Sainz tops final Formula 1 practice for Ferrari at F1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix 2024

Manama : Carlos Sainz set the pace in the third and final Formula 1 practice session of the F1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix 2024—the Kingdom’s 20th anniversary F1 weekend taking place at Bahrain International Circuit (BIC) in Sakhir.
 
The Ferrari star topped the times in the hour-long session, held in cool conditions under the afternoon sun.
 
The practice was part of the day’s packed programme celebrating “20 Years of a Modern Classic”.
 
The weekend’s events are now set for a fantastic climax with the first-ever F1 Saturday (1 March) Race Day at BIC. Gates are scheduled to open to fans from 9am to 11pm, and plenty of racing along with the grand prix’s biggest-ever entertainment programme await fans.
 
With BIC’s grandstands completely sold out, fans wishing to be a part of F1 history can still take advantage of two of BIC’s hospitality options: The Dome by F1 Experiences and The Champions Club.
 
There is some availability in each, both of which offer exclusive experiences in an unmatched setting for Race Day. The Dome by F1 Experiences and The Champions Club are specially curated hospitality options created in cooperation with F1 Experiences for the most passionate of F1 enthusiasts.
 
To purchase these hospitality packages, go to bahraingp.com, call the BIC Hotline on +973-17450000, or visit the BIC stand at City Centre Bahrain or the Last Point of Sales at Exhibition World Bahrain.
 
Sainz clocked a best lap of one minute 30.824 seconds while completing 18 laps of running.
 
His time was not as quick as Lewis Hamilton’s pace-setting lap from practice two held Thursday night. It did, however, beat Daniel Ricciardo’s timesheet-topping mark from the first practice.
 
Two-time world champion Fernando Alonso was behind Sainz for Aston Martin with a narrow 0.141 seconds gap, while three-time defending world champion Max Verstappen came third for Red Bull 0.238s back.
 
Charles Leclerc in the other Ferrari classified fourth 0.270s from his teammate, while Lando Norris of McLaren followed 0.294s from the top. George Russell of Mercedes made it five constructors in the session’s leading six, finishing 0.366s from number one.
 
McLaren’s Oscar Piastri was seventh 0.386s off the pace, Red Bull’s Sergio Perez finished eighth 0.424s from Sainz, while Nico Hulkenberg (+0.454s) of Haas and Lance Stroll (+0.572s) of Aston Martin completed the top 10.
 
Completing the third practice classification were Ricciardo, Hamilton, Yuki Tsunoda of RB, Kevin Magnussen of Haas, Alexander Albon of Williams, Zhou Guanyu and Valtteri Bottas of Kick Sauber, Esteban Ocon of Alpine, Logan Sargeant of Williams, and Pierre Gasly of Alpine.
 
The stage is now set for the first qualifying battles of the F1 season.
 
Prema Racing’s Lindblad wins sprint race on F3 debut
 
Arvid Lindblad triumphed today in the season-opening sprint race of the 2024 FIA Formula 3 Championship, held in support of the Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix.
 
The Briton powered to victory for defending champions Prema Racing after taking over as race leader late in the 19-lap event.
 
Lindblad claimed the chequered flag in a winning time of 35 minutes 35.482 seconds, enjoying a 5.478-second gap from runner-up and pole-sitter Laurens van Hoepen of ART Grand Prix.
 
Lindblad registered his maiden F3 race win on his very first start.
 
Leonardo Fornaroli of Trident clinched the other podium place after finishing 5.514 seconds behind the winner. ART’s Nikola Tsolov, who led for much of the sprint, had to settle for fourth, while Tim Tramnitz of MP Motorsport was fifth, Max Esterson of Jenzer Motorsport six, Gabriele Mini of Prema seventh, and Mari Boya of Campos Racing eighth.
 
Completing the top 10 and rounding off the points winners were Oliver Goethe of Campos and Sami Meguetounif of Trident.
 
The F3 field returns to action for the 22-lap feature race, scheduled for Saturday at 12noon, with Prema’s Dino Beganovic on pole.
 
Oeverhaus, De Haan claim poles for PCCME races
 
Theo Oeverhaus captured pole position for the first race this weekend in the Porsche Carrera Cup Middle East, being held in support of the Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix 2024.
Oeverhaus took the leading grid place after topping the qualifying timesheet with a best lap of two minutes 01.529 seconds.
 
Meanwhile, Robert De Haan clinched pole for race two after posting the best time amongst the second-fastest laps of each driver in qualifying. De Haan’s lap was 2:01.784.
 
Both Oeverhaus and De Haan are on the front row for the weekend’s first sprint, scheduled for this evening at 8.45pm. Harry King qualified third and will start alongside Janne Stiak.
 
Qualified as the leading driver in the ProAm class was Khaled Alahmadi, while Sebastian Gorga is on pole amongst the Am competitors.
 
For race two, De Haan and Oeverhaus are once again the front pairing, with De Haan this time the pole man. Stiak and King remain as row-two starters this time in third and fourth, respectively.
 
The second race of the weekend is scheduled for Saturday at 3pm.
 
Spectacular 20th anniversary air display, Gulf Air fly past set for pre-race festivities
 
A spectacular 20th anniversary air show will take place Saturday as part of the pre-race festivities at BIC.
 
With the Kingdom of Bahrain celebrating its historic milestone in F1 this year, this special air display has been organised as part of the exciting final build-up to the start of Bahrain’s 57-lap night race.
 
The show is scheduled for a 5.32pm start and it can be enjoyed from all areas of the circuit.
Also taking place in the skies above BIC prior to lights out is the traditional Gulf Air fly past, which will once again be thrilling fans.
 
This aviation spectacle, now a favourite amongst race-goers at every year’s race, is set to start at 5.46pm.
 
Prior to these, fans will be treated to a drivers’ parade starting at 4pm.
 
’10 Every 10’ raffle for Main Grandstand ticket-holders Saturday
 
Race-goers attending Bahrain’s first-ever F1 Saturday night race will have a chance to win valuable prizes.
 
All those seated along BIC’s Main Grandstand are included in a draw and may come away as one of many lucky winners in the “10 Every 10” raffle.
 
All they have to do is be in their allotted seats from 4.45pm until the race starts at 6pm. Ten random winners will be announced every 10 minutes during this period, making for plenty of additional excitement amongst those in attendance.
 
Prizes include high-end mobile phones and tablets, smart watches, headsets, gaming consoles, and so much more.
 
Fans are advised to be in their seats on time as winners will be identified by their seat numbers. They will be announced and located by BIC staff, so they must be in their seat in order to claim their prize.
 
Race-goers should not miss out on this wonderful opportunity so they must make sure that they are in their Main Grandstand seat for the duration of the raffle. Only those with Main Grandstand tickets are a part of the draw.
 
Diplo set for post-race, live performance
 
Grammy-nominated DJ and producer Diplo will be performing live at the Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix 2024 with a post-race, Saturday night concert.
 
All those attending F1 Race Day will be able to enjoy the show at no extra charge. Diplo’s performance is scheduled to begin at 9pm.
 
Aside from the concert, fans can also enjoy plenty more family entertainment including thrilling carnival rides; kids’ shows featuring some of their favourite Nickelodeon characters such as SpongeBob SquarePants, Dora the Explorer, Paw Patrol and Shimmer and Shine; an extreme circus; roaming entertainers; an F1 Fanzone bringing race-goers closer to a unique F1 experience; and so much more.