It is important to mention that, due to the timing of FP1, the recorded times may not accurately represent overall performance. However, there is no denying that the RBs have made significant progress.
Ricciardo was followed by Lando Norris in second place and Oscar Piastri in third place. Yuki Tsunoda, on the other hand, achieved the fourth fastest time in the VCARB 01.
The top four drivers recorded their times using the soft compounds, and they were the only teams, along with the Saubers, to use the red-walled Pirelli tires in FP1.
Max Verstappen, the current F1 champion, expressed dissatisfaction with his RB20 during the session and had several complaints relayed to the pitwall. He finished the session in sixth place.
Formula 1 is back, and all ten teams are now ready for the serious business of racing. This will be the first opportunity to truly evaluate their brand-new 2024 machines.
Although pre-season testing indicated that Red Bull and Max Verstappen maintained their dominance, we must remain hopeful and hope that Ferrari’s speed was not just for show, that Mercedes has made the correct calculations with the W15, and that McLaren has intentionally held back.
The off-season was marked by turbulence, including the rejected offer from Andretti Cadillac to Formula One Management, Guenther Steiner’s departure from Haas, Lewis Hamilton’s farewell to Mercedes, and his move to Ferrari in 2025.
Finally, the story that overshadowed all others was the investigation against Christian Horner for alleged “inappropriate behavior” towards a colleague, which turned out to be false. The controversy surrounding Horner caused a stir in F1 and led to various speculations and rumors. Fortunately, Red Bull concluded its investigation before the start of action in Bahrain, clearing Horner of any wrongdoing and allowing us to focus on the races.
There is much to be expected this season. How far ahead are Red Bull and Verstappen? Will Sergio Perez perform better? What can we expect from Hamilton’s final season with Mercedes? How will Carlos Sainz fare in his final season with Red Bull before making way for the seven-time F1 champion?
Will McLaren continue its rise? And Aston Martin? Will the RBs or VCARBs, or whatever their name is, give us reasons to overlook their peculiar name?
These are just a few of the many questions to come. But for now, let’s rejoice in the return of F1 and enjoy the season.
The session started in clear conditions, although the wind was quite strong. The track temperature was around thirty degrees, while the air temperature was approximately 20 degrees Celsius.
Five minutes after the start of the session, more than half of the cars were already on the track, recording their initial times using the medium tires.
Speaking of tires, Pirelli provided the C1 (hard), C2 (medium), and C3 (soft) compounds for the season opener.
Just one week after the end of pre-season testing, Formula 1 returns to Sakhir. The first race of the 2024 season will feature the C1, C2, and C3 compounds. This race weekend marks the 20th Bahrain Grand Prix.
During the daytime session, teams experimented with various modifications to their cars. Some of them added aerodynamic fins as they exited the pits. Valtteri Bottas was the first driver to hit the track, but his teammate, Zhou Guanyu, had brake issues and returned to the pits after completing his lap.
Current F1 champion Verstappen entered the track ten minutes after the start of the session and immediately took the lead, finishing over six tenths ahead of second-placed Sainz. Despite setting the fastest time, Verstappen expressed dissatisfaction with his performance, stating, “Everything is terrible, very far away.”
It is worth noting that drainage covers on the Sakhir track caused problems during pre-season testing, but track officials have since resolved the issues. Less than 30 minutes into the session, Kevin Magnussen’s Haas and George Russell’s Mercedes had problems and were forced to stop.
Midway through the session, Oscar Piastri became the first driver to use the soft compound tires and quickly climbed to the top of the timesheet. His McLaren teammate, Lando Norris, also set the fastest time on the same tires, surpassing Piastri by over two tenths of a second. Norris had expressed concerns about McLaren’s performance in Bahrain, but McLaren CEO Zak Brown remained optimistic, stating that they expect to be competitive this season based on testing.
Brown has been critical of the RBs and their relationship with Red Bull Racing, stating that it gives them an unfair advantage over the competition. Daniel Ricciardo and Yuki Tsunoda further frustrated Brown by surpassing Norris, with Ricciardo setting a time 0.032 seconds faster and Tsunoda finishing in fourth place, albeit a few tenths slower than Piastri. This occurred with 20 minutes remaining in the session.
Meanwhile, Zhou remained in the Sauber garage, and Verstappen continued to express dissatisfaction with his RB20, specifically mentioning “positive torque” during braking. Sainz also made a mistake during braking and locked up heavily.
With less than 20 minutes remaining in FP1, Zhou returned to action, and Verstappen and Russell engaged in a mini-race. In the final ten minutes, Esteban Ocon reported inconsistency in his A524, and Lance Stroll experienced significant lock-ups in Turns 1 and 2, describing his car as “extremely unstable.”
Verstappen’s complaints persisted as he informed his engineer, with only one minute remaining, about the “highly erratic gear shifts” he experienced.
At the end of the session, all drivers head to the start/finish line to perform some practice starts.
Report in progress…
© 2024
A new record was set in the world of sports today, as Brazilian athlete Rafael Silva won the gold medal in the swimming competition. With an impressive performance, Silva surpassed his competitors and secured his place on the podium. Brazil is proud of his talent and dedication to aquatic sports.
Silva, 25, started swimming as a child and has since dedicated himself to honing his skills. His coach, Carlos Rodrigues, praised the athlete for his determination and hard work. “Rafael is an example of perseverance and commitment. He trains every day and never gives up on achieving his goals,” said Rodrigues.
The swimming competition was fierce, with athletes from around the world competing for gold. Silva faced formidable opponents but managed to surpass them with his impeccable technique and impressive speed. His victory is a testament to his talent and dedication to sports.
After the competition, Silva expressed his gratitude to his support team and the fans who supported him throughout his journey. “I wouldn’t have achieved this without the support of all of you. Thank you for believing in me and motivating me to achieve great things,” said Silva.
Now, with the gold medal in hand, Silva hopes to inspire other young athletes to pursue their dreams and dedicate themselves to sports. He believes that with hard work and determination, anything is possible. “No matter where you come from or what obstacles you face, if you strive and believe in yourself, you can achieve great things,” Silva stated.
The future looks bright for Rafael Silva, who is determined to continue improving his skills and competing at even higher levels. Brazil is eager to see what the athlete will accomplish next and celebrate his future victories. Congratulations, Rafael Silva, on your incredible feat in the swimming competition!
