F3 Testing Bahrain

Formula 3 returned to the Bahrain International Circuit, as a new-look field featuring 15 rookies headed out on track with their first lot of action of the year.

Day 1-

AM:

Roman Stanek topped the timesheets during the opening stages, but his unrepresentative time of 2:13.030 was easily beaten by Reece Ushijima. HiTech Grand Prix’s Red Bull junior Isack Hadjar went 2nd with his teammate in 3rd.

In the final 30 minutes of the session, Arthur Leclerc who was crowned Asian F3, champion during the off-season replaced Ushijima at the top with a 1:48.005. Maloney went second shortly after, while Ushijima managed to hold on to third.

Enzo Trulli brought the session to slight stop as the Carlin driver stopped on track due to an engine issue just minuted before the chequered flag. MP duo Kush Maini and Caio Collet completed the most laps in the morning session, both doing 25 each.

Position	Driver	Team	Laptime	Laps
1	Arthur Leclerc	PREMA Racing	1:48.005	10
2	Zane Maloney	Trident	1:48.018	8
3	Reece Ushijima	Van Amersfoort Racing	1:48.035	16
4	Isack Hadjar	HiTech Grand Prix	1:48.089	12
5	Kaylen Frederick	HiTech Grand Prix	1:48.128	14

PM:

Caio Collet, went first and was followed by Ayrton Simmons, but as the laps got more competitive, rookie Gregoire Saucy jumped to the top with a 1:48.045 ahead of Francesco Pizzi and Jak Crawford.

There were only two red flags during the session, the first being caused by Stanek who stopped at Turn 8, and the second by Patrick Pasma, in the final few minutes at Turn 7.

Position	Driver	Team	Laptime	Laps
1	Zane Maloney	Trident	1:47.614	23
2	Williams Alatalo	Jenzer Motorsport	1:47.783	24
3	Jak Crawford	PREMA Racing	1:47.799	34
4	Roman Stanek	Trident	1:47.854	21
5	Franco Colapinto	Van Amersfoort Racing	1:47.943	29

Day 2-

AM:

Martins set the benchmark at 1:47.602 ahead of Edgar in the early stages of a hot morning. The Alpine junior, remained up front for the majority of the session, but his time was eventually beat by Isack Hadjar who went 0.086s.

ART driver Gregoire Saucy, put in the most laps this session, completing 45 runs overall.

Position	Drivers	Teams	Laptime	Laps
1	Isack Hadjar	HiTech Grand Prix	1:47.516	30
2	Victor Martins	ART Grand Prix	1:47.602	43
3	Jonny Edgar	Trident	1:47.629	30
4	Gregoire Saucy	ART Grand Prix	1:47.804	45
5	Juan Manuel Correa	ART Grand Prix	1:47.834	43

PM:

The afternoon session of Day 2 was a mix of long runs and fast laps as the session began in hot condition but then cooled as the session went on. Francesco Pizzi knocked his teammate of the top spot, but he didn’t remain there for long as Franco Colapinto and Olli Bearman each enjoyed spells in first.

But it was Martins, who took control of the session as he out in a 1:48.250. Edgar was the busiest in the afternoon as he completed 43 laps before a minor collision between Ido Cohen and Correa brought out a red flag.

Position	Driver	Team	Laptime	Laps
1	Victor Martins	ART Grand Prix	1:48.250	36
2	Roman Stanek	Trident	1:48.379	34
3	Isack Hadjar	HiTech Grand Prix	1:48.490	38
4	Gregoire Saucy	ART Grand Prix	1:48.622	37
5	Alexander Smolyar	MP Motorsport	1:48.697	34

Day 3-

AM:

All cars headed out to an cloudy and humid track, but it was Hadjar who led the field and the mileage. The Red Bull backed driver ended the session with a 0.381s gap to 2nd.

The only red flag of the session came because of Kaylen Frederick stopping at Turn 3.

Position	Driver	Team	Laptime	Laps
1	Isack Hadjar	HiTech Grand Prix	1:47.247	44
2	Jak Crawford	PREMA Racing	1:47.628	36
3	Gregoire Saucy	ART Grand Prix	1:47.719	36
4	Caio Collet	MP Motorsport	1:47.782	32
5	Alexander Smolyar	MP Motorsport	1:47.909	31

PM:

The grid had to battle a sandstorm as Stanek topped the final session, setting a 1:48.182, in the final hour. But it was Colapinto who set 43 laps the most out of any of the drivers.

There were 3 red flag during the session, with Josep Maria Marti, Laszlo Toth and Saucy all stopping on track for separate reasons.

Position	Driver	Team	Laptime	Laps
1	Roman Stanek	Trident	1:48.182	34
2	Reece Ushijima	Van Amersfoort Racing	1:48.798	38
3	Zane Maloney	Trident	1:48.807	28
4	Franco Colapinto	Van Amersfoort Racing	1:48.975	43
5	Jonny Edgar	Trident	1:49.167	38

Formula 3 will be back and returning to Bahrain for the opening round of the season from March 18th to 20th.