It's still not real fire. It's true. But the free 2 are perhaps what comes closest. Tomorrow, in qualifying, and on Sunday, in the Formula 1 Bahrain GP race, it will be known where Fernando Alonso's Aston Martin really is. For now, the Asturian has given reasons to dream big with the best overall time in free practice to leave all Formula 1 fans speechless.
33 is the number in fashion and there are more and more reasons for the umpteenth advertising campaign that aims to elevate the Asturian to be real. In free practice 1 he already set the second best time behind the Mexican Checo Pérez and ahead of Max Verstappen. In free practice 2 he went one step further to set the best time ahead of the world champion and his teammate.
The reading of these results is clear. The Aston Martin is very fast, too, over one lap. And even if the Red Bulls have saved something for qualifying, it shouldn't be too much. For this reason, having set a better time in these free practice sessions is a fantastic sign for qualifying on Saturday.
The souffle continues to rise. Fernando Alonso, 41, set the fastest time of the session on his first attempt on soft tyres. He then dedicated himself to carrying out a long run, of 25 laps, in which he took at least a tenth in each one from Max Verstappen, world champion. The Dutchman, for his part, led the Mexican Checo Pérez by 3-4 tenths.
The behavior of the Aston Martin with the softs and with the mediums was once again exceptional. It is true that the gasoline loads to carry out these tests are unknown, but being faster than the world champions is a sign that Alonso can fight for pole position and victory this Sunday.
As if that were not enough, Lance Stroll, the second Aston Martin driver, with sore wrists and a limp after a fall on his bike two weeks ago, set the sixth fastest time. Another proof that the Aston Martin does not run, but rather flies.
Sainz set the fourteenth time of the day, at the end of the second free practice -one second and 49 thousandths behind- whose partner, the Monegasque Charles Leclerc, was fourth, four tenths behind the brilliant Asturian driver.
The third and last free practice will be held this Saturday, hours before qualifying, which will order the starting formation for the Sunday race, scheduled for 57 laps to complete a 308.2-kilometre route.
