The 2023 Formulation 1 season acquired off to a rocky begin for Aston Martin, even earlier than pre-season testing acquired underway at Bahrain Worldwide Circuit. The group introduced that driver Lance Stroll would miss pre-season testing after an accident throughout coaching, and that he would get replaced by reserve driver Felipe Drugovich.
It was Drugovich who was up first on Thursday, taking the AMR23 out to the observe first for Aston Martin. Sadly, his session was restricted by {an electrical} subject, which precipitated an early purple flag throughout the session when the AMR23 got here to a cease:
It solely took 9 minutes for the primary purple flag at testing
Aston Martin’s Felipe Drugovich, standing in for the injured Lance Stroll, has stopped on observe. pic.twitter.com/xdiHJLq893
— ESPN F1 (@ESPNF1) February 23, 2023
Aston Martin was in a position to resolve the difficulty, and get Drugovich again onto the observe, however by the point the morning testing session got here to a detailed, the group had solely posted 40 laps throughout the session, properly behind Williams, who posted 74 with Alex Albon on the wheel:
Bahrain Day 1 Morning lap counter
Williams on prime with 74 laps, whereas Aston had a little bit of a wrestle this morning with stopping on observe – solely 40 laps.I am undecided if I missed it – however had been there any critical delays for AlphaTauri, Haas, McLaren, or simply lengthy turnarounds? pic.twitter.com/rXW6NiOuTF
— BRRRAKE (@brrrake) February 23, 2023
Veteran driver Fernando Alonso was slated to take to the observe for Aston Martin within the afternoon session, however even that acquired off to a troublesome begin. Alonso’s session was delayed resulting from a problem with the automotive’s flooring, which was reportedly broken throughout a apply pit cease.
Finally, Alonso was in a position to get onto the observe, and he posted one of many quickest lap occasions of the day, getting himself at one level as much as P5 on the classification, earlier than sliding all the way down to P6:
Alonso even closed the hole additional because the second session of the day wore on, stepping into second place, simply tenths behind Verstappen and forward of the Ferrari duo of Carlos Sainz Jr. and Charles Leclerc. That’s the place Alonso ended the primary day of testing:
Following the morning session, Drugovich talked concerning the electrical subject, however highlighted how the group was nonetheless in a position to end their total program, making probably the most out of a wrestle firstly:
So whereas it might need been a sluggish begin for Aston Martin on Thursday, Alonso was in a position to assist the group take advantage of their time on the observe.
