Based on the results of the first day we might believe it, but it would be a big mistake to draw any more serious conclusions from Wednesday's results.
In a practice session that began in less than ideal conditions, Mercedes rookie Andrea Kimi Antonelli was the first to take to the track and the morning was also dominated by him. Bahrain was experiencing unseasonably cool conditions, with strong winds, an air temperature of 15 degrees and a track temperature of 25 degrees, which did not improve during the day. The low-grip circuit saw a number of drivers struggle to control, most spectacularly when Liam Lawson spun at the wheel of his Red Bull. Despite this, the RB rookie finished second, ahead of Alexander Albon before the lunch break.
In the afternoon, it was time for changes and new complications, in the second stage Max Verstappen and George Russell also got into the car, they immediately started to attack Antonelli's time, and Russell managed to beat him. Of course, this did not last long, because a new rider, Charles Leclerc, appeared and took the lead. However, before the other drivers could start attacking him, due to an unusual reason, there was a break with a red flag. The track was affected by a power cut, which blocked further work for almost an hour. During this time, rain also reached Bahrain, and the track became even colder, but this did not prevent Lando Norris from finally finishing in the leading position after completing a lap of the day, overtaking Russell and Verstappen.
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