Postpublished at 14:33 GMT 12 March 2022
Maybe Charles is already showing us his title potential?
The Monegasque driver has managed to shift the Red Bull of Max Verstappen off the top of the timing tower with a 1:32.415 on the soft tyres.
Summary
Final day of pre-season testing from Sakhir - Verstappen fastest
Red Bull reveal new upgrade as Hamilton unhappy with Mercedes car
Horner now happy with Mercedes design following complaints on Thursday
F1 2022 season opener takes place in Bahrain next weekend
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Postpublished at 14:33 GMT 12 March 2022
You choose: A Ferrari world champion?published at 14:28 GMT 12 March 2022
Picture the scene...
The fireworks are illuminating the night sky in Abu Dhabi as the title is handed over to a new world champion.
After all the hype in pre-season, it's a Ferrari driver who has triumphed after a long (and hopefully exciting) campaign.
But which Scuderia man would you back to bring the glory days back to the Italian team?
Hit the left thumb if you think Charles Leclerc.
Or click the right thumb if you think Carlos Sainz.
Image source, Getty ImagesPostpublished at 14:25 GMT 12 March 2022
Speaking of Charles Leclerc and the Scuderia...
Postpublished at 14:24 GMT 12 March 2022
Two of the afternoon runners are occupying the top spots on the leaderboard.
Max Verstappen's marker of 1:32.645 is yet to be beaten but the Ferrari of Charles Leclerc has moved up into second, 0.42secs behind the Dutchman.
Glowingpublished at 14:19 GMT 12 March 2022
Spanish journalist Albert Fabrega is outside the Red Bull garage to catch a glimpse of the RB18.
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End of X postPostpublished at 14:18 GMT 12 March 2022
Schumacher is back in the garage after his spin.
Fernando Alonso, meanwhile, is grappling with his gloves as he gets ready to climb into the Alpine for another run out.
Postpublished at 14:15 GMT 12 March 2022
A red flag has been waved as Mick Schumacher loses the rear of the Haas and screeches across the track as he locks up.
Postpublished at 14:14 GMT 12 March 2022
I suppose watch this space over the next few days to see how the situation with Daniel Ricciardo's Covid-19 situation pans out and whether Oscar Piastri will be called upon next weekend.
Postpublished at 14:11 GMT 12 March 2022
Rich/Ben, a possible answer...
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End of X postWinner: First race win for McLaren in 2022?published at 14:09 GMT 12 March 2022
Image source, Getty ImagesIndex fingers away.
I asked you a few entries ago to choose which driver would grab the first race win for McLaren this season: Daniel Ricciardo or Lando Norris?
He's had more time in the new car, so no surprise that Lando has taken this one, notching up 2,390 of your thumbs.
Image source, .Postpublished at 14:08 GMT 12 March 2022
Rich/Ben, I'll try and find the answer out...
get involved Get Involvedpublished at 14:06 GMT 12 March 2022
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Rich Dixon: Don’t McLaren have a reserve driver?! Lando must be shattered!
Ben Offiler: Why aren't McLaren giving their reserve driver a go?
Multiple issues for McLarenpublished at 14:02 GMT 12 March 2022
Chris Medland
F1 journalist in Bahrain
Image source, Chris MedlandNot a great week for McLaren, who had hoped new brake components brought in from the factory today would solve their front-axle overheating issues.
Instead, Lando Norris keeps doing short runs and returning to the pits, where the brakes are inspected and the engine cover comes off.
There appear to be multiple issues for the team right now, and Norris said in the news conference earlier that they had more to solve than Mercedes, after Lewis Hamilton spoke about his own team’s troubles.
Postpublished at 13:57 GMT 12 March 2022
Frontrunner Max Verstappen is on a set of medium tyres at the moment, with Sebastian Vettel and George Russell putting the red-banded soft tyres through their paces.
Verstappen is into the pits for a leisurely stop. No world records are going to be broken by the Red Bull crew today.
That's it for the Dutchman for the time being. His car is pulled back in for a bit of tinker after that quickest run of 1:32.645.
Postpublished at 13:53 GMT 12 March 2022
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End of X postPostpublished at 13:50 GMT 12 March 2022
George Russell makes his way back out onto the track to test the Mercedes once again.
He's reached the 40-lap mark but the Silver Arrow isn't knocking on the Red Bull door yet. Russell is currently 1.578 seconds off the pace of Max Verstappen.
Top five times so farpublished at 13:47 GMT 12 March 2022
1. Max Verstappen (Red Bull) - 1:32.645
2. Sergio Perez (Red Bull) +0.46s
3. Guanyu Zhou (Alfa Romeo) +1.314s
4. Sebastian Vettel (Aston Martin) +1.314s
5. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) +1.414s
Postpublished at 13:44 GMT 12 March 2022
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End of X postget involved Get Involvedpublished at 13:42 GMT 12 March 2022
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Chris Lord: The most exciting rule they are bringing the back the rule where ‘young drivers’ must do free practice across all teams in the season, like they did in the noughties. See some new talent.
Rob Vale: Even if Mercedes are hiding pace, I’m not sure they can hide stability. Car looks loose and not as on rails as that Ferrari. Is the horse about to prance again.
Postpublished at 13:40 GMT 12 March 2022
George Russell will almost certainly be feeling queasy after that run.
The Mercedes is bouncing around as the 24-year-old struggles with the balance of the car.
Russell has completed 36 laps and lies in seventh place with a time of 1:35.140.