SAKHIR, Bahrain — Reigning world champion Max Verstappen topped the opening day of preseason testing as Formula One returned to action in Bahrain.
The three-day test at the Bahrain International Circuit is the only chance teams will have to run their cars on track ahead of the opening race at the same circuit next weekend.
The first day saw 19 drivers on track across ten cars, with Red Bull the only team not to split its track time between its two drivers on Thursday as Verstappen completed a whole day at the wheel. Teammate Sergio Perez will share Friday’s running with Verstappen before getting an entire day at the wheel on Saturday.
Verstappen completed a total of 157 laps on Thursday and set his fastest lap in the afternoon with a 1:32.837 — roughly 2.3s off last year’s pole position time at the same circuit.
Thursday offered the first look at Red Bull’s new RB19, which the team opted not to reveal at its season launch in New York earlier this month but appears to be an evolution of last year’s championship-winning car.
“[The car is] a bit of an evolution from last year,” Verstappen told media after the test session. “I think last year was more a time where you were really adapting to the car, really understanding what you had to do.
“Of course, with all the knowledge from last year, I think it’s already a much easier start for everyone to come back here. It’s nice to see the new car, how it has evolved from last year, how the behaviour is a bit different, and also because of the tyres.
“It was a good day to understand all of that.”
Verstappen finished the day 0.029s faster than Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso in second place and 0.415s ahead of Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz in third. All three drivers set their times on the same C3 tyre compound.
Alonso set his best time towards the end of the session when track conditions were at their best, although at this stage of testing the lap times are not always the best indicator of true performance.
The only 2023 race driver not present at this week’s test is Alonso’s Aston Martin teammate Lance Stroll. The Canadian injured his wrist in a cycling incident earlier last week, and although he’s not been ruled out of next weekend’s Bahrain Grand Prix, Aston Martin has been unable to confirm if he will recover in time.
“He was training, trying to work on his fitness last week, he was cycling and he had a small incident and hurt himself,” Aston Martin team principal Mike Krack said on Thursday. “For precautionary reasons we…
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