Formula One: Déjà Vu For Drivers As Loose Drain Covers Halt Testing For Second Consecutive Day
Formula One's pre-season testing in Bahrain faced a second consecutive day of disruption as a loose drain cover once again halted proceedings today at Sakhir circuit. Red Bull's Sergio Perez dislodged a different drain cover at the same turn, leading to a red flag and track repairs after only 27 minutes.
FIA race director Neils Wittich inspected the damage, and despite the setback, testing resumed around an hour and fifteen minutes later. To compensate for the lost time, testing has been extended until 7 p.m. local time, with no lunch break.
The incident has impacted Perez's run plan, with Max Verstappen now set to take the RB20 for the final stint on Friday afternoon. Critics, including Fernando Alonso, have raised concerns about the limited testing time – only six hours per driver – leading into the 2024 season, a sentiment likely to be amplified by the latest delay.
This follows a similar incident on Thursday involving Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton and Ferrari's Charles Leclerc, with Leclerc having to replace the floor of his car due to the loose cover. Ferrari's Carlos Sainz, who had been the fastest before the latest suspension, echoed concerns from drivers about the limited testing time for the highly sophisticated new cars. The first race of the season is scheduled at the Bahrain circuit next Saturday.
Despite the challenges, Carlos Sainz continued to lead the timesheets before the red flag on both Thursday and Friday. The issues with the drain covers add to the ongoing debate about the adequacy of the allotted testing time for teams to adapt to the intricacies of the new cars. With the season opener just around the corner, the teams are navigating these challenges as they prepare for what promises to be an action-packed 24-race season.
