Prema driver Charles Leclerc has been promoted to the top of the timesheets during F2 testing in Bahrain, after original pacesetter Nobuharu Matsushita had his best time deleted for failing to observe red flags.
Leclerc had been quickest at Sakhir before Matsushita pulled clear during the closing stages on a dry/wet/dry day of running, finishing the opening day of action up front.
However, it later transpired that Matsushita, along with Antonio Fuoco, Louis Delétraz, Johnny Cecotto Jr and Sergio Canamasas, had failed to respect a red flag, which came after Ralph Boschung stopped on track due to a technical issue.
All five were stripped of the times posted, leaving Leclerc at the front of the pack, courtesy of the 1:41.454 set during the morning session.
Jordan King was thus promoted to second position, with Luca Ghiotto third and Norman Nato fourth, for MP, Russian Time and Arden respectively.
Matsushita's time from the morning session was sufficient for the McLaren-Honda development driver to take fifth, ahead of DAMS duo Oliver Rowland and Nicholas Latifi.
Alexander Albon was eighth, with Nyck de Vries and the aforementioned Fuoco promoted into the top 10 following the decision to delete the times set by Delétraz and Cecotto Jr.
The top 10 all recorded their quickest times during the morning session.
