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Formula One F1 – Bahrain Grand Prix – Bahrain International Circuit, Sakhir, Bahrain – March 3, 2023 Red Bull’s Sergio Perez during practice REUTERS/Nir Elias
MANAMA—Red Bull’s Sergio Perez set the pace in the first practice session of the Formula One season in Bahrain on Friday with Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso denied a one-two lead on the timesheets.
Perez lapped the Sakhir circuit with a best time of one minute 32.758 seconds on soft tyres, 0.438 faster than Spaniard Alonso, with defending champion Max Verstappen third and two tenths slower.
Two-time world champion Alonso, the oldest man on the grid at 41, will start his 20th season after moving from Renault-owned Alpine.
McLaren’s Lando Norris was fourth, ahead of Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll – the Canadian racing after breaking both arms in a cycling accident last month.
Stroll stayed for the first 20 minutes due to contact problems.
The once-dominant Mercedes had a quiet session in the hot afternoon with seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton 10th and team-mate George Russell 11th on the medium tyres.
McLaren’s Oscar Piastri was the top rookie in 12th, with AlphaTauri’s Nyck de Vries 16th and Williams’ Logan Sargeant 18th.
Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz was last after a great spin.
Red Bull are favorites for the weekend in Bahrain after setting the pace in testing.
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