Bahrain GP 2023: FP1 results; Red Bull set pace in Free Practice 1, Fernando Alonso goes 2nd fastest

Bahrain GP 2023: FP1 results Red Bull set the pace during the first Free practice session of the Formula 1 2023 season as Sergio Perez clocked 1:32.758 seconds to set the fastest lap at the Bahrain GP 2023.

Sergio Perez's teammate and defending champion Max Verstappen was third fastest with a timing of 1:33.375. Aston Martin's Fernando Alonso was nearly half a second off the pace with a timing of 1:33.196 seconds.

Mclaren was the third fastest car on the grid as Lando Norris set a timing of 1:34.165 seconds to take the fourth spot in the FP1 standings. Ferrari's Charles Leclerc was the fifth fastest driver with a timing of 1:34.527 but did so on medium tyres.

Mercedes drivers didn't use the soft tyres as well during the session and took as low as 10th and 11th spots with Lewis Hamilton finishing ahead of George Russell with a timing of 1:34.917 secs.

Alonso's teammate Lance Stroll clocked 1:34.298 seconds to take the sixth spot while confirming his return following a pre-season accident, which rendered him uncertain for the Bahrain GP. Stroll didn't start his first flying lap with less than 25 minutes left in the session.

Haas's Kevin Magnussen (1:34.402 secs) was seventh fastest while his teammate Nico Hulkenberg was down at 14th with a timing of 1:35.043 secs.

The two Alfa Romeos, Zhou Ganyu and Valtteri Bottas, took the eighth and ninth spots respectively.

Bahrain GP 2023 FP1 results

Fernando Alonso Aston Martin — Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin. Image credit: Bahrain International Circuit/Twitter

Position	Driver	Constructor	Time	Laps
1	Sergio Perez	Red Bull	1:32.758 seconds	21
2	Fernando Alonso	Aston Martin	1:33.196	22
3	Max Verstappen	Red Bull	1:33.375	21
4	Lando Norris	McLaren	1:34.165	21
5	Charles Leclerc	Ferrari	1:34.257	17
6	Lance Stroll	Aston Martin	1:34.298	17
7	Kevin Magnussen	Haas	1:34.402	20
8	Zhou Guanyu	Alfa Romeo	1:34.575	18
9	Valtteri Bottas	Alfa Romeo	1:34.689	20
10	Lewis Hamilton	Mercedes	1:34.917	13
11	George Russell	Mercedes	1:34.966	20
12	Oscar Piastri	McLaren	1:34.997	24
13	Yuki Tsunoda	AlphaTauri	1:35.015	20
14	Nico Hulkenberg	Haas	1:35.043	22
15	Estaban Ocon	Alpine	1:35.105	20
16	Nyck de Vries	AlphaTauri	1:35.402	25
17	Pierre Gasly	Alpine	1:35.455	22
18	Logan Sargent	Williams	1:35.749	24
19	Alexander Albon	Williams	1:36.018	15
20	Carlos Sainz	Ferrari	1:36.072	21