F1 2023 Testing – Day 1: Verstappen on top in first half of afternoon test
23rd February 2023Red Bull’s Max Verstappen remained on top of the timing board as the first half of the afternoon test came to an end, ahead of both Carlos Sainz and Lewis Hamilton.
When the pit exit light went green and the afternoon session of the first day of testing, no one was wanting to head out on track straight away – unlike the morning session. As the session crept up to its first 15 minutes, Verstappen was the first driver to head out onto the Bahrain International Circuit.
The reigning world champion was shortly followed by Nyck De Vries (Alpha Tauri), Esteban Ocon (Alpine), Charles Leclerc (Ferrari), Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin), Lando Norris (McLaren) and Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes).
Following the earlier running, some drivers opted to equip their car with aero rakes on their 2023 cars – like Leclerc behind the rear wheels – while some opted for the flow-vis paint.
After the first half an hour, only Logan Sargeant (Williams), Alonso, Kevin Magnussen (Haas) and Valtteri Bottas (Alfa Romeo) were yet to set a lap time on the board.
On the other hand, Norris was the highest positioned driver of those getting their first runs of the day, with the 11th fastest time – excluding Verstappen who set his fastest lap in the morning test.
As the first half drew to a close, Hamilton managed to close the gap from the reigning world champion secured the fifth fastest lap on the board and leapfrogged his teammate, George Russell, down to sixth as a result.
Despite only securing nine laps under his belt, with problems with his AMR23, Alonso jumped up to 11th – 1.8 seconds behind Verstappen’s leading time. However, it wasn’t Alonso who had the least amount of laps as Norris took that unfavourable mantle with only five laps to his name.
That’s all for the article; F1 2023 Testing – Day 1: Verstappen on top in first half of afternoon test!
Read more Formula 1 here:
- F1 Testing: Verstappen fastest driver in morning test on first day
- F1 Testing: Sainz stays on top going into final hour
- F1 Testing: Sainz remains on top as Albon takes third fastest time
- F1 Testing: Sainz tops first hour of testing
- F1 Commission: wet tyres, regulations and circuit changes
- Stroll set to miss Bahrain pre-season testing
Follow us on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook, to keep up to date with the latest news from Apex Motorsports! You can also support us on Patreon!
Hi, I’m Kamron. I created ApexMotorsports.co.uk in the dying embers of the 2021 Formula 1 world championship. It allowed me freedom to write whatever I wanted to write about which was all things motorsports, my passion.
I have put a lot of effort in over the years to keep this website in its best shape and I’ve loved seeing the brand grow consistently, month-on-month, year-on-year. My ambition is to keep watching this brand grow into a primary outlet of news for all things motorsports whilst fueling my desire to pursue a career in sports journalism, specialising in motorsports.
Kamron Kent
Hi, I'm Kamron. I created ApexMotorsports.co.uk in the dying embers of the 2021 Formula 1 world championship. It allowed me freedom to write whatever I wanted to write about which was all things motorsports, my passion. I have put a lot of effort in over the years to keep this website in its best shape and I've loved seeing the brand grow consistently, month-on-month, year-on-year. My ambition is to keep watching this brand grow into a primary outlet of news for all things motorsports whilst fueling my desire to pursue a career in sports journalism, specialising in motorsports.
