On the first day of the 2024 pre-season testing in Bahrain, Max Verstappen led McLaren’s Lando Norris by a significant one second, showcasing the Red Bull RB20’s striking debut on the track.
The reigning triple world champion, Verstappen, dominated the day’s eight-hour session and further improved his time in the last 30 minutes, clocking a fastest lap of 1:31.344 on the yellow-marked C3 tyres.
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Verstappen, one of two drivers to stay in the car throughout the day, also completed 143 laps, far surpassing the distance of more than two Bahrain GP races.
In the evening conditions at Sakhir, under floodlights, Verstappen’s fastest lap was 1.1 seconds quicker than Norris, who only participated in the afternoon session after his teammate Oscar Piastri took the morning session in the MCL38.
After their testing challenges a year ago, McLaren’s completion of 130 laps between the two drivers, with Norris’s best time just 0.3 seconds behind their overall best from last February’s test, indicates a strong start for the team that made significant progress in 2023.
Carlos Sainz secured third place for Ferrari, having also run only in the afternoon, contributing 69 laps to the morning’s 64 by Charles Leclerc in the SF-24, with his best time being 1.2 seconds slower.
Daniel Ricciardo claimed fourth place, marking a promising debut for the newly rebranded RB team’s car. Aston Martin also had a successful day, with Lance Stroll and Fernando Alonso completing a total of over 131 laps in the AMR24, finishing fifth and eighth, respectively.
Bahrain pre-season test: Day one timesheet
| Driver | Team | Time | Tyre | Laps |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Max Verstappen | Red Bull | 1.31.344 | C3 | 142 |
| Lando Norris | McLaren | +1.140 | C3 | 72 |
| Carlos Sainz | Ferrari | +1.240 | C3 | 68 |
| Daniel Ricciardo | RB | +1.255 | C3 | 51 |
| Pierre Gasly | Alpine | +1.461 | C3 | 59 |
| Lance Stroll | Aston Martin | +1.663 | C3 | 53 |
| Charles Leclerc | Ferrari | +1.903 | C3 | 64 |
| Fernando Alonso | Aston Martin | +2.041 | C3 | 77 |
| Oscar Piastri | McLaren | +2.314 | C3 | 57 |
| Zhou Guanyu | Sauber | +2.527 | C3 | 61 |
| Logan Sargeant | Williams | +2.538 | C2 | 21 |
| George Russell | Mercedes | +2.765 | C3 | 121 |
| Yuki Tsunoda | RB | +2,792 | C3 | 64 |
| Valtteri Bottas | Sauber | +3.087 | C3 | 68 |
| Alex Albon | Williams | +3.243 | C4 | 40 |
| Esteban Ocon | Alpine | +3.333 | C2 | 60 |
| Kevin Magnussen | Haas | +4.348 | C3 | 66 |
| Nico Hülkenberg | Haas | +4.562 | C2 | 81 |
When is F1 pre-season testing?
- Date: 21-23 February
- Start time: 7 am GMT/10 am local time on Wednesday 21 February
Pre-season testing for Formula 1 in Bahrain starts at 7 am GMT and 10 am local time on Wednesday, February 21, 2024, marking the beginning of three days of intensive track activity.
On each day, pre-season testing will begin at the the same time, featuring morning sessions that span four hours. Sessions will resume after the lunch break in Bahrain at 12 pm GMT and 3 pm local.
| Date | Session | Session Time |
|---|---|---|
| Wednesday 21 February | Morning | 7 am GMT – 11 am GMT / 10 am local time – 2 pm local time |
| Wednesday 21 February | Afternoon | 12 pm GMT – 4 pm GMT / 3 pm local time – 7 pm local time |
| Thursday 22 February | Morning | 7 am GMT – 11 am GMT / 10 am local time – 2 pm local time |
| Thursday 22 February | Afternoon | 7 am GMT – 11 am GMT / 10 am local time – 2 pm local time |
| Friday 23 February | Morning | 2 am ET – 6 am ET 10 am local time – 2 pm local time |
| Friday 23 February | Afternoon | 12 pm GMT – 4 pm GMT / 3 pm local time – 7 pm local time |
How can I watch F1 pre-season testing in the UK?
Sky Sports F1 ensures comprehensive coverage of every moment for UK customers.
Tune in for live updates from the track, starting with the green flag at 7 am and ending with the chequered flag at 4 pm UK time. This offers an unparalleled opportunity to gauge the performance of the new cars as teams endeavour to accumulate mileage, perfect initial setups, and unveil their true speed. This sets the stage for the season’s first record-breaking 24 Grand Prix races at the same venue, running from February 29 to March 2.
F1 pre-season testing on Sky Sports can also be live-streamed via NOW TV, meaning the action can be watched on a mobile or tablet device and a console, while Sky Sports Main Event will also broadcast some sessions.
Sky Sports F1 times for pre-season F1 testing
| Date | Session | Session Time GMT | Network |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wednesday 21 February | Morning | 6.50 am – 11.05 am GMT | Sky Sports F1/Sky Sports Main Event |
| Wednesday 21 February | Afternoon | 11.55 am – 4.05 pm GMT | Sky Sports F1/Sky Sports Main Event |
| Wednesday 21 February | Testing Wrap | 8 pm GMT | Sky Sports F1 |
| Wednesday 21 February | Ted’s Testing Notebook | 8:30 pm GMT | Sky Sports F1 |
| Thursday 22 February | Morning | 6.50 am – 11.05 am GMT | Sky Sports F1/Sky Sports Main Event |
| Thursday 22 February | Afternoon | 11.55 am – 4.05 pm GMT | Sky Sports F1 |
| Thursday 22 February | Testing Wrap | 8 pm GMT | Sky Sports F1 |
| Thursday 22 February | Ted’s Testing Notebook | 8:30 pm GMT | Sky Sports F1 |
| Friday 23 February | Morning | 6.50 am – 11.05 am GMT | Sky Sports F1/Sky Sports Main Event |
| Friday 23 February | Afternoon | 11.55 am – 4.05 pm GMT | Sky Sports F1 |
| Friday 23 February | Testing Wrap | 8 pm GMT | Sky Sports F1 |
| Friday 23 February | Ted’s Testing Notebook | 8:30 pm GMT | Sky Sports F1 |
| Friday 23 February | Development Corner | 9 pm GMT | Sky Sports F1 |
When can I watch F1 pre-season testing highlights?
Every evening at 8 pm, catch the Testing Wrap for a compilation of the day’s top highlights and interviews, followed by Ted’s Notebook at 8:30 pm, a vital feature of any testing week, providing a comprehensive summary of the day’s events from Bahrain.
Ted Kravitz takes centre stage each evening, delivering the essential insights and stories from the testing sessions, offering an early glimpse into the competitive hierarchy of 2024 and the teams’ efforts to close the gap on Red Bull.
After the final day of testing, don’t miss the special segment, Development Corner with Ted, airing at 9 pm on Friday. This extra show delves into the analysis of the ten cars, focusing on the significant off-season developments and trends that have drawn Ted’s attention.
Highlights from the pre-season testing will be accessible on the official F1 YouTube channel. Last year, the channel featured concise highlight packages, approximately five minutes long, uploaded shortly after the conclusion of each testing day.
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