The 2024 F1 winter testing in Bahrain saw Max Verstappen outpace competitors, highlighting a promising start. With various testing conditions, early results hint at potential season dynamics.
The first day of the 2024 F1 winter testing concluded in Bahrain after eight hours on the track. Max Verstappen topped the timesheets, yet it’s still early to draw conclusions from the standings due to the varied testing conditions.
The afternoon session was uneventful, though Williams faced challenges with Logan Sargeant spinning out and a gearbox issue. The American driver managed 21 laps before being confined to the garage, totaling 61 laps together with Alex Albon.
Otherwise, there were no incidents, as teams engaged in diligent programs to validate technical solutions. The majority of runs were on C3 tires, meaning mediums, and lap times improved in the afternoon as the track cooled.
Verstappen Dominates, Norris Trails in F1 Winter Testing Day
Verstappen improved to a 1’31″344, significantly faster than last year’s first day of winter testing. Lando Norris placed his McLaren second, over a second behind the Dutchman, marking a considerable gap.
Carlos Sainz logged the third-fastest time ahead of Daniel Ricciardo and Pierre Gasly, who picked up pace late in the day. Alpine had a quiet start with C1 tires but sought more performance with medium compounds towards the end.
Lance Stroll recorded the sixth-fastest time but lost a mirror, which Nico Hülkenberg ran over without damage. Charles Leclerc and his morning lap time secured seventh place ahead of Fernando Alonso and Oscar Piastri, the morning’s top three. Guanyu Zhou finished tenth, ahead of Sargeant.
In terms of laps completed, Max Verstappen led the way, followed by George Russell, as they were the only drivers to run the full day. However, Haas was the most active team on the track.
Stay tuned for a team-by-team analysis of this first day in the coming hours, and we’ll be live at 8 AM tomorrow for the second day of winter testing.
F1 Testing 2024 Day 1 Leaderboard
| N. | Driver | Team | Time | Laps |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull Honda RBPT RB20 | 1:31.344 | 143 |
| 02 | Lando Norris | McLaren Mercedes MCL38 | 1:32.484 | 73 |
| 03 | Carlos Sainz | Ferrari SF-24 | 1:32.584 | 69 |
| 04 | Daniel Ricciardo | RB RBPT VCARB 01 | 1:32.599 | 52 |
| 05 | Pierre Gasly | Alpine Renault A524 | 1:32.805 | 61 |
| 06 | Lance Stroll | Aston Martin Mercedes AMR24 | 1:33.007 | 54 |
| 07 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari SF-24 | 1:33.247 | 64 |
| 08 | Fernando Alonso | Aston Martin Mercedes AMR24 | 1:33.385 | 77 |
| 09 | Oscar Piastri | McLaren Mercedes MCL38 | 1:33.658 | 57 |
| 10 | Guanyu Zhou | Stake F1 Kick Sauber C44 | 1:33.871 | 63 |
| 11 | Logan Sargeant | Williams Mercedes FW46 | 1:33.882 | 21 |
| 12 | George Russell | Mercedes W15 | 1:34.109 | 122 |
| 13 | Yuki Tsunoda | RB RBPT VCARB 01 | 1:34.136 | 64 |
| 14 | Valtteri Bottas | Stake F1 Kick Sauber C44 | 1:34.431 | 68 |
| 15 | Alex Albon | Williams Mercedes FW46 | 1:34.587 | 40 |
| 16 | Esteban Ocon | Alpine Renault A524 | 1:34.677 | 60 |
| 17 | Kevin Magnussen | Haas Ferrari VF-24 | 1:35.692 | 66 |
| 18 | Nico Hülkenberg | Haas Ferrari VF-24 | 1:35.906 | 82 |
F1 Testing 2024 Day 1 Leaderboard. Race F1 Testing 2024 Day 1 Leaderboard
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