Winter testing: Daruvala fastest in F2, rookies at the forefront in F3

As the Formula 1 in Barcelona seven days ago, the F2 (and the F3) is in the spotlight on the Sakhir track for the first winter tests. Under the sun and floodlights of Bahrain, the competitors were treated to two sessions lasting 2 hours to gradually get into shape.

If Liam Lawson (Hitech GP) had largely dominated the morning session with a best lap of 1'44"522, it was Jehan Daruvala (Prema) who finished at the top of the timesheet this Wednesday in Bahrain.

With track conditions constantly improving, the Indian dislodged Liam Lawson who was preparing to achieve the double on the asphalt of Skahir. Fourth in the morning, the Prema driver greatly improved his times as he set a best lap in 1'42"074 relegating his closest pursuer, Calan Williams (Trident), just over half a second.

We're green at @BAH_Int_Circuit! ️

👉 https://t.co/2BNBRGLo7T to keep up with us!#F2 #F2Testing pic.twitter.com/B6ZsaqCjiy

- Formula 2 (@ Formula2) March 2, 2022

Long leader, Liam Lawson finally finished at the foot of the Top 3 with a time of 1'43"478 just behind rookie Dennis Hauger (Prema), 1'42"602. Concerning the Tricolores, the day was much calmer. Not really working on speed, Theo Pourchaire (ART Grand Prix) and Clément Novalak (MP Motorsport) only set 9th and 11th times in the morning before finishing in 11th and 19th positions in the afternoon.

F2 Rankings, morning then afternoon

Youth present in F3

If in F2, the repeaters were present for this first day of driving of the year, in F3 the situation was very different. The rookies took the first places with the best time for Zane Maloney (Trident) in 1'47 and 614nd for William Alatalo (Jenzer) less than 2 tenths behind. The beginners were even dominant in the Top 2 since Franco Colapinto (VAR) completed it with the 5th fastest time just behind Jak Crawford (Prema) and Roman Stanek (Trident).

Back at ART Grand Prix for his second F3 season, Victor Martins is the highest ranked Frenchman at the end of this day. With a best lap of 1'47"992, the Ile-de-France resident finished 6th on the timesheet, almost 4 tenths behind Zane Maloney. Second French entry in F3, Isack Hadjar (Hitech GP) signed a 1'48"089 during the morning session which he was unable to improve in the afternoon, settling for 11th place overall.

Leader at the end of the first session of the day, Arthur Leclerc (Prema) finally fell back into the hierarchy. The Monegasque finished the day in 7th place with a time of 1'48"005, 0"391 slower than the best mark.

Standings for the entire F3 day

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