Bahrain GP: Sergio Perez tops Practice One as Fernando Alonso splits Red Bulls to start Formula 1 2023

Sergio Perez topped the timesheets ahead of Fernando Alonso in first practice for the Bahrain GP as the Formula 1 2023 season began with surprise package Aston Martin as Red Bull’s closest challengers.

Perez, underlining Red Bull’s status as favourites to defend their titles, set the pace with a 1:32.758 on soft tyres – a time that was around a second slower than the quickest time of pre-season testing at Sakhir last week.

A lack of representative lap times was a theme for the session but Aston Martin, the only other expected frontrunner running on the quickest tyre, and new multi title-winning signing Alonso, did prove their speed.

Alonso was just 0.438s off Perez, splitting the Red Bulls. Max Verstappen was surprisingly off the pace, another two tenths back in third.

Neither Ferrari or Mercedes ran on the soft tyres, though Charles Leclerc did still place fifth – behind McLaren’s Lando Norris – while running the mediums.

Team-mate Carlos Sainz, meanwhile, was last and had a huge spin in a car that struggled for balance.

Mercedes were also quiet in terms of headline times, with Lewis Hamilton and George Russell only 10th and 11th and more than half a second off Leclerc on the same tyre.

More to follow…