Verstappen quickest, Albon stops as Bahrain test begins · RaceFans

World champion Max Verstappen set the early pace ahead of Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc as pre-season testing for the 2024 F1 season began in Bahrain.

While rain affecting the Formula 2 test at the same track earlier in the month, conditions were much drier and warmer for the start of the three day Formula 1 pre-season test. So eager were Mercedes to take to the track, George Russell rolled out of the garage three minutes before the green light to wait at the end of the pit lane.

As the began nine of the 10 teams – all bar McLaren – immediately sent their cars out. Many carried aero rakes of carious configurations and sizes. Russell was the first driver to run over the line and begin a flying lap in the test, posting a 1’39.956 for the first time of the 2024 season.

After avoiding the initial rush out onto the track, McLaren eventually joined the circuit for the first time in the MCL38 with Oscar Piastri. Naturally, teams were not pushing at the very start of the early session, with Fernando Alonso’s 1’33.822 the quickest time over the opening half an hour.

The only minor problem of note for the first hour was Kevin Magnussen experiencing a slightly loose aero rake on the right hand side of the VF-24. However, after a quick trip into the pit lane, Magnussen was sent back out with the appendage properly affixed to the car.

Esteban Ocon went off the track at the exit of turn four on a push lap, running into the shallow gravel trap. However there was seemingly no harm to the Alpine, who was able to continue on uninterrupted. Williams were also delayed temporarily by a reported DRS problem.

Two hours into the session, Verstappen was the quickest of all with a 1’33.065, just under two tenths faster than Leclerc’s best in the Ferrari. Although outright speed was not the focus for any of the ten teams, Verstappen shaved half a second off his overall best in the final two hours to post the best time of the earlier session with a 1’32.548, almost seven tenths quicker than Leclerc.

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There were relatively few problems for the teams through the session, with Haas spending some extended time in the garage working on the fuel system on their car. With less than half an hour remaining, Alexander Albon ground to a halt at the exit of turn two in his Williams. He could not get his car moving again and his car was pushed behind the barrier, but the session continued without the need for a red flag…