Formula 1: Max Verstappen already scares everyone, Ferrari ok on the pass

Formula 1: Max Verstappen already puts fear in everyone, Ferrari ok on pace

Max Verstappen immediately set the pace on the first day of Formula 1 testing: the Dutch driver set the fastest time on the Sakhir track in Bahrain, stopping the clock at 1:31.344. The world champion and Red Bull wanted to send a clear warning to all rivals right away in the day-1 test: the benchmark remains them.

The RB20 seems stable, reliable and very fast: at the moment no car seems to come close, so much so that the second in the standings è distanced at the moment by more than a second. Positive signs from Ferrari, which got a third time with Carlos Sainz and a seventh time with Charles Leclerc, who had lapped in the morning. Giving the Cavallino hope especially the race pace, which is definitely positive.

Lando Norris (McLaren) took second place, while the Racing Bulls, Red Bull’s satellite team, finished fourth with Daniel Ricciardo. For Mercedes only George Russell was on track, while Lewis Hamilton will make his debut on Wednesday.

The times:
1 Max Verstappen Red Bull Racing 1:31.344
2 Lando Norris McLaren +1.140 
3 Carlos Sainz Ferrari +1.240 
4 Daniel Ricciardo RB +1.255
5 Pierre Gasly Alpine +1.461
6 Lance Stroll Aston Martin +1.663
7 Charles Leclerc Ferrari +1.903 
8 Fernando Alonso Aston Martin +2.041 
9 Oscar Piastri McLaren +2.314
10 Guanyu Zhou Kick Sauber +2.527
11 Logan Sargeant Williams +2.538 
12 George Russell Mercedes +2.765 
13 Yuki Tsunoda RB +2.792
14 Valtteri Bottas Kick Sauber +3.087 
15 Alexander Albon Williams +3.243 40
16 Esteban Ocon Alpine +3.333 60
17 Kevin Magnussen Haas F1 Team +4.348 66
18 Nico Hulkenberg Haas F1 Team +4.562 80