Determining the gap: The fastest lap set by the driver of a respective team in 2023 on the second day of testing was compared with the fastest lap set by the quickest driver of the team this year. A quicker lap would indicate that the team’s car has improved, while a slower time would suggest that new upgrades have not worked. Testing always comes with the caveat that teams could be trying different setups, parts, fuel loads, or tyre compounds and may not reflect the car’s true performance.
Mercedes’ Sir Lewis Hamilton went two and a half seconds quicker than the team’s 2023 fastest time on day two of testing.
The Brit did a time of 1m 31.066s in the W15 at the Bahrain International Circuit on Thursday, beating George Russell’s 2023 time of 1m 33.654s.
“We’ve clearly made an improvement with this year’s car and it’s much nicer to drive,” Hamilton is reported to have said after the session.
The seven-time champion was the third-quickest driver of the day.
Ferrari nearly matched Mercedes’ time difference, falling short by only 23 thousandths of a second through Carlos Sainz’s 1m 29.921s lap.
The Spaniard set the fastest time, albeit on the C4 tyre, which was the softest compound, in contrast to Red Bull’s Sergio Perez (1m 30.679s) and Hamilton who set their quickest laps on the C3.
McLaren, Alpine, Red Bull, Racing Bulls, and Aston Martin all set improved times on the board when compared to 2023.
Williams, Sauber, and Haas posted slower times.