Formula 1

Bahrain F1 Test: Zhou pips Verstappen as Mercedes stop on Day 2

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Zhou Guanyu pipped Max Verstappen to finish fastest on Day 2 of Formula 1 pre-season testing in Bahrain.

As one of several drivers not participating on Saturday, Zhou completed a full program in the Alfa Romeo culminating in a performance run on the soft C5 tyres in the optimum conditions late on.

That allowed him to set a time of 1m31.610s to lead the reigning world champion by just 0.04s in second.

As for Verstappen, he stepped back into the Red Bull for the afternoon session and immediately went fastest ahead of morning pacesetter Carlos Sainz.

With setup changes seemingly his focus, the Dutchman then improved on his initial benchmark using the medium C3 tyres, setting the time that was later marginally beaten by Zhou.

Fernando Alonso continued in the Aston Martin during the afternoon and finished only half a second behind Verstappen in third on the same compound, amassing 130 laps for the day in the process.

Nyck De Vries and Nico Hulkenberg both completed C4 tyre runs to jump up to fourth and fifth respectively, while Sainz's morning best remained good enough for sixth.

Williams rookie Logan Sargeant proved his fitness with a best of 154 laps in the FW45 en route to seventh, just ahead of Charles Leclerc in the Ferrari.

Oscar Piastri took ninth for McLaren, as Alpine's very subdued test continued with Pierre Gasly in P10.

Noticeably absent is Mercedes, who missed the final 90 minutes after George Russell caused the only unscheduled red flag due to a hydraulics problem in the W13.

That meant he only managed 26 laps and 13th fastest, among the morning runners including teammate Lewis Hamilton in 15th.

Back at the front, while it was Zhou in fastest, Verstappen and Red Bull clearly remain the class of the field with just one day of testing left on Saturday!

Full results from Friday can be seen below:

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