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Formula 1
Pre-Season Test
F1 Bahrain pre-season test - Day 1
Minute by minute updates on the opening day of the 2024 F1 Bahrain pre-season test
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The 2024 F1 season is here with the start of pre-season testing in Bahrain.
All 10 teams have completed their launches but the opening day of testing marks the first time each 2024 car is truly unveiled to the world.
With Red Bull coming off a dominant 2023 season when it won all but one grand prix, can any of its rivals take the fight to the defending world champions?
The Bahrain pre-season test will run between 21-23 February, with each day’s track action starting at 7am GMT (10am local time).
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Verstappen's lap time gives his race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase a huge grin before he spots the TV camera and puts his poker face back on before speaking to Adrian Newey.
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...and the Red Bull driver is back on top with a 1m31.662s set on the C3 tyres to put him 0.822s quicker than Norris. Oh my.
Verstappen has put his hand up as he goes quickest in sector one and sector two...
Good afternoon one and all, so who has a response to Norris?
And as the sun sets in Bahrain, I hand you over to Haydn Cobb for the final two hours of day one. Until tomorrow, it's goodbye from me!
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Speaking of Ricciardo, he drops a hint of the pace in the RB with a 1m33.325 to go fifth-fastest behind only Norris, Verstappen, Sainz and Leclerc.
This, of course, must be caveated by saying that conditions are significantly better than in the morning.
This, of course, must be caveated by saying that conditions are significantly better than in the morning.
For all the carbon liveries out there, the RB is certainly refreshing, but the onboard camera just looks too busy with all the red, white and blue. What are your thoughts?
Sainz is clearly chasing Norris' time now - or was. He got his Ferrari all crossed up on the exit of Turn 3 before backing out of his run.
It looked like the moment was sparked after he clipped the Turn 2 kerb too sharply.
It looked like the moment was sparked after he clipped the Turn 2 kerb too sharply.
But let's be honest, we all love the images that come from the Golden Hour.
Photographers rejoice! The Golden Hour is here!
Immediately after completing his effort, Norris returns to the pits, leaving only Zhou, Sargeant and Hulkenberg on the track.
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We have a new overall leader for day one of the test - Lando Norris has put in a 1m32.484 to go half-a-tenth faster than Verstappen.
The sun is beginning to set and the track temp has dropped by 10C since the start of this session. Conditions are beginning to get to the sweet spot.
Possibly highlighting the difficulty of Magnussen's morning, Sargeant has just bettered his time within seven laps. Hulkenberg remains the slowest driver of all.
Sainz is still pushing on but falls short at the end of the lap. He remains second but continues to rack up the laps, completing 29 so far this afternoon.
Ricciardo now puts in his best effort of the day to go P12. He's just 0.4s shy of team-mate Tsunoda's earlier effort.
Sainz's effort was just 0.036s shy of Verstappen's morning-session best.
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Here come some lap times! Sainz goes second for the day and Norris third, with a 1m32.584 and a 1m33.092s respectively.
With Sargeant back in the pits, the mechanics have now launched themselves onto the Williams. A few concerned looks were visibly being exchanged.
A huge lock-up for Russell into and around Turn 10. He too returns to the pits rather than suffer a bumpy ride.
Sargeant returns immediately to the pit lane.
A set of the softest C5 tyres for Sargeant to get things going. But it's far from a push lap and this looks a little concerning. A very slow lap.
BINGO! Sargeant trundles to the end of the pit lane and we have now seen all 10 cars this afternoon.
It's difficult to judge whether Alpine are extremely confident or not. With Ocon setting his best time on the C1 this morning and Gasly running the same compound this afternoon, that's certainly a bold move.
Gasly now begins his latest run on C1 tyres. He is the outlier with Hulkenberg on C2s, and Zhou and Russell on C3s.
Hulkenberg briefly enjoyed the track to himself, but Russell is about to add to his 59-lap haul.
Asked what the emotion of taking to the track was this morning, Vowles said; "Pride. We're going through a transformation phase, through a change to what we want to be in the future. You can't do that without taking risks."
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Williams team principal James Vowles has explained that the team didn't get the performance running in that it wanted earlier because of the fuel pump issue.
He confirms that the fix was the primary reason for the delay in getting Sargeant onto the track.
He confirms that the fix was the primary reason for the delay in getting Sargeant onto the track.
Almost a full house - get ready to shout 'BINGO!'. Sargeant is getting his helmet on and is now climbing into his Williams.
Now Stroll joins the fray. Just one car remains inactive.
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Sainz is beginning to turn things up at Ferrari, going fourth-fastest with a 1m 33.386s. That's just 0.14s shy of Leclerc's best effort in the morning running.
Zhou finally takes to the track, leaving Sargeant and Stroll as the only drivers slated to take part in the afternoon yet to complete any running.
Sargent is one of those drivers not on the track right now. Albon has reported that Williams have fixed the fuel pump issue that caused his car to stop on the track, so the questions remain as to why Sargeant is still absent.
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Also on the medium tyre, Norris is taking things steady on his first timed effort - although not as steady as some. A 1m 35.781s is his opening gambit.
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Russell bangs in his fastest time of the day on the C3 medium tyre. A 1m34.109s is his new best.
Norris finally joins the party after losing 53 minutes of running. Russell is on the track once more following a 15 minute stay in the pits.
Sneaking out without us noticing was Ricciardo. We're just missing four drivers in the session now.
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A 1m39.286s for Hulkenberg. Those times will fall as the softer rubber goes on and he gets acquainted with the VF24.
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