Red Bull’s Max Verstappen edged Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc in second practice at the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix.
Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz was third with Mercedes driver George Russell fourth, but 0.5 seconds off the pace.
Lewis Hamilton could manage only ninth fastest time in his Mercedes.
Verstappen was 0.084secs quicker than Leclerc as Red Bull and Ferrari seemed to establish themselves as the teams to beat.
Fernando Alonso was fifth for Alpine, but nearly a second off the pace, and ahead of Alfa Romeo’s Valtteri Bottas, Red Bull’s Sergio Perez, Haas’ Mick Schumacher, Hamilton and the second Haas of Kevin Magnussen.
McLaren driver Lando Norris was 11th fastest, team-mate Daniel Ricciardo down in 18th place after suffering from a water leak. (BBC)
