance.

Today was an exciting day as we gained insight into the pit lane hierarchy, keeping in mind factors such as fuel levels and power unit use. Teams opted for similar tyre usage, preferring the C2 in the first session and the C3 in the second, which reflected race-like conditions. The harder C1 tyres were saved for later in the weekend. During the long runs in FP2, most teams used the softer C3 compound, showcasing its competitiveness even over a prolonged period. The difference between C2 and C1 performance wasn't significant, but the latter's consistency made it the preferred choice for the race.

KEY MOMENTS: Witness the exciting FP2 as Hamilton takes the lead for Mercedes