Max Verstappen leads the way on day one of 2024 pre-season F1 testing
Verstappen Dominates Day One of Bahrain Testing
In a surprising turn of events at the Bahrain International Circuit, Max Verstappen showcased his speed during the initial day of testing. The Red Bull driver set the pace with an impressive lap time of 1m31.344s on the C3 Pirelli tires, which will be crucial in the upcoming Bahrain Grand Prix.
Lando Norris from McLaren and Carlos Sainz from Ferrari followed closely behind, but they were no match for Verstappen’s remarkable performance. Norris trailed by 1.14 seconds, with Sainz just a tenth further back in third place.
Daniel Ricciardo impressed by securing the fourth-fastest time for Red Bull’s second squad (now known as RB), while Pierre Gasly from Alpine and Lance Stroll from Aston Martin also made their mark in the top six positions.
Charles Leclerc managed to claim seventh place for Ferrari after a strong morning session effort. Meanwhile, Fernando Alonso represented Aston Martin with a solid eighth-place finish.
The top ten was rounded out by Oscar Piastri from McLaren and Zhou Guanyu from Sauber, showcasing their potential ahead of the upcoming season opener.
Key Highlights From Day One
- Max Verstappen completed an impressive 142 laps throughout the day – more than any other driver on track.
- Alex Albon faced technical issues when his Williams lost power suddenly during practice sessions.
- Esteban Ocon encountered difficulties at Turn 4 due to oversteer in his Alpine car, adding drama to the testing day.
- Kevin Magnussen had to deal with both loose aero equipment and fuel system problems in his Haas F1 Team car but managed to overcome them effectively.