The first morning of pre-season F1 testing saw Red Bull and Mercedes unveil their latest cars, creating buzz among the paddock as the 2024 contenders hit the Bahrain International Circuit for their official track debuts on Wednesday.
The three-day session, continuing through Friday, serves as a vital preparation for the season opener at the same circuit next week. It offers teams a crucial opportunity to test and refine their cars ahead of the unprecedented 24-race season.
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Reigning world champion Max Verstappen led the time sheets in the morning with a best lap of 1:32.548 in the newly introduced Red Bull RB20, drawing attention for its innovative sidepod and cooling inlet design.
Following the car’s unveiling at last week’s team launch, the RB20’s debut on the track confirmed a strategic shift in its cooling inlet design, differing from Red Bull’s previously dominant designs over the last two seasons.
Verstappen completed 66 laps by midday, while Fernando Alonso in the new Aston Martin led in terms of lap count with an impressive 77 laps in his 2024 contender.
Charles Leclerc followed closely, placing second in the timesheets, 0.7 seconds behind Verstappen after completing 64 laps, with Alonso and Oscar Piastri in the new McLaren rounding out the top four.
McLaren had a subdued start with the MCL38 but gradually increased their lap count as the session progressed.
George Russell, in the Mercedes W15, which has also sparked interest with its groundbreaking front-wing design, finished sixth fastest as Mercedes aims for a significant performance improvement this season.
The opening morning of 2024 saw all teams run consistently on track but Williams ran into an unspecified problem in the session’s closing 30 minutes when Alex Albon had to pull off track.
Morning session final timesheet
| Driver | Team | Time | Laps |
|---|---|---|---|
| Max Verstappen | Red Bull | 1:32.548 | 66 |
| Charles Leclerc | Ferrari | +0.699 | 64 |
| Fernando Alonso | Aston Martin | +0.837 | 77 |
| Oscar Piastri | McLaren | +1.110 | 56 |
| Yuki Tsunoda | RB | +1.588 | 64 |
| George Russell | Mercedes | +1.682 | 47 |
| Valtteri Bottas | Sauber | +1.883 | 67 |
| Alex Albon | Williams | +2.039 | 40 |
| Esteban Ocon | Alpine | +2.129 | 60 |
| Kevin Magnussen | Haas | +3.144 | 66 |
When is F1 pre-season testing?
- Date: 21-23 February
- Start time: 7 am GMT/10 am local time on Wednesday 21 February
Pre-season testing for Formula 1 in Bahrain starts at 7 am GMT and 10 am local time on Wednesday, February 21, 2024, marking the beginning of three days of intensive track activity.
On each day, pre-season testing will begin at the the same time, featuring morning sessions that span four hours. Sessions will resume after the lunch break in Bahrain at 12 pm GMT and 3 pm local.
| Date | Session | Session Time |
|---|---|---|
| Wednesday 21 February | Morning | 7 am GMT – 11 am GMT / 10 am local time – 2 pm local time |
| Wednesday 21 February | Afternoon | 12 pm GMT – 4 pm GMT / 3 pm local time – 7 pm local time |
| Thursday 22 February | Morning | 7 am GMT – 11 am GMT / 10 am local time – 2 pm local time |
| Thursday 22 February | Afternoon | 7 am GMT – 11 am GMT / 10 am local time – 2 pm local time |
| Friday 23 February | Morning | 2 am ET – 6 am ET 10 am local time – 2 pm local time |
| Friday 23 February | Afternoon | 12 pm GMT – 4 pm GMT / 3 pm local time – 7 pm local time |
How can I watch F1 pre-season testing in the UK?
Sky Sports F1 ensures comprehensive coverage of every moment for UK customers.
Tune in for live updates from the track, starting with the green flag at 7 am and ending with the chequered flag at 4 pm UK time. This offers an unparalleled opportunity to gauge the performance of the new cars as teams endeavour to accumulate mileage, perfect initial setups, and unveil their true speed. This sets the stage for the season’s first record-breaking 24 Grand Prix races at the same venue, running from February 29 to March 2.
F1 pre-season testing on Sky Sports can also be live-streamed via NOW TV, meaning the action can be watched on a mobile or tablet device and a console, while Sky Sports Main Event will also broadcast some sessions.
Sky Sports F1 times for pre-season F1 testing
| Date | Session | Session Time GMT | Network |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wednesday 21 February | Morning | 6.50 am – 11.05 am GMT | Sky Sports F1/Sky Sports Main Event |
| Wednesday 21 February | Afternoon | 11.55 am – 4.05 pm GMT | Sky Sports F1/Sky Sports Main Event |
| Wednesday 21 February | Testing Wrap | 8 pm GMT | Sky Sports F1 |
| Wednesday 21 February | Ted’s Testing Notebook | 8:30 pm GMT | Sky Sports F1 |
| Thursday 22 February | Morning | 6.50 am – 11.05 am GMT | Sky Sports F1/Sky Sports Main Event |
| Thursday 22 February | Afternoon | 11.55 am – 4.05 pm GMT | Sky Sports F1 |
| Thursday 22 February | Testing Wrap | 8 pm GMT | Sky Sports F1 |
| Thursday 22 February | Ted’s Testing Notebook | 8:30 pm GMT | Sky Sports F1 |
| Friday 23 February | Morning | 6.50 am – 11.05 am GMT | Sky Sports F1/Sky Sports Main Event |
| Friday 23 February | Afternoon | 11.55 am – 4.05 pm GMT | Sky Sports F1 |
| Friday 23 February | Testing Wrap | 8 pm GMT | Sky Sports F1 |
| Friday 23 February | Ted’s Testing Notebook | 8:30 pm GMT | Sky Sports F1 |
| Friday 23 February | Development Corner | 9 pm GMT | Sky Sports F1 |
When can I watch F1 pre-season testing highlights?
Every evening at 8 pm, catch the Testing Wrap for a compilation of the day’s top highlights and interviews, followed by Ted’s Notebook at 8:30 pm, a vital feature of any testing week, providing a comprehensive summary of the day’s events from Bahrain.
Ted Kravitz takes centre stage each evening, delivering the essential insights and stories from the testing sessions, offering an early glimpse into the competitive hierarchy of 2024 and the teams’ efforts to close the gap on Red Bull.
After the final day of testing, don’t miss the special segment, Development Corner with Ted, airing at 9 pm on Friday. This extra show delves into the analysis of the ten cars, focusing on the significant off-season developments and trends that have drawn Ted’s attention.
Highlights from the pre-season testing will be accessible on the official F1 YouTube channel. Last year, the channel featured concise highlight packages, approximately five minutes long, uploaded shortly after the conclusion of each testing day.
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