SAKHIR, Bahrain. — Reigning Formula 1 champion Lando Norris (McLaren) topped the timesheets on the first day of testing in Sakhir.
Today marked the first of six pre-season testing days that teams will complete in Bahrain ahead of the season-opening race in Melbourne on March 8.
Eighteen drivers took to the track, with temperatures ranging between 25 and 32°C, significantly higher than last year in Manama, when the mercury did not exceed 15°C.
Over the course of the eight hours of track activity, a total of 6,183 kilometers were completed. In this first round of testing (the second is scheduled for next week), teams are allowed to use only the three hardest slick compounds in the Pirelli range (C1, C2 and C3), which are best suited to the characteristics of the circuit, along with one set of Intermediates in case of wet conditions.
Eight teams featured in the top ten of the timesheets. Norris set a 1:34.669, the fastest time of the day, achieved on the C2 compound.
Behind him, on the softer C3 compound, were Max Verstappen (Red Bull) at +0.129s and Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) at +0.521s. The fastest lap on C1 was also set by the Dutchman, with a 1:35.631.
Esteban Ocon was fourth for Haas F1 with Oscar Piastri fifth in the second McLaren.
Cadillac F-1 drivers Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas were 14th and 16th, respectively.
