Charles Leclerc topped the ultimate day of Method 1 pre-season testing with a blistering lap to underline Ferrari’s standing as real contenders for the opening races of 2026.
Leclerc was 0.879s faster than second-placed Lando Norris, who could possibly be on the backfoot at the beginning of his title defence when the season begins on the Australian Grand Prix on March 6-8, stay on Sky Sports activities F1.
Ferrari elected to run Leclerc all through Friday, with Lewis Hamilton watching on from the storage, and the Monegasque driver additionally impressed along with his race simulation on the final day.
Max Verstappen was third at 1.117s behind Leclerc and George Russell was 1.205s off the Ferrari tempo however Mercedes are nonetheless seen by most within the paddock as favourites for the primary race in Melbourne.
Verstappen seemed to be pushing laborious however didn’t have the one lap tempo of Leclerc, whereas Russell was three tenths slower than Mercedes’ finest time of Bahrain testing, which got here from Kimi Antonelli on Thursday – suggesting they had been holding again.
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Kimi Antonelli’s Mercedes has no power popping out of Flip 10 as he’s unable to get his automotive going once more, resulting in the crimson flag
Antonelli ran within the morning session however was restricted to 66 laps resulting from a lack of pneumatic stress within the engine, which price the Italian teenager over two-and-a-half hours as Mercedes wanted to alter the ability unit.
They managed to get Russell out on observe comparatively rapidly however he maybe didn’t present his automotive’s true potential on his method to finishing 82 laps.
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