The second Grand Prix of the 2018 Formula 1 season in Bahrain began to heat up with the first Friday training sessions, where Daniel Ricciardo (Red Bull) and Kimi Raikkonen (Ferrari) were the fastest.
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In the first practice session of the day, Ricciardo set a time of 1m31s060, Valtteri Bottas (Mercedes) finished in second place, 3 tenths behind, and Raikkonen finished third, 39 hundredths behind.
The title contenders, Sebastian Vettel and Lewis Hamilton, on the other hand, were behind, closing the top five positions. Among the top ten were Romain Grosjean (Haas), Pierre Gasly (Toro Rosso), Carlos Sainz Jr. (Renault), Kevin Magnussen (Haas), and Nico Hulkenberg (Renault).
Complete classification of the first training session in Bahrain.
In the second practice session, which concluded the day's activities, the times improved and the Ferraris of Raikkonen and Vettel dominated the standings. The Finn set a lap time of 1m29s817, just 11 thousandths ahead of the German. Bottas' Mercedes finished third, 56 hundredths behind, and Hamilton finished fourth. Max Verstappen finished fifth.
The top ten was completed by Daniel Ricciardo (Red Bull), Nico Hulkenberg (Renault), Pierre Gasly (Toro Rosso), Fernando Alonso (McLaren), and Stoffel Vandoorne (McLaren).
Raikkonen came very close to receiving a grid penalty for an unsafe release from the pits, but the category decided to only fine him financially, with 5000 euros.
Second Formula 1 training session in Bahrain.
Kimi Raikkonen tops the second practice session in Bahrain. (Photo: AFP).
The action for Formula 1 in Bahrain will continue on Saturday at 9 am, when the third practice session begins. Then, at 12 pm, the qualifying session will start.