2024 F1 testing day one highlights: Recap of the excitement from the start of the event.

During the first morning of pre-season testing in Bahrain, Max Verstappen took the lead with the new Formula 1 car from Red Bull. The RB20, which was described as a more assertive version of last year’s RB19, underwent thorough examination during the testing session. Notable features of the RB20 included halo inlets and a redesigned sidepod. Red Bull made modifications to the inlet on the 2024 car, dividing it into two sections. Despite initial challenges, Verstappen performed admirably when he switched to the mid-range C3 tyre and achieved the fastest time of the session. He even surpassed his own previous record from the year before. Charles Leclerc of Ferrari came close to Verstappen’s time, but ultimately finished 0.699 seconds behind. Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso was the only other driver within a second of Verstappen’s time. McLaren had a slow start, but Oscar Piastri managed to secure the fourth-fastest time. Yuki Tsunoda and George Russell completed the top five. Alex Albon was the sole driver who encountered a stoppage on the track during the session. Overall, it was a productive morning with the teams completing over 500 laps.