F1 testing 2024: Pre season lap times, Schedules, Day 1 Highlights, the surprising and less surprising teams, Fastest on day 1 And Updates
The highly anticipated pre-season testing for the 2024 Formula One season kicked off in Bahrain on Wednesday, February 21st, and Day 1 delivered its share of action, surprises, and insights. Here’s a comprehensive breakdown:
Top Lap Times:
- Fastest of the day: Max Verstappen (Red Bull) set the pace with a blistering 1:31.344s, showcasing the continued strength of the reigning champions.
- Also Close behind: McLaren’s Lando Norris and Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz followed in second and third, respectively, within around 1.2 seconds of Verstappen.
- Strong midfield contenders: Teams like Alpine, Aston Martin, and Haas showed promising pace, also indicating a potentially tighter midfield battle this season.
Day 1 Highlights:
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Red Bull Begin Defense with Ominous Pace
- Breaking tradition, Red Bull unveiled a new-spec car at their launch, and Max Verstappen wasted no time in also showcasing its potential.
- Verstappen’s morning session was impressive, but his afternoon performance was jaw-dropping. He clocked a blistering 1m 31.344s, a whopping 1.140s quicker than anyone else.
- With 143 laps under his belt, Verstappen looked comfortable and in control. The RB20 seemed on rails through the fast corners, leaving rivals intrigued and perhaps a tad worried.
2. Aston Martin, RB, and Ferrari Look Intriguing
- Aston Martin aims to build on their successful 2023 campaign, and also Fernando Alonso’s morning run hinted at a promising follow-up.
- Lance Stroll’s afternoon performance further fueled optimism within the team.
- Ferrari, cautiously optimistic about their new package, completed 133 laps between Carlos Sainz and also Charles Leclerc. Their AMR24 appears to be ticking all the right boxes.
3. The Unpredictable Pecking Order
- While it’s too early to draw definitive conclusions, Day 1 provided glimpses of the emerging pecking order.
- Keep an eye on the Red Bull, Aston Martin, and Ferrari camps as they also continue testing in Bahrain.
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AlphaTauri’s potential:
Yuki Tsunoda and Pierre Gasly showcased decent pace, suggesting AlphaTauri (formerly Red Bull’s second team) could be midfield contenders.
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Mercedes’ woes:
While George Russell remained positive, some concerns arose from Mercedes’ lower running position and limited laps compared to other teams.
Surprising and Less Surprising Teams:
- Surprises: Aston Martin, Haas, and AlphaTauri exceeding expectations with strong pace.
- Less surprising: Red Bull continuing their dominance, Ferrari remaining competitive, McLaren also showing consistent performance.
Fastest on Day 1:
- Max Verstappen (Red Bull): 1:31.344s
- Lando Norris (McLaren): +1.140s
- Carlos Sainz (Ferrari): +1.240s
- Also Daniel Ricciardo (RB): +1.255s
- Pierre Gasly (Alpine): +1.461s
Pre-Season Schedules and Updates:
- Day 2: February 22nd – 9:00 AM – 5:30 PM (GMT+3)
- Day 3: February 23rd – 9:00 AM – 5:30 PM (GMT+3)
- Live Updates: Follow official F1 channels and websites for live timing and reports.
- Further Insights: Expect analysis and predictions from experts as testing progresses.
Updates:
- Testing continues until Friday, February 23rd, offering further insights into team performance and car development.
- Follow live updates and analysis on official F1 channels, team websites, and motorsport news outlets.
- Stay tuned for more detailed reports and takeaways after the conclusion of testing.
