Formula 1 2024 pre-season testing set off in Bahrain on Wednesday as the drivers took their new cars to the track, putting the first laps on the board ahead of a record-breaking 24-race calendar with three-time World Champion Max Verstappen, finishing at the top of the timesheet.
Ahead of a much anticipated 2024 Formula One season, the inaugural day of pre-season testing, running from Wednesday through Friday, allowed teams and drivers to get familiar with their new challengers, gathering pivotal data over the morning and afternoon sessions held in Bahrain.
A first look at the charts suggests the risks Adrian Newey took by revealing an aggressive aerodynamic concept for the Red Bull Racing RB20 were, as expected, calculated with exquisite precision.
However, lap times are not necessarily a reliable performance indicator at testing when teams try different configurations, focussing on the development process.
On board the RB20, triple Formula One World Champion Max Verstappen finished the day on top of the charts, completing 142 laps while recording the fastest time of 1:31.344, a second and a half quicker than his opening mark last season at testing.
The Dutch testing program featured five low-fuel performance runs, helping to extend the gap over McLaren’s Lando Norris, who drove 73 laps, setting the second-fastest lap time (1:32.484), and Scuderia Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz, who accomplished 69 laps to end up third (1:32.584).
According to Pirelli, the Italian tire manufacturer provides each team with 35 sets of slick tires, of which each can fit 30, including two sets of intermediates and two full wets if required.
Verstappen will be back at the wheel on Thursday afternoon, sharing driving duties with teammate Sergio Perez, who will drive the new car in the morning session, returning on Friday for a whole day of on-track action.
Except for Red Bull and Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team, all the other teams have chosen to split day one with both their racers on driving duty.
Behind the wheel of the new W15, Briton George Russell covered 660km, or 122 laps, including a full race simulation in the afternoon, finishing with a best lap time of 1:34.109.
Russell shared his first impressions in Bahrain, outlining: “We completed lots of laps and have plenty of data to go through. We can build from here over the next two days.”
“We will be focused on maximizing mileage for learning rather than chasing an optimum sweet spot with the car.”
Adding: “We know it’s…
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