Bortoleto fastest on final day of testing for Trident

Gabriel Bortoleto ended pre-season testing on top, setting a 1:47.417 to lead the way on the final day of running for Trident. He narrowly headed up the field from Gabriele Minì, just 0.035s off the top spot with Grégoire Saucy in the top three once again.

One final four-hour session capped off the pre-season test around the Bahrain International Circuit, with teams getting the last chance to prepare ahead of Round 1. Here is how the final day of FIA Formula 3 testing unfolded in Bahrain.

AS IT HAPPENED

The extended session got underway with Rafael Villagómez taking the top spot in the early laps, but it didn’t take long for Saucy to return to the summit. The Swiss driver posted a 1:47.610 to return to familiar territory in the opening runs.

Bortoleto was next to take over P1, going just under a tenth clear of Saucy with a 1:47.417 less than an hour gone. Paul Aron also moved PREMA Racing inside the top three as the first hour elapsed. Hugh Barter and Dino Beganovic were separated by 0.004s in fourth and fifth.

Minì moved into second, just 0.035s off the top spot with an hour and 20 minutes elapsed. Approaching the halfway stage of the final day, ART Grand Prix kept their drivers busiest, logging over 80 laps. Saucy remained second ahead of Kaylen Frederick and Nikola Tsolov, ninth and 10th respectively.

Race runs became the focus for everyone thereafter, with everyone logging the mileage on multiple lap runs. It stayed that way as the clock ticked into the final hour, with Bortoleto’s earlier time meaning he still headed up the field for Trident.

Race stints remained the focus for every driver and it was Caio Collet that broke the 50-lap barrier first. The Van Amersfoort Racing driver hit the half-century mark with 30 minutes to run as the track got very busy once more.

There was a Red Flag with five minutes left of the session as Sophia Flörsch stopped by the side of the track. The session was restarted, but with less than two minutes left, nobody returned to the track. Bortoleto remained on top from Miní and Saucy. Collet eventually reached 61 laps completed to head the way on lap count.

Formula 3 returns to Sakhir for Round 1 of the 2023 season from 3-5 March.

2023 FIA FORMULA 3 CHAMPIONSHIP – SAKHIR PRE-SEASON TEST, DAY 3