Bahrain Grand Prix: Lewis Hamilton warns Mercedes may have to change their car to close the gap to Red Bull

By Tom Cary in Sakhir

Lewis Hamilton warned that Mercedes may need to change the entire concept of their car if they are to stand any chance of closing the gap to pre-season favourites Red Bull.

The seven-time world champion, speaking after  practice at the Bahrain International Circuit yesterday ahead of the first race of the season this weekend, said his Mercedes was “one second per lap” slower than the Red Bull on long run pace and admitted the current state of affairs was “difficult for everybody” in the team.

Hamilton had struck a more positive tone in his press conference on Thursday, saying he was aware of the car’s limitations but hopeful of the team’s ability to play catch-up through the year, particularly given the fact that they have now largely banished the porpoising problems which bogged them down last year.

However, after a second practice session yesterday in which he finished eighth fastest, 0.636secs off the pace of surprise frontrunner Fernando Alonso of Aston Martin, the 38 year-old sounded significantly more downbeat.

Asked what he had found out during the day, Hamilton replied bluntly: “We found out we are a long way off. We kind of knew that from the test but it's a big gap. I'm trying everything I can out there. It is what it is.”

Asked whether the car felt more comfortable on long-run or short-run pace, he added: “Neither. Looking at Red Bull's long runs they are a second a lap faster. So we've got a lot to work on. I think I've got the car in the best place I can get it setup-wise. And we'll continue to tweak bits here or there. But it's going to be milliseconds rather than closing the gap of a second.”

Alonso set the pace in the cooler evening conditions after Red Bull’s Sergio Perez had topped FP1 in the heat of the day. The Spaniard was 0.169 seconds quicker than world champion Verstappen. Even more impressively, his Aston Martin looked competitive in the race-simulation times later in the session, when teams run on heavier tanks to judge long-run pace.

Hamilton was certainly impressed. “It looks like the Aston was second [quickest behind Red Bull],” he said. “So we look as if we are where we were last year, if not a little further behind. Yeah, it's difficult for everybody and it's certainly not where we wanted to be or where the team deserves to be. Everyone continues to work so hard but we're just on the wrong track. Right now we are a long way behind.”

Hamilton did have one win yesterday, with the FIA granting him a special medical exemption to wear his nose stud over concerns about “disfigurement” with continuously removing the piece.

The ruling brings to an end a long-running standoff between the seven-time world champion and motorsport’s world governing body, with the FIA briefing that he would not be required to keep applying for the exemption at every race this year.

After initially challenging the ban last year, Hamilton then tried to comply with it over the summer only to complain in Singapore last autumn that repeatedly taking the stud out had caused his nose to become infected, developing a blister filled with “blood and pus”.

Right now, Hamilton will be far more concerned with his car’s lack of pace. Mercedes stuck to their guns over the winter with the ‘narrow sidepod’ approach to their car, a decision which former world champion Damon Hill said was “either a sign of confidence or stubbornness” given the car’s travails last year. Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff insisted at the team launch that their data told them the narrow sidepod concept was “not fundamental” to the car’s disappointing performance last year, but he did hint, intriguingly, that they might change their approach later in the season. “We stayed with the narrow sidepods [for 2023] but you could well see some development from now on that could be coming with the upgrades,” said the Austrian.

Hamilton has now suggested they may have to do so if they are to stand any chance of competing with the frontrunners.

Asked whether he felt the team were at least in a better place than they were 12 months ago, Hamilton did not sound overly convincing.

“I mean I have to be hopeful,” he said. “There was progress through last year, but the gap [to the front] wasn't as big as it is now. So, do I believe we can close the gap at some stage? Yes. But I think it's quite hard with the concept we have.”

Bahrain Grand Prix, Friday practice: as it happened

04:30 PM

That is it until qualifying tomorrow

Join us tomorrow from around 2pm for the build-up to the first qualifying session of the season, which begins at 3pm. Can Aston Martin shock the big three? We will find out.

04:22 PM

Alonso speaks

04:12 PM

I wouldn't expect Alonso to be on pole tomorrow

But it now seems like a real possibility that the second row is within reach.

04:08 PM

Should any teams be particularly concerned? Yes...

Well, it doesn't look like McLaren are in too terrible a position. The same cannot be said for AlphaTauri and Williams who were well adrift of the midfield above them. Mercedes not looking especially handy... but they are in amongst it, I guess.

04:04 PM

FP2 - Classification

1. ALO 1:30.907

2. VER +0.169

3. PER +0.171

4. LEC +0.460

5. HUL +0.469

6. STR +0.543

7. GAS +0.568

8. HAM +0.636

9. NOR +0.663

10. ZHO +0.679

11. OCO +0.701

12. BOT +0.886

13. RUS +0.975

14. SAI +1.049

15. PIA +1.117

16. MAG +1.203

17. ALB +1.533

18. TSU +1.618

19. DEV +1.698

20. SAR +1.842

04:01 PM

FP2 ends - Alonso fastest

It's interesting. It is certainly interesting. Verstappen second, Perez third and Leclerc fourth.

03:59 PM

FP2 - Verstappen has upped the pace

He's now about half a second faster than Alonso after 10 laps of his run, the Spaniard having done eight. We are into the final couple of minutes now.

Hamilton comes in to the pits for a practice pit stop and is then told: "out lap critical". Not sure why. Maybe to get another lap in before the chequered flag.

Hulkenberg locks up into turn eight but nothing too dramatic.

03:55 PM

FP2 - 7 mins remain

Not the best session for Mercedes, it seems. Hamilton in P8 and Russell way down in P13. I think a few issues for the formerly Silver Arrows.

Stroll has told he needs to do something differently in turns one and two, but he says he cannot because of his hands, which he injured a couple of weeks ago and had surgery on. I imagine he's in a bit of pain at the moment. Cannot be easy.

03:52 PM

FP2 - Verstappen also in the 1:36s on his run, too

He's a few laps further into it than Alonso, but is perhaps a tenth or so slower.

03:50 PM

FP2 - Alonso in the 1:36s early on his long run

Well, we don't yet know how long it is not how heavy the fuel load is. I think the Aston Martin is looking in good shape but it would be quite the Fernando Alonso move to do a few glory laps today to grab some headlines.

03:45 PM

FP2 - 17 mins remain

We do not know fuel loads, of course, but Perez just did a 1:37.781 for his fourth lap on the softs, Leclerc was a couple of tenths slower after his fourth lap on the same compound. Hulkenberg, in the Haas, is a 1:38.5 on his fourth lap on soft tyres and Hamilton is in the 1:38s, comparatively.

03:38 PM

FP2 - 13 cars within a second

That's not bad. This is also a fairly long lap by F1's standards.

Looks like we're into the long run race simulations.

03:35 PM

FP2 - Order and times at half-way

1. ALO 1:30.907

2. VER +0.169

3. PER +0.171

4. LEC +0.460

5. HUL +0.469

6. STR +0.543

7. GAS +0.568

8. HAM +0.636

9. NOR +0.663

10. ZHO +0.679

11. OCO +0.701

12. BOT +0.886

13. RUS +0.975

14. SAI +1.049

15. PIA +1.117

16. MAG +1.203

17. ALB +1.533

18. TSU +1.618

19. DEV +1.698

20. SAR +1.842

03:32 PM

FP2 - Verstappen can't beat Alonso

His final sector is decent, but he still ends the lap 0.169sec down. Alonso remains top.

I can't imagine that, all being equal, the Aston Martin is anything close to matching the Red Bull. Red Bull will likely have more fuel in... but, and this is a big but, these times make you ask questions.

03:30 PM

FP2 - Verstappen not pulling up any trees in S1

Verstappen had been complaining about issues of "jumping" on his previous runs. He's 0.253sec off Alonso's time after one sector. Interesting...

Car doesn't look especially light, it has to be said. Goes fastest of anyone in sector two, to bring the difference down to just over a tenth...

Just one sector to go.

03:28 PM

FP2 - Times tumbling

Leclerc into second, Hamilton fifth ahead of Norris.

Alonso goes fastest of anyone... 0.171s faster than Perez and half a second faster than team-mate Stroll.

What is Verstappen going to do?

03:27 PM

FP2 - Stroll fastest of anyone overall

A bit of oversteer on entry into the final corner, but he crosses the line to go fastest of anyone with a 1:31.450. 0.393sec faster than Leclerc.

Don't get too excited, though, as Nico Hulkenberg goes faster still, but that is then beaten by Perez by 0.298sec.

Alonso on a good lap, though...

03:25 PM

FP2 - Stroll fastest in the first sector

He is on the soft tyres... negotiates a bit of traffic in the middle of the lap, also fastest in the second sector. Where will he end up?

03:24 PM

FP2 - A lonely Albon moves into sixth

He was on the track pretty much on his own but he's joined by... well, pretty much everyone else now.

03:21 PM

FP2 - 40 mins remain

I have to say it feels slightly ominous that the Red Bulls are waiting to do any soft tyre running in this session...

03:18 PM

FP2 - Top 10 after the first runs

Everyone bar Tsunoda is in the pits now, so here's how it stands.

1. LEC 1:31.843

2. SAI +0.113

3. HAM +0.429

4. GAS +0.525

5. OCO +0.572

6. PER +0.654

7. RUS +0.662

8. ALO +0.760

9. SAR +0.906

10. VER +0.951

03:16 PM

FP2 - Verstappen has some complaints

He says he feels like the car is jumping around more than in testing.

Anyway, Hamilton goes third behind the two Ferraris, 0.429sec off Leclerc's fastest time. 

03:13 PM

FP2 - A quick glance at the top 10 after 10 minutes

1. LEC 1:31.843

2. SAI +0.113

3. GAS +0.525

4. OCO +0.572

5. HAM +0.573

6. PER +0.654

7. RUS +0.662

8. ALO +0.795

9. SAR +0.906

10. VER +1.166

Verstappen yet to do a lap on the soft tyres, likewise Perez. Piastri goes long at turn one, his previous flatspot causing him issues in the same corner, struggling to slow the car down.

03:11 PM

FP2 - Leclerc has issues

"Guys there's something strange with the clutch," he says on the radio. Perez and Leclerc getting close at turn eight.

Piastri has a bit of a drag race with Tsunoda down to turn one but Lance Stroll is sitting in the middle of the track slowly approaching the apex. Piastri locks up having to dive deep on the inside... could have been a crash there.

03:07 PM

FP2 - Leclerc then goes fastest

A tenth or so faster than his team-mate. Gasly third, Ocon fourth and Hamilton fifth. They are the top five runners and all on the soft tyres.

03:05 PM

FP2 - Ocon crosses the line with a 1:32.415

He catches and gets a bit of a tow from Lewis Hamilton towards the end of the lap to go fastest.

Sainz beats Ocon's time, though, to go faster still, by nearly half a second.

03:04 PM

FP2 - Esteban Ocon getting on with things

He is straight onto the quicker soft tyres for what looks like a qualifying simulation run.

03:03 PM

FP2 - 58 mins remain

Lance Stroll is the first driver out and you would expect that he is keen to get on with things. He missed the pre-season test through injury and then had limited running in FP1 earlier today.

03:00 PM

GREEN LIGHT: FP2 begins

The usual drill. 60 minutes, as many laps as you like.

02:48 PM

Just under 15 minutes until the second practice session starts

The floodlights are on and and the track conditions will have cooled. If you are just catching up on your F1 for the first time since last season, here is a handy team-by-team guide to take you through all 10 outfits on the grid. 

Will it be Red Bull topping the timesheets again?

02:38 PM

If you want a reminder of the times after FP1...

...you can click here. 

02:33 PM

AlphaTauri released a statement yesterday

Team principal Franz Tost:

02:26 PM

What does Christian Horner think about Red Bull's first practice session?

Coy. And that is probably fair enough.

02:22 PM

Night (or twilight) races are increasingly common in F1

This season we have a total of six: Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Qatar, Las Vegas and Abu Dhabi. As race Bahrain has tended to be better since it moved to a night race. The track remains pretty good for racing even if there are not an absolute hatful of overtaking opportunities.

The cars do look pretty neat under lights, too.

02:13 PM

Good afternoon

Welcome back to our coverage for F1's first day of practice ahead of the Bahrain Grand Prix. FP2 begins in about 45 minutes and should give us a better picture of the competitive order.

12:58 PM

Hamilton escapes further jewellery scrutiny through medical exemption

By Tom Cary, Senior Sports Correspondent in Sakhir

Lewis Hamilton has been given a special medical exemption to wear his nose stud over concerns about “disfigurement”.

The ruling, announced by FIA stewards in Bahrain on Friday, brings to an end a long-running standoff between the seven-time world champion and motorsport’s world governing body.

Hamilton fought a running battle with the FIA last year over his decision to wear jewellery in-race, arguing that it was his body and pointing out that he had been wearing it his entire career.

Ahead of the last season's Miami GP, the 38-year-old sarcastically wore eight rings, four necklaces, three watches, at least one bracelet, and his earrings during a press conference as he joked he would be willing to sit out races if the FIA pressed on with the ban.

Threatened with sanction, the Mercedes driver eventually relented but complained in Singapore last autumn that repeatedly taking out the stud over the course of the summer had caused his nose to become infected, developing a blister filled with “blood and pus”.

Ahead of the first practice for Sunday’s season opening grand prix, the FIA’s medical delegate advised the stewards that Hamilton should be granted an exemption due to the difficulty of removing one of his items of jewellery.

“The stewards consulted the FIA medical delegate, who viewed the medical report, examined the driver and concurred with the opinion therein,” the stewards noted. “We have determined to take no further action as there are concerns about disfigurement with frequent attempts at removal of the device.”

The FIA confirmed that Hamilton would not need to keep asking for the exemption at every race, effectively drawing a line under the matter.

A spokesperson stressed that the decision was specific to Hamilton and taken on medical grounds, and that the rule would still apply to Formula One drivers as they are “the most visible competitors in world motor sport”, and it was “their responsibility to set the example for other drivers at every age, level and discipline”.

12:43 PM

Watch: Albon nearly tags Piastri

A close call...

12:39 PM

Well, what did we learn in those 60 minutes?

McLaren are a bit stronger than we thought? Mercedes and Ferrari not showing their full hands. Aston Martin's promise could be realised?

As I've mentioned before, the second practice session will be more representative as it will be run in pretty much the same conditions as qualifying tomorrow and the race on Sunday. It is also the only session that is a "simulation" as such for qualifying.

12:34 PM

FP1 - Classification

1. PER 1:32.758

2. ALO +0.438

3. VER +0.617

4. NOR +1.407

5. LEC +1.499

6. STR +1.540

7. MAG +1.644

8. ZHO +1.817

9. BOT +1.931

10. HAM +2.159

11. RUS +2.208

12. PIA +2.239

13. TSU +2.257

14. HUL +2.285

15. OCO +2.347

16. DEV +2.644

17. GAS +2.697

18. SAR +2.991

19. ALB +3.260

20. SAI +3.314

12:32 PM

FP1 ends - Perez fastest

Red Bull begin the first session of 2023 where they finished 2022 – on top. He leads Alonso, team-mate Verstappen, Norris, Leclerc and Stroll.

Full classification on the way shortly.

12:31 PM

FP1 - Into the final minute

Doesn't look like we'll see any soft-tyre runs from Ferrari or Mercedes, then.

12:28 PM

FP1 - Stroll moves into sixth

Two Aston Martins in the top six, then. Albon, who has done the fewest laps of anyone at 12, is back out again in the Williams FW45.

12:24 PM

Sky Sports F1 ask Zac Brown for a prediction for McLaren this weekend

12:21 PM

FP1 - Into the final 10 minutes

Fernando Alonso pops up into second with his latest lap on the soft tyres. Currently splitting the Red Bulls. Doesn't look like Mercedes will bother with the soft tyres this session. Most will, though.

12:20 PM

FP1 - An update on the top 10

1. PER 1:32.758

2. VER +0.617

3. NOR +1.407

4. LEC +4.499

5. ZHO +1.817

6. BOT +1.931

7. ALO +2.109

8. PIA +2.239

9. HAM +2.256

10. TSU +2.257

Some of those on the medium tyres, some on softs.

12:17 PM

FP1 - 15 mins remain

And it's a Red Bull 1-2 currently. Make of that what you will but nobody is within 1.3sec of them. We haven't seen either Mercedes nor the Ferrari on the soft tyres yet.

In any case, this session is not the most representative.

12:11 PM

FP1 - Sainz has a spin

Lost it on the bump in the way unto turn nine. Locks up all four wheels but manages to keep it out of the wall and gravel trap.

Meanwhile, Norris moves into third on his latest soft-tyre run, 1.4sec off Perez.

12:08 PM

FP1 - Yellow flags in sector one

It lasted but a couple of seconds, and it was Norris going straight on at turn one. McLaren's problems continue. Didn't lock up but didn't really attempt the corner.

12:06 PM

FP1 - 24 mins remain

Bottas moves into third, but 1.9sec down on fastest man Verstappen.  Hmmmm.

12:05 PM

Looks like helmet cam is continuing

I still think it could be better...

12:04 PM

FP1 - Stroll has returned to the track for Aston Martin

It was an ignition issue that lost him track time.

12:03 PM

FP1 - Perez and Verstappen improve

They have moved onto the soft tyres, which explains that. Perez takes off about 1.5sec off his fastest time to go faster still. A few of the other runners putting on soft tyres now, too.

Verstappen is 0.617sec behind his team-mate after those runs. Not sure what happened there. More fuel, maybe a mistake.

12:01 PM

FP1 - How it stands after 30 mins

1. PER 1:34.343

2. ALO +0.524

3. HAM +0.671

4. MAG +1.077

5. VER +1.086

6. GAS +1.328

7. HUL +1.522

8. LEC +1.648

9. RUS +1.656

10. OCO +1.714

11. SAI +1.729

12. SAR +1.759

13. ALB +1.873

14. PIA +1.931

15. NOR +2.145

16. TSU +2.420

17. ZHO +2.546

18. BOT +2.806

19. DEV +3.150

20. STR (NO TIME)

11:56 AM

FP1 - It seems the issue is with the car, not Stroll

Is that more or less reassuring for the team?

Meanwhile, Fernando Alonso, his new Aston Martin team-mate has moved up to second, 0.524sec off Perez's time.

We are still several seconds off the fastest time in testing, by the way. But the track conditions are far from what they will be in a few hours and far from their fastest.

11:54 AM

FP1 - 36 mins remain

Every driver has a lap time on the board aside from Lance Stroll, who has just done the two laps so far. Ocon moves up into the top 10 in the pink Alpine. I wonder whether Stroll is struggling with that injury. Maybe not, might just be that this is his first time in the car so other adjustments need to be made.

11:50 AM

FP1 - Hamilton improves again

He is third, but goes within 0.821sec of Perez in the lead. Most running done on the mediums so far. Replays show the Ferrari's rear wing wobbling excessively as Leclerc runs over one of the kerbs.

11:49 AM

Not what you want...

11:47 AM

FP1 - Top 10 after 15 or so mins

1. PER 1:34.343

2. ALO +0.524

3. VER +1.086

4. HAM +1.119

5. GAS +1.328

6. RUS +1.740

7. SAR +1.759

8. SAI +1.839

9. ALB +1.873

10. PIA +1.931

11:43 AM

FP1 - Hamilton and Russell get out there for their first laps

11:41 AM

FP1 - Piastri loses it through the esses

Loses the rear but keeps it going in the right direction after running wide.

11:37 AM

FP1 - 54 mins remain

Alonso is currently the fastest man in the early stages, with a 1:35.048. Very early days, though. Verstappen and Stroll leave the pits for their first laps which means it's just the two Mercedes drivers who are yet to get out there.

11:33 AM

FP1 - 57 mins remain

Everyone on track apart from Verstappen, Stroll and the two Mercedes cars.

11:30 AM

GREEN LIGHT: FP1 begins

And the first grand prix weekend of 2023 is under way!

I wouldn't pay too much attention to how things stack up in the first session today but the second, under lights as tomorrow's qualifying and Sunday's race will be, will be one to monitor.

Alexander Albon is the first driver to leave the garage.

11:25 AM

A Red Bull lookalike, porpoising cures and McLaren woes – F1's 2023 cars analysed

Telegraph Sport columnist and former F1 technical director Gary Anderson took us through the changes to the cars this year, from front to back. Read his full analysis of the grid here. 

FP1 begins in just under five minutes. 

11:21 AM

Lance Stroll will be racing for Aston Martin this weekend

Well, he'll be taking part in the first practice session at least. He missed testing after sustaining an injury to his wrist/arm in a cycling incident. Felipe Drugovich took his place.

11:16 AM

Lewis Hamilton hints at testing FIA's political statement ban in Bahrain

Mercedes' seven-time world champion says he believes governing body's ruling is 100 per cent wrong and nothing would stop him speaking out. Read more from Tom Cary here. 

11:10 AM

Update on the Hamilton jewellery situation

The FIA are going to leave it alone. Having it drag on would have been, a pain, quite frankly.

11:09 AM

Max Verstappen was asked where this year's Red Bull was better than last year's

"Everywhere," he simply replies.

11:00 AM

Looks like the FIA are going to continue with their jewellery ban

This, from the Sun's Ben Hunt.

Every other driver has complied, but it reads:

10:51 AM

A reminder on the 23 races that make up the 2023 season

10:46 AM

What are the driver line-ups this year?

Red Bull: Max Verstappen (1) and Sergio Pérez (11)
Mercedes: Lewis Hamilton (44) and George Russell (63)
Ferrari: Carlos Sainz (55) and Charles Leclerc (55)
Alpine: Esteban Ocon (31) and Pierre Gasly (10)
McLaren: Lando Norris (4) and Oscar Piastri (81)
Alfa Romeo: Valtteri Bottas (77) and Guanyu Zhou (24)
Aston Martin: Lance Stroll (18) and Fernando Alonso (14)
Haas: Kevin Magnussen (20) and Nico Hulkenberg (27)
AlphaTauri: Yuki Tsunoda (22) and Nyck de Vries (21)
Williams: Alexander Albon (23) and Logan Sargeant (2)

10:14 AM

Good morning F1 fans

The 2023 Formula One season is nearly – and finally – upon us. We've had testing but that, really, doesn't do a great deal for working out the competitive order. By the end of today we should have a better idea who leads the pack and who has ground to make up.

Of course, after last season and some of the hints we got in testing, we have some inkling. Red Bull will be hard to stop and look favourites, but if they are fastest, but by how much? You would worry if the gap was any larger than it was at the end of last year, but this is but one race. It does not mean that an big advantage early on will carry on throughout the season.

As for Red Bull's greatest challengers, you would also expect it would be Ferrari and Mercedes, as was the case last year. Mercedes took a while – a very long while – to get their season going, only winning in the final race. The noises coming from Mercedes sound more optimistic than last year, but it doesn't seem like they think they will have a race-winning car at the very start of the season.

Ferrari, on the other hand, have a new team principal, Frederic Vasseur. They at least did mount a title challenge last year, but it petered out early on. Their car is a fundamentally quick one, but they were arguably the third slowest team as the season ended.

It might be a bit of a stretch to expect any team outside of the big three to break into it this year. Ferrari, Red Bull and Mercedes scored all but one of the podium slots in 2022. Yet there has been some talk (or hype) around Aston Martin. Alpine too could be a candidate to disrupt the big three.

McLaren, who had threatened in recent seasons, struggled in pre-season and will start on the back foot. How bad will it be for them? 2022 started off pretty badly here (finishing 14th and 15th) but it did improve.

As for the other sub plots to watch out for? Lewis Hamilton vs George Russell at Mercedes will be one. Hamilton was beaten by his younger compatriot last year but has never suffered that fate two seasons in a row. Of course, it would be interesting if they were both fighting for the championship, but that hope may be a bit too much to ask.

Anyway, first practice gets under way at 11.30am GMT and lasts for an hour with the second session running from 3pm-4pm under lights in Bahrain. We will be here for all of the updates.