Max Verstappen recorded the fastest time again in Friday’s second practice session as Red Bull continued to throw down the gauntlet to subdued Mercedes in Bahrain.
After Red Bull set the pace in pre-season testing, Verstappen - who will now be hunting only his fourth career pole position this weekend - had already gone quickest in the first practice of the 2021 season at the Sakhir International Circuit on Friday and he followed that up with another encouraging performance in FP2.
The Dutchman’s fastest lap of 1:30.847s was 0.095s quicker than Briton Lando Norris, who impressed for McLaren.
“Now we have to show what we can do in qualifying,” said Verstappen, whose new team-mate Sergio Perez was 10th-fastest in FP2.
“I think it’s going to be even more windy so it will be even more difficult to drive.”
Seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton was third fastest in the session, ahead of Ferrari new-boy Carlos Sainz, Mercedes team-mate Valtteri Bottas, McLaren’s Daniel Ricciardo and AlphaTauri rookie Yuki Tsunoda.
It was the most experienced driver on the grid that appeared to make the biggest error in FP2, with Kimi Raikkonen losing the front wing on his Alfa Romeo C41 after crashing into the tyre wall after exiting turn two.
