Let’s wrap it up, it’s decided! Verstappen buries his rivals after the first day of F1 testing in Bahrain

Formula 1 began preparations for this season today with three days of official testing in Bahrain. Although the times achieved cannot be taken seriously due to the varied approaches to these familiarisation sessions, the winning pair on the first day of testing could suggest a lot. Max Verstappen did not allow any premature hopes of unbiased fans for a surprising start to the championship. With a time over a second faster than second-placed Lando Norris, the reigning world champion has so far shown that the Red Bull driver will not be easy to beat this year either.

Max Verstappen’s winning margin over his other rivals on the very first day of the Bahrain pre-season test reminded everyone of the Dutchman’s brilliant ride last year. The three-time champion didn’t look like he was struggling with his red bull during the entire eight-hour session.

That is, with the team’s car, which has brought quirky upgrades to the desert country that give the impression that the Milton Keynes stable still has plenty of tricks up its sleeves.

Verstappen finished the first day of testing top of the charts with a time of 1:31.344. As we mentioned, that feat beat the performance of McLaren’s second-placed Lando Norris by more than a second, 1.140 seconds to be precise. Both times were set by this pair on the middle compound of the five possible (C3).

In general, the entire starting field preferred to drive on this set-up on the opening day of testing. Only Alexander Albon on Williams (C4) and Esteban Ocon (C1) completed their fastest attempts on a different compound.

Verstappen dominated the charts on several fronts

In terms of total laps completed at the Sakhir circuit, Verstappen dominated the charts in this aspect as well. As Red Bull signed him up for the whole day, the 26-year-old completed the most laps of any driver, 142 in total. Only the Haas monopoly managed more laps thanks to Kevin Magnussen and Nico Hülkenberg. But only seven more than Verstappen himself.

Behind Verstappen, the top 10 consisted mostly of drivers from teams that were in the top half of the field last year. RB’s Daniel Ricciardo and Alpine’s Pierre Gasly can be happy with fourth and fifth place respectively for now.

It was the French constructor who slightly astonished the experts by bringing an unusually large number of the hardest C1 tyres to Bahrain, on which Gasly and Ocon seem to have tested the ability and speed of their car. Especially over long distances.

Who, however, after the first day of testing, should step it up a bit so as not to embarrass their supporters is Mercedes. George Russell, who was enjoying his first miles of the year all by himself today, finished the day in a fairly pale 12th place.

Russell will be replaced tomorrow by teammate Lewis Hamilton, who shocked the F1 world before the start of testing with his decision to move to Ferrari in 2025.

Pre-season testing in Bahrain continues tomorrow and the day after. There will then be a week’s break, after which the new 75th anniversary Formula One season will start at the same venue.

Source: F1