Verstappen fastest in first day of 2024 F1 pre-season test

Red Bull’s Max Verstappen completes the first day of Formula One’s 2024 pre-season test as the fastest driver with a 1m 31.344s lap time.

Following the opening session of the three-day test, at the Bahrain International Circuit, the cars ventured back out on track as the sun fell towards the horizon.

Verstappen, who had full control of his RB20 for the entire opening day of the pre-season test, set the fastest time on the board in the morning. Going into the afternoon, Verstappen did not yield as he improved and topped the timing boards once more.

The Dutchman’s day of full running meant the three-time world champion racked up the most amount of laps across the day with 143 completed. This was 21 more than his closest competitor, Mercedes’ George Russell (122 laps) who occupied 12th on the timesheets. 

Lando Norris of McLaren briefly obtained the fastest lap on the board as dusk began to settle on the Bahrain circuit but Verstappen soon retaliated. Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz rounded out the top three fastest times, just over a second behind, like Norris. 

Returning for his first full season since McLaren, RB’s Daniel Ricciardo occupied the best-of-the-rest position as the fourth-fastest driver. Pierre Gasly (Alpine) and Lance Stroll (Aston Martin) sat in fifth and sixth respectively. 

Gunayu Zhou was the next driver, of the afternoon runners, down the order in 10th. The Chinese driver sat behind Charles Leclerc (Ferrari), Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin) and Oscar Piastri (McLaren) who completed their fastest laps in the morning. 

Logan Sargeant had an eventful test, and provided an eventful moment for the spectators, as he spun out at the double-left-hander at turns nine and 10. Fortunately, the American was able to keep his car out of the barrier and continue, albeit for a short time due to mechanical problems.

The last of the afternoon runners, Haas’ Nico Hulkenberg was the slowest driver of the day down in 18th. The German was lucky to avoid a puncture as he drove over a rogue piece of carbon fiber from Stroll’s AMR24. 

Red Bull’s Sergio Perez and Mercedes’ outgoing seven-time world champion, Lewis Hamilton were the only drivers not to put a lap time on the board. However, they were not planned to be in the car on Wednesday but will be driving on Thursday, for day two.

Across the first day of running, the teams managed to accumulate a total of 1,236 laps across both morning and afternoon sessions. Maximising his sole day of driving, Verstappen topped the table in terms of lap count with a total of 143 laps completed on his own.

F1 testing returns tomorrow morning, Thursday, February 22, 2024, at 10am local time (7am GMT).

That’s all for the article; Verstappen fastest in first day of 2024 F1 pre-season test!

Read more Formula 1 here:

• Verstappen tops first session of F1 pre-season test
• What are the basics ahead of the 2024 F1 pre-season test
• Red Bull complete F1 car launch with RB20
• Mercedes showcase striking W15 as team look to chase down Red Bull
• McLaren pull covers off 2024 F1 contender MCL-38
• Ferrari reveal SF-24 ahead of F1 2024 season

Give us a follow on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter to keep up with the latest news from the world of Motorsport! You can also support us on Patreon or on our website!

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.

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.