Mercedes line-up for the tests in Bahrain: Russell and Antonelli on track every day

The favorites arrive After having set the record for the number of laps completed in the shakedown test in Barcelona and after all the rumors within the paddock accredit it as the great favorite for this new Formula 1 season, Mercedes presents itself at the Bahrain tests which will start tomorrow morning on the Sakhir track with all eyes on it. The W17 will have to continue to demonstrate its reliability while the Brackley team will probably try to start working on its speed performance too, which naturally took a back seat in Catalonia. Morning-afternoon division Mercedes chose a different approach for the division of work between its two drivers – George Russell and Kimi Antonelli – from that of Haas, which was the first team to announce the line-up for the tests. In fact, Russell and Antonelli will both be in the car for all three days, dividing the work between morning and afternoon. The Englishman will open the sessions on Wednesday and Friday, with Antonelli taking over in the afternoon. Roles reversed instead on Thursday. Naturally, there is also anticipation to see what Antonelli’s condition will be after the road accident – fortunately without consequences – which involved the young talent from Bologna in San Marino over the weekend.