Verstappen tops first session of F1 pre-season test

Red Bull’s Max Verstappen topped the opening test session as the official Formula One season gets underway with the pre-season test. 

The cars are back out on track and the time boards are dusted off as the F1 pre-season test gets back underway on Wednesday morning. 

Pre-season testing was held once more at the Bahrain International Circuit, as it had since the 2021 season, a week before the first grand prix of the record-breaking 24-race season. 

Verstappen, naturally, returned to his usual position at the top of the timing boards with his fastest lap time of 1:32.548. The Dutchman made some rare mistakes with momentarily lock-ups as he worked through his programme throughout the opening test.

Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso completed the top three as the second and third-fastest drivers, respectively. For both drivers, they worked through their plans with little to no issues. 

The Spaniard was also the driver to put in the most mileage across the session with 74 laps completed. His closest competitor to match him on lap count was Valtteri Bottas (Stake F1) with 68. 

Despite a slow start for McLaren’s Oscar Piastri, the young Australian sat best-of-the-rest in fourth one-second off Verstappen’s pace ahead of Yuki Tsunoda (RB), George Russell (Mercedes) and Valtteri Bottas (Stake) in fifth, sixth and seventh respectively. 

Williams’ Alexander Albon occupied eighth-fastest, two seconds off the pace, but the London-born Thai had trouble late on. In the last 30 minutes, Albon stopped on the exit of turn three and pulled off to the side of the circuit. 

As the Marshals could come out to collect the Williams driver, only the yellow flags were waved as he was pushed down a service road. It was soon reported that the issue was down to reliability.

Alpine’s Esteban Ocon and Haas’ Kevin Magnussen rounded out the 10 drivers in ninth and 10th.

F1 testing will continue at 12pm (GMT) – 3pm local – to complete the first day of testing.

That’s all for the article; Verstappen tops first session of F1 pre-season test!

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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.