Jonas Leo
Sakhir, Bahrain – McLaren driver Lando Norris delivered a statement of intent during the morning session of Formula 1 pre-season testing in Bahrain, clocking the fastest lap to edge out three-time world champion Max Verstappen of Red Bull Racing. The day’s proceedings were further enlivened by Ferrari’s introduction of an innovative, rotating rear wing, a technical marvel that quickly drew attention, although the Italian squad’s track time was subsequently hampered by an early mechanical issue that afflicted one of their drivers, Lewis Hamilton.
Norris, piloting the McLaren MCL38, registered a formidable lap time of 1 minute 33.453 seconds on the Pirelli C3 medium compound tyres. This impressive effort surpassed George Russell’s previous best from yesterday afternoon by a slender 0.006 seconds, securing the top spot in the morning standings by a margin of 0.131 seconds over Verstappen. McLaren’s performance marks a continuation of the positive momentum they built in the latter half of the previous season, where a series of significant upgrades transformed their challenger into a consistent podium contender. While pre-season testing times are notoriously unreliable indicators of true season-long performance, Norris’s immediate pace suggests that the Woking-based outfit has hit the ground running with a competitive package. The team’s focus during testing extends beyond headline lap times, aiming to validate aerodynamic concepts, gather crucial data on tyre degradation, and ensure robust reliability for the demanding 2024 calendar.
Max Verstappen, the formidable Dutchman who has dominated the sport in recent years, settled for second fastest, just over a tenth behind Norris. Red Bull Racing, known for their meticulous and often understated approach to pre-season testing, typically prioritizes long-run data collection and understanding the nuances of their new car over outright speed. Despite this strategy, Verstappen’s presence near the top of the timesheets is a familiar sight, underscoring the inherent pace of the RB20 chassis. The reigning champions are expected to have focused on optimizing race simulations and validating their car’s stability and efficiency, rather than extracting maximum single-lap performance on softer compounds. Their consistent high mileage throughout testing periods is usually a more telling sign of their readiness.
Ferrari, meanwhile, stole headlines with a radical aerodynamic development. Their new rear wing, observed rotating a full 180 degrees, represents a bold interpretation of Formula 1’s active aero regulations. This innovative device is designed to alter its angle under specific conditions, likely functioning to reduce drag on straights and increase downforce through corners, thereby offering a dynamic advantage similar to, but potentially more sophisticated than, the Drag Reduction System (DRS). The wing was seen to revert to its standard position under braking, highlighting its adaptive capabilities. Such innovations are crucial for teams seeking to unlock marginal gains in a highly competitive technical environment, and Ferrari’s willingness to push boundaries indicates their ambition for the upcoming season. However, the initial optimism surrounding this technical showcase was quickly overshadowed when Ferrari’s driver, Lewis Hamilton, was forced back into the garage after completing only five laps. The team cited an "unspecified chassis issue," a mechanical problem that severely curtailed valuable track time for the driver. Hamilton was eventually able to rejoin the session in the final five minutes, primarily to conduct FIA race control systems checks and practice starts, limiting his meaningful data collection for the day. This early reliability hiccup will be a concern for Ferrari, as robust performance in pre-season testing is critical for a strong start to the championship.
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Further down the order, Mercedes driver George Russell secured third place, demonstrating impressive reliability and diligence by completing the most laps of any driver in the session, with a total of 77. His extensive, "untroubled running" is a significant positive for Mercedes, who are keen to iron out any lingering issues from their previous car and ensure their W15 is a consistent performer. High mileage in testing provides invaluable data for engineers to understand the car’s behaviour across various fuel loads and tyre compounds, laying a solid foundation for the season ahead.
Williams’ Alex Albon also showed strong form, slotting into fourth place after a healthy 71-lap mileage. The consistency of Williams in accumulating laps is crucial for their development program, as they continue their ascent from the back of the grid. Similarly, young talent Gabriel Bortoleto, driving for the Audi-branded team (currently Stake F1 Team Kick Sauber), managed to secure fifth place despite a hydraulics issue that limited him to 29 laps. His return to the track in the final 40 minutes highlights the team’s efforts to maximize every opportunity for data gathering.
Oliver Bearman, another promising junior driver, placed sixth for Haas, completing a respectable 69 laps, while Franco Colapinto took seventh for Alpine with 54 laps. Both young drivers are gaining invaluable experience in top-tier machinery, offering their respective teams fresh perspectives on car development. Liam Lawson, representing Racing Bulls (formerly AlphaTauri), encountered a frustrating session, spending a lengthy period in the garage due to an unspecified issue, which restricted him to just 27 laps and an eighth-place finish. Such disruptions are a common challenge in testing, underscoring the immense pressure on teams to resolve problems quickly.
Two-time world champion Fernando Alonso had a relatively low-key outing for Aston Martin, finishing ninth. His 40 laps were completed four seconds off Norris’s blistering pace, but Aston Martin is likely focused on specific test programs rather than chasing absolute lap times. Experienced drivers like Alonso often prioritize understanding the car’s long-run characteristics and evaluating various setups. Rounding out the field, Lewis Hamilton for Ferrari, as noted, managed a mere 5 laps due to his mechanical problem, placing him tenth. Cadillac’s Valtteri Bottas (currently Stake F1 Team Kick Sauber), despite missing early track activity due to a technical issue, managed to complete 58 laps later in the session, finishing eleventh.
The morning session served as a compelling prelude to the upcoming Formula 1 season. While outright pace at this stage is always taken with a grain of salt, the sheer volume of laps completed by several teams, coupled with the intriguing technical developments, provides a tantalizing glimpse into the competitive landscape of 2024. Teams will now analyze vast amounts of data to fine-tune their machines ahead of the season opener.
F1 Bahrain Pre-Season Test – Day 5 Morning Results
| Pos | Driver | Team | Best lap | Gap | Laps |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lando Norris | McLaren | 1m33.453s | – | 72 |
| 2 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull | 1m33.584s | +0.131s | 56 |
| 3 | George Russell | Mercedes | 1m34.111s | +0.658s | 77 |
| 4 | Alex Albon | Williams | 1m35.130s | +1.677s | 71 |
| 5 | Gabriel Bortoleto | Audi | 1m35.263s | +1.810s | 29 |
| 6 | Oliver Bearman | Haas | 1m35.279s | +1.826s | 69 |
| 7 | Franco Colapinto | Alpine | 1m35.506s | +2.053s | 54 |
| 8 | Liam Lawson | Racing Bulls | 1m36.959s | +3.506s | 27 |
| 9 | Fernando Alonso | Aston Martin | 1m37.472s | +4.019s | 40 |
| 10 | Lewis Hamilton | Ferrari | 1m39.670s | +6.217s | 5 |
| 11 | Valtteri Bottas | Cadillac | 1m40.193s | +6.740s | 58 |
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Author Profile
- Jonas Leo is a passionate motorsport journalist and lifelong Formula 1 enthusiast. With a sharp eye for race strategy and driver performance, he brings readers closer to the world of Grand Prix racing through in-depth analysis, breaking news, and exclusive paddock insights. Jonas has covered everything from preseason testing to dramatic title deciders, capturing the emotion and precision that define modern F1. When he’s not tracking lap times or pit stop tactics, he enjoys exploring classic racing archives and writing about the evolution of F1 technology.
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