FP1: Gasly impresses with first P1 of the 2022 season

Pierre Gasly put in a “nice” lap, his words, to go quickest in the first practice session of the new Formula 1 season in Bahrain.

Three months after the 2021 season concluded in controversial circumstances, Formula 1 turned in a lap in anger – but it was a rather different looking Formula 1 that took to the track at the Sakhir circuit for the first practice of the new season.

Formula 1 has made sweeping changed to the technical regulations, all-new cars designed around ground effect aerodynamics and with simpler wings. It intent being to create cars that can follow each other far more closely.

FP1 was the first hint at what Formula 1 can expect this season and so far it is looking good for Gasly and AlphaTauri P1, but not so great for Alfa Romeo with Valtteri Bottas unable to set a lap time.

We're into the final 10 minutes of our first session!@PierreGASLY is the man to beat with a time of 1:34.193 #BahrainGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/gHfQi8JrPK

— Formula 1 (@F1) March 18, 2022

Charles Leclerc with a tail full of aero rakes, Ferrari trialling a new diffuser, was the first man on track followed by Bottas. The Finn was immediately back into the pits, reporting “quite a bit of misfiring” with the Ferrari engine in his Alfa Romeo.

Two drivers who were in desperate need of a clean run were Daniel Ricciardo and Nico Hulkenberg. Ricciardo missed all three days of the Bahrain test after testing positive for Covid-19 while for Hulkenberg Friday was his first run in the new 2022 cars, the Aston Martin reserve driver stepping in for Sebastian Vettel after he recorded a positive test.

Esteban Ocon joined the list of drivers in trouble, the red flags out when a piece of his right sidepod fell off as he flew down the straight. Alpine had