Bahrain GP Friday practice
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Sainz joins Verstappen on the timing screens, going 2.3s slower on the hard tyre - compared to Verstappen's softs. Still obviously not particularly representative.
The W10 finally makes its Bahrain GP track debut as Hamilton heads out on mediums.
Stopwatch
We have our first proper lap of the weekend, as Verstappen strings together three purple sectors (naturally) to post a 1m33.085s.
As the timer ticks past the 15-minute mark, Verstappen heads back out on softs.
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Autosport
Since track action hasn't really kicked off in earnest just yet, here's another bit of weekend preview - McLaren driver Carlos Sainz admitting he is worried about how far ahead Haas looks in the midfield battle: 
These conditions - sunshine, very hot track - are of course not particularly representative of what the teams will be expecting in the race on Sunday evening.
Hulkenberg returns to the pits without setting a laptime, which leaves the track completely empty for now.
So, a laptime would be nice. None on the board just yet.
Still no sight of Hamilton or Bottas, but everyone else has already made an appearance.
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Gasly, running one of those huge aero panel sensors on the rear left of his car, peels back into the pits after two laps.
Ah, no, here's our first flying lap - Pierre Gasly crosses the start-finish line on hards.
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Giovinazzi is back into the pits after a single install lap, and at least five other cars follow suit. Not sure we'll see a flying lap right away here.
As many as 16 cars are lapping already, running a wide variety of tyre compounds. Only Stroll, Verstappen and the two Mercedes cars are still waiting.
Green flag
FP1 has kicked off, with Antonio Giovinazzi first out on track in his Alfa Romeo.
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Track temperature is a menacing 49 degrees Celsius.
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Information
The tyre compounds designated as the hard, medium and soft for Bahrain are C1, C2 and C3. The hardest possible range, in other words.
Some believe it's overkill, others think it will help - but those in the latter group do not see DRS as a permanent solution to F1's overtaking problems. 
There will be three DRS zones in the race this weekend, as along with the main straight and the back straight one has been added on the run down to Turn 4. Reactions have been mixed. 
Autosport
Hamilton has suggested the Honda engine is now within 10bhp of F1's benchmark power units, which is absolutely huge if true - especially ahead of a race where Honda already excelled last year. 
Was Ferrari's Melbourne slump a one-off? Is Mercedes back in front for good? Has Honda made enough of a step to transform Red Bull's hybrid-era fortunes? For sure we won't get the full answers here, but we'll at least get a better idea.
The Bahrain GP marks yet another 'moment of truth' for the new season, after Barcelona testing and the Australia opener offered completely different answers to how the top teams really stacked up against each other.
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The first practice session will commence in just under 14 minutes.
Good morning, everyone, and welcome to Motorsport Network's live coverage of the Bahrain Grand Prix - Formula 1's second race weekend of the 2019 campaign.
By: Geoff Creighton
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