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F1: Lewis Hamilton keeps Mercedes W05 on top in Bahrain

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Khatir Soltani
The Formula 1 teams concluded their first in-season test of 2014 at the Bahrain International Circuit Wednesday, with Lewis Hamilton taking the wheel of the F1 W05 for the second of two days' running in Sakhir this week.

Hamilton' best time of 1m34.136 from 120 laps put him first on the time sheets. Yesterday, his teammate Nico Rosberg also set the fastest time of the day.

Mercedes's programme focused on tires, with the team conducting a range of tests on behalf of Pirelli in line with the 2014 Formula One Sporting Regulations.

Hamilton completed 50 laps in the morning, and further 70 laps followed in the afternoon. He set his best time on a set of Pirelli experimental tires.

Frenchman Jean-Eric Vergne ranked second in the Toro Rosso-Renault. The team sheet focussed mainly on chassis work with the team making a major change to the suspension over the lunch-break.

McLaren rookie Kevin Magnussen was third. The team able to complete its planned aerodynamic correlation work; however, a car problem pitched Magnussen into the gravel just before lunchtime, and the team spent much of the remainder of the day repair the subsequent damage to the chassis.

Sergio Perez was fourth in the Sahara Force India, followed by Daniel Ricciardo of Red Bull Racing, Marussia’s Jules Bianchi, Giedo van der Garde (Sauber) and… Fernando Alonso in the Ferrari.

The Scuderia had to stop the test when the chassis of the F14 T was found to be damaged.

Marcus Ericsson (Caterham), Felipe Nasr (Williams) and Romain Grosjean (Lotus) completed the order.

Best lap times of the day:
Pos. Driver Car Time Laps
1 Lewis Hamilton Mercedes AMG 1m34.136 120 laps
2 Jean-Eric Vergne Toro Rosso 1m35.557 64
3 Kevin Magnussen McLaren 1m36.203 26
4 Sergio Pérez Force India 1m36.586 63
5 Daniel Ricciardo Red Bull 1m37.310 67
6 Jules Bianchi Marussia 1m37.316 93
7 Giedo van der Garde Sauber 1m37.623 77
8 Fernando Alonso Ferrari 1m37.912 12
9 Marcus Ericsson Caterham 1m39.263 66
10 Felipe Nasr Williams 1m39.879 64
11 Romain Grosjean Lotus 1m43.732 16


Khatir Soltani
Khatir Soltani
Automotive expert
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