Max Verstappen beat Lando Norris by more than a second to finish first in both sessions on the opening day of Formula One 2024 pre-season testing at the Bahrain International Circuit.
Reigning champion Verstappen finished on top with a time of 1m 32.548s in the earlier session before improving to 1m 31.344s.
Red Bull’s Verstappen raced on on the yellow-marked C3 tyres and was the only competitor to drive all day, alongside George Russell of Mercedes.
Norris came second for McLaren after replacing Oscar Piastri in the afternoon, with Carlos Sainz, who had replaced Charles Leclerc, third for Ferrari and Red Bull’s Daniel Ricciardo fourth.
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Red Bull won 21 of the 22 races last season and their new RB20 car has already impressed in testing.
Verstappen’s race engineer, Giampiero Lambiase, was shown grinning during a brief pause as he watched the RB20 perform.
Big smiles from GP as Max takes the top spot 😁 PIC.TWITTER.COM/0RVYHW1DCT
— Sky Sports F1 (@SkySportsF1) FEBRUARY 21, 2024
The first day of testing bodes ominously for the chances of Formula E boss Jeff Dodds losing $250,000 to Verstappen.
Dodds has pledged the sum to the charity of choice of this season’s drivers’ champion – and he has little doubt Verstappen is the favourite.
“Unless he’s injured or something crazy happens, 99% he gets that trophy,” Dodds told TNT Sports.”
F1 Testing 2024 results
🏁 DAY ONE CLASSIFICATION 🏁
Verstappen leads the way, chased by Norris, Sainz and Ricciardo 👀#F1TESTING #F1 PIC.TWITTER.COM/CIQYIAOULM
— Formula 1 (@F1) FEBRUARY 21, 2024
“If Lando wins, we’ll go and visit him and give him a quarter of a million dollars for his charity,” added Dodds. “Absolutely, no questions asked.
“If any one of the other 19 drivers wins it, we’ll give a quarter of a million dollars to the charity of choice of the other driver that wins it.
“It wouldn’t be the worst day in the office to give a load of money to charity. But absolutely he is nailed on to win that season.”
The season starts with the Bahrain Grand Prix from February 29 to March 2.
