Power cut stops track action at Bahrain test

A power cut at the Bahrain International Circuit stopped track action during day one of the Formula 1 preseason test.

A red flag was issued on Wednesday at around 5 p.m. local time during the first afternoon session after team garages and pitwall monitors turned to darkness.

The floodlights on the track also went out as dusk approached.

George Russell told Sky Sports on the lack of lighting: "I came to the pits and said 'it's dark out here, I need to change my visor!' Then I realised there are no floodlights around.

"It would have been hectic if this was an hour later and the sun had already set."

The session continues until 7 p.m. local time, with teams having a reduced running period when the session resumes.

Ferrari's Charles Leclerc was top of the times before the interruption with 32 laps completed and a time of 1:30.878.

Mercedes' Andrea Kimi Antonelli topped the morning session.