BIC’s Outer Track makes global debut as Russell sets pace in first F1 Practice of Rolex Sakhir GP

• Mercedes’ super sub tops the leaderboard ahead of Red Bull’s Verstappen and Albon, and teammate Bottas
• Tsunoda leads Carlin one-two atop F2 practice timesheet
• Guven sets Porsche Sprint Challenge ME practice pace

Bahrain International Circuit (BIC) showcased its 3.543-kilometre Outer Track to the world today as George Russell stunned the Formula 1 field by setting the fastest lap in the first F1 Practice of the Rolex Sakhir Grand Prix.

Russell, who is driving this weekend in place of seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton, is making the most of his opportunity to compete with constructor champions Mercedes.

He was not only quick to adapt to his car but was also able to familiarize himself immediately with the all-new track layout. Russell clocked a blistering fastest lap of 54.546 seconds to go top of the timesheet in the 90-minute session.

He outpaced both the Red Bull Racing tandem of Max Verstappen and Alexander Albon, as well as Mercedes teammate Valtteri Bottas, who were second through fourth, respectively. Verstappen had a best lap 0.176secs slower, while Albon was 0.265secs off the leading pace and Bottas 0.322secs behind.

The top 10 also included the AlphaTauri’s Daniil Kvyat and Pierre Gasly in fifth and sixth, Renault’s Esteban Ocon in seventh, Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel eighth, Daniel Ricciardo ninth in the other Renault car, and Charles Leclerc 10th in the second Ferrari.

The rest of F1’s first Practice classification was as follows: Racing Point’s Lance Stroll and Sergio Perez, McLaren’s Carlos Sainz, Alfa Romeo’s Kimi Raikkonen, Alfa Romeo’s Antonio Giovinazzi, McLaren’s Lando Norris, Haas’ Kevin Magnussen, Williams’ Nicholas Latifi, Haas’ Pietro Fittipaldi driving in place of Romain Grosjean, and Jack Aitken substituting for Russell at Williams.

F1 action returns to the Outer Track later tonight at 8.30pm for the weekend’s Second Practice session, also to be held over 90 minutes.

The Rolex Sakhir Grand Prix is the 16th and penultimate round of the 2020 FIA F1 World Championship. It is the second race of the Kingdom’s first-ever F1 double-header.

Tsunoda leads Carlin one-two atop F2 practice timesheet

Yuki Tsunoda set the fastest lap today in the weekend’s lone Practice session of the FIA Formula 2 Championship.

It was the final F2 Practice of 2020 and it got the season-ending round underway.

The session was cut short as Artem Markelov’s BWT HWA Racelab car went up in smoke down the main straight with just under five minutes to go, bringing out the red flag.

Tsunoda had set the fastest lap of 1:03.267 before the stoppage while Jehan Daruvala in the other Carlin with a 0.228s gap.

Luca Ghiotto of Hitech Grand Prix was third 0.315s behind, while rounding out the top eight were Felipe Drugovich of MP Motorsport, Nikita Mazepin of Hitech, Marcus Armstrong of ART Grand Prix, drivers’ championship leader Mick Schumacher in the second Prema car, and Guanyu Zhou of Uni-Virtuosi.

The F2 field return for Qualifying at 6.45pm this evening under the lights. That will set the grid for Saturday’s 48-lap Feature Race, which is scheduled for 3.10pm.

Guven sets Porsche practice pace, becomes first driver to top a session at BIC’s Outer Track

Ayhancan Guven became the first-ever driver to top the timesheet in a session held along BIC’s Outer Track, after setting the pace today in the first Practice of this weekend’s Porsche Sprint Challenge Middle East.

Guven, who did not compete in last weekend’s events, immediately showed his quickness with a best lap of 1:14.634 to kick off the second round of Porsche’s 2020/2021 season.

Jean-Baptiste Simmenauer followed 0.502s behind, while Richard Wagner was third 1.019s adrift along the 3.543-kilometre Outer Track. Each of the top three are competing in the series’ GT3 class Pro category.

Leading the Pro-Am runners was Lucas Groeneveld, while Eddy Waldhier topped the Am participants.

Bahrainis Shaikh Ali bin Mohammed Al Khalifa (PA) and Shaikh Jaber bin Ali Al Khalifa (A) were classified ninth and 10th, respectively.

The Porsche runners return to the track later tonight for a second Practice, starting at 10.25pm and also to be held over 45 minutes.