Max Verstappen Shines in Productive Morning of F1 Test Week in Bahrain

Live F1 | Verstappen productive during the first morning of the test week

Good morning and welcome to this live blog. Here I, Patrick Moeke, will keep you informed of all developments surrounding the Formula 1 test days in Bahrain. Have fun!

LIVE:
Morning session
1:00 PM – 5:00 PM:
Afternoon session

Live blog

Wednesday, February 21 at 9:18 AM

Christian Horner is also in Bahrain. Red Bull’s much-discussed team boss is being investigated for allegations of inappropriate behavior.

Wednesday, February 21 at 9:08 AM

Another 2 hours and 53 minutes – We have had a problem-free first hour of the test week. Charles Leclerc is the fastest with 1.33.658. Max Verstappen is the most productive with 21 laps.

Wednesday, February 21 at 8:53 AM

Another 3 hours and 9 minutes – Verstappen comes back into the pits after his sixteenth lap. The Dutchman – just like all other teams and drivers – is experiencing a problem-free first hour.

Wednesday, February 21 at 8:45 AM

Max Verstappen starts his sixteenth round making him the most productive driver to date.

Wednesday, February 21 at 8:44 AM

Another 3 hours and 16 minutes – After a busy start to the day, it is now quiet on the track. Only Esteban Ocon and Max Verstappen are driving.

Wednesday, February 21 at 8:39 AM

Another 3 hours and 22 minutes – A few moments for Max Verstappen, who slides quite a bit in the first corner and shoots off the track halfway through the lap. Unfortunately, we cannot hear on-board radios during the test days. So we don’t know what exactly is going on.

Wednesday, February 21 at 8:34 AM

Another 3 hours and 27 minutes – Max Verstappen is on the road again. The Red Bull driver completed four laps in his first stint.

Wednesday, February 21 at 8:31 AM

Another 3 hours and 31 minutes – Fernando Alonso clocked the fastest time with 1.33.822. For comparison: Max Verstappen recorded the fastest time on the first test day last year with 1.32.837. He drove his fastest lap in the afternoon session, when the sun had already set.

Wednesday, February 21 at 8:28 AM

Verstappen is now back in his car and will start driving again soon.

Wednesday, February 21 at 8:26 AM

A new look for 34-year-old Valtteri Bottas, who is starting his third season at Sauber (formerly Alfa Romeo).

Wednesday, February 21 at 8:21 AM

Our regular Formula 1 analyst Ho-Pin Tung about the Bahrain International Circuit: “Bahrain remains a special circuit. It has never been resurfaced since it was built. As a result, tire wear is extremely high. The rear tires in particular quickly suffer from overheating. is therefore not a perfect indicator for the entire season.”

Wednesday, February 21 at 8:17 AM

More images of the RB20. Verstappen is now out of his car again and has completed his first rounds of this season.

Wednesday, February 21 at 8:14 AM

The first pictures of the RB20 on the asphalt are coming in. Is this the car that will make Verstappen world champion for the fourth consecutive time?

Wednesday, February 21 at 8:12 AM

Another 3 hours and 47 minutes – The first fifteen minutes of the first test day of the year passed without incident. George Russell has seven rounds and is the most productive. Verstappen returned to the pits after four laps.

Wednesday, February 21 at 8:11 AM

Another 3 hours and 49 minutes – McLaren’s Oscar Piastri is also on the road. This means that all ten teams have now been outside.

Wednesday, February 21 at 8:08 AM

Another 3 hours and 52 minutes – Always a fun question to ask: who causes the first red flag of the year? The cars are tested, so of course things break sometimes. As a team you just don’t want that too often.

Wednesday, February 21 at 8:06 AM

The test days are mainly about collecting data. Do the data on the asphalt match what was calculated in the wind tunnel? Verstappen sets out here with a so-called aero rake, which measures the air flows around the car. Times are not (yet) really relevant, but for the sake of completeness – and because it’s fun – I will mention them every now and then.

Wednesday, February 21 at 8:02 AM

Another 3 hours and 58 minutes – We have only been on the road for a minute and a half, but it is immediately very busy on the track. Max Verstappen also sets off immediately.

Wednesday, February 21 at 8:00 AM

4 more hours – Green! The first day of testing is underway. This means the Formula 1 season has unofficially started.

Wednesday, February 21 at 7:58 AM

George Russell is already at the end of the pit lane and will be the first to set out this season.

Wednesday, February 21 at 7:53 AM

These drivers will drive in Bahrain today:

Red Bull – Max Verstappen
Mercedes – George Russell
Ferrari – Charles Leclerc (morning)
Ferrari – Carlos Sainz (middag)
McLaren – Oscar Piastri (morning)
McLaren – Lando Norris (noon)
Aston Martin – Fernando Alonso (ochtend)
Aston Martin – Lance Stroll (noon)
Alpine – Esteban Ocon (morning)
Alpine – Pierre Gasly (afternoon)
Williams – Alexander Albon (morning)
Williams – Logan Sargeant (middag)
Racing Bulls – Yuki Tsunoda (morning)
Racing Bulls – Daniel Ricciardo (noon)
Sauber – Valtteri Bottas (morning)
Sauber – Zhou Guanyu (middag)
Haas F1 – Kevin Magnussen (noon)
Haas F1 – Nico Hülkenberg (morning)

Wednesday, February 21 at 7:47 AM

Verstappen will be in action all day today. He will also get behind the wheel of the RB20 in the afternoon session tomorrow. Tomorrow morning and Friday it will be his teammate Sergio Pérez’s turn.

Beeld: Getty Images