Max Verstappen sets the fastest time in the first session of the F1’s pre-season testing in Bahrain

Max Verstappen sets the fastest time in the first session of F1’s pre-season testing in Bahrain as Red Bull’s reigning champion edges Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz… with Lewis Hamilton to take to the track this afternoon

  • Max Verstappen set the fastest time in the first session at F1 testing in Bahrain
  • Carlos Sainz and Alex Albon finished closely behind in second and third place
  • Former seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton will take to the track this afternoon

Max Verstappen started off in pre-season testing where he left off last year by setting the fastest time in the first session in Bahrain.

The Red Bull star, fresh from winning the second of his two consecutive titles at a canter, made the best possible impression, three-tenths ahead of Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz, with Williams’ Alex Albon third. Mercedes’ George Russell was fifth best, 1.2sec.

Lewis Hamilton is due to take to the wheel of the black-liveried Mercedes this afternoon, as part of the only three days of testing ahead of the opening race in this tiny Gulf kingdom a week on Sunday.

He will have been cautiously cheered by what he watched from the TVs in the 26C paddock because the car appears not to be porpoising – the bouncing phenomenon that blighted the early part of their disappointing campaign 12 months ago.

The regulations remain fundamentally the same for 2023, though the car floors have been raised 15mm off the ground, a change aimed at reducing porpoising, thus theoretically helping Mercedes while potentially hampering Red Bull.

Red Bull’s Max Verstappen set the fastest time in the first session at F1 testing in Bahrain

Max Verstappen impressed during F1 testing

Lewis Hamilton is yet to take to the track

Verstappen (left) impressed while Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton (right) is yet to take to the track

Aston Martin broke down early on, an electrical gremlin curtailing the involvement of stand-in Felipe Drugovich. 

The Brazilian’s car was taken back to the garage for repairs and later managed 40 laps.

Drugovich, the reigning Formula Two champion, was drafted in after Lance Stroll injured his wrist in a cycling accident in Spain. 

Stroll is uncertain to start the Bahrain Grand Prix.

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