Issues with the cooling system on Alfa Romeo’s Formula 1 car were to blame for the team’s relative lack of running during second practice for the Bahrain Grand Prix.
Kimi Raikkonen completed only six laps early in the session before he was forced to remain in the garage for the remainder of proceedings as Alfa Romeo worked on his C38.
Antonio Giovinazzi was able to return to the circuit during the closing stages but amassed only 10 laps, leaving the pair behind their opponents in terms of preparation; the third least productive driver – Lando Norris – racked up 25 laps.
“That was obviously not the plan but what can you do?,” said Raikkonen.
“Unfortunately, we had a leak in the cooling system and they almost got it back together, but it was too late.”
Raikkonen thus finished the session in 16th position, with Giovinazzi close behind in 18th spot.
“On the first [run], the car felt very good but I didn’t manage a very good lap, so it will be a bit more unknown than if we would have run,” he said of Alfa Romeo’s potential.
“It would be a bit easier to say but I don’t think it’s an awfully different picture than what we had in the last race.
“It will be very close and if we get good laps in then they’ll give you a very good result. We’ll see after tomorrow.”
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