An influence lower has halted System One’s pre-season testing in Bahrain with Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc high of the afternoon timesheets after Mercedes rookie Andrea Kimi Antonelli set the morning tempo.
The observe motion was red-flagged on Wednesday, forcing the drivers to pit after groups misplaced electrical energy in the course of the late afternoon below a darkening sky and with the Sakhir circuit floodlights turned off.
Engineers have been seen utilizing torches whereas workforce garages have been plunged into darkness, though some back-up turbines gave the impression to be working. The media centre wifi and lighting went out.
“I got here to the pits and stated ‘it is darkish out right here. I want to vary my visor’. Then I realised there are not any floodlights round,” Mercedes’ George Russell advised Sky Sports activities tv.
“It might have been hectic if this was an hour later and the solar had already set.”
Seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton had already performed 70 laps, greater than a full race distance, and was fifth quickest in 1:31.834 on his first day of testing for Ferrari since leaving Mercedes, though the instances meant little.
Leclerc then took over the automotive after lunch and set a 1:30.878 greatest.
Hamilton’s substitute Antonelli, 18, was the primary on observe and led after the opening four-hour stint with a quickest lap of 1 minute 31.428 on medium tyres and 78 laps below his belt with out incident.
He then handed over to Russell, who was second quickest when the facility went and forward of McLaren’s Lando Norris.
New Zealander Liam Lawson, four-times world champion Max Verstappen’s new Pink Bull teammate, spun his new RB21 within the morning however was second quickest then with Williams’ Alex Albon third.
Lawson did 58 laps and Albon 63 on a day that began breezy and chilly at round 14 levels celsius.
Racing Bulls’ Yuki Tsunoda, fourth on the timesheets, matched Antonelli’s 78 lap tally, with British rookie Oliver Bearman finishing 72 for Haas.
Groups have three days of testing in Bahrain earlier than the 24-race season begins in Australia on March 16.
