F1 pre-season testing: Dan Ricciardo maintains the rage while Lewis Hamilton shock with ‘rare’ mistake

Daniel Ricciardo’s fast start in his McLaren debut has continued after he held the fastest time at the end of the second day of three preseason tests at the Bahrain International Circuit.

Daniel Ricciardo is looking good early in testing. (Photo by Joe Portlock/Getty Images)

Daniel Ricciardo’s fast start in his McLaren debut has continued after he held the fastest time at the end of the second day of three preseason tests at the Bahrain International Circuit.

Ricciardo topped the first session of day one and was excelling once again on the second, holding the fastest time of 1:32.215, 0.124 seconds ahead of Fernando Alonso.

Alonso’s form will be a big talking point throughout the season as he looks to achieve Formula 1 glory once more.

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Daniel Ricciardo has made a strong start at McLaren. (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images)

He is set to race all season with titanium plates in his jaw but a strong start on the second day of testing signals it won’t be too much of a hindrance.

Meanwhile, after being hit by a nightmare start to testing, Lewis Hamilton again had a setback after he spun Mercedes into the gravel, causing a red flag.

“It’s really rare to see a mistake from Lewis, especially at testing,” Sky Sports’ Karun Chandok said.

“I’m trying to think of all the pre-season tests I’ve been to in the last five, six years and I can’t think of one time he has been in the gravel.

“You see the odd thing where he goes off in the run-off area or something – but everyone does that. To see him cause a red flag, I can’t think of a moment like that.”

Martin Brundle added: “It’s so unusual to see Lewis looking at a stricken car these days but he’s not exactly the only driver to be flying off the road today.”

Hamilton was not the only one though, with Nicholas Latifi and Carlos Sainz both spinning earlier in the session while Sebastian Vettel only managed six laps after a gearbox problem cut his day short.

End of opening session on Day Two timesheet

1. Daniel Ricciardo, McLaren, 1:32.215, 52 laps

2. Fernando Alonso, Alpine, +0.124, 59 laps

3. Sergio Perez, Red Bull, +0.263, 39 laps

4. Nicholas Latifi, Williams, +0.326, 47 laps

5. Yuki Tsunoda, AlphaTauri, +0.469, 57 laps

6. Carlos Sainz, Ferrari, +0.857, 56 laps

7. Nikita Mazepin, Haas, +0.886, 75 laps

8. Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes, +1.184, 58 laps

9. Antonio Giovinazzi, Alfa Romeo, +3.803, 73 laps

10. Sebastian Vettel, Aston Martin, +6.634, 9 laps

Lewis Hamilton stops in the gravel leading to a red flag. (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images)

Originally published as F1 pre-season testing: Dan Ricciardo maintains the rage while Lewis Hamilton shock with ‘rare’ mistake