F1 TEST BAHRAIN, DAY 1: MCLAREN AND RED BULL SET THE PACE, FERRARI CHASING WHILE MERCEDES FACES EARLY ISSUES

With the curtain falling on the opening day of Formula 1 winter testing in Sakhir, the paddock has already begun to outline the first pecking order—albeit with the necessary caution. On the Bahrain circuit, one of the most familiar and extensively studied tracks on the calendar, teams and drivers worked through an intense schedule focused on data collection using the Pirelli C1, C2, and C3 compounds. Between race-pace simulations and qualifying-style runs, an early picture has emerged that, for now at least, appears to confirm pre-test expectations.

The feeling is that the season is picking up exactly where it left off: with a head-to-head battle between Lando Norris and Max Verstappen. The two protagonists of last season traded the top spot on the timesheets throughout the day, staging an early long-distance duel that immediately caught the attention of insiders.

By the narrowest of margins, it was Norris who came out on top: the Brit posted a benchmark 1:34.669 for McLaren, just 0.129 seconds quicker than the Dutchman in the Red Bull. Yet beyond outright pace, what truly stood out was the consistency both drivers displayed. Not just single-lap speed, but also strong long-run performance—clear evidence that the winter work in Woking and Milton Keynes has paid off.

While Norris split driving duties, Verstappen completed Red Bull’s entire program, logging an impressive 136 laps: a substantial mileage total that sends an encouraging signal in terms of reliability, especially considering this is a significantly revamped car. The Dutchman proved tireless, ending the day as the busiest driver on track.

Behind the leading pair slotted Charles Leclerc’s Ferrari. The Monegasque finished 0.521 seconds off the pace, but more than the time gap, attention centered on some rear-end instability with the SF-26. A car that, at least in this first outing, appeared delicate under traction and through quicker direction changes. The same sensations had already surfaced during the Barcelona shakedown and were echoed by Lewis Hamilton, who ended the morning session seventh, 1.764 seconds adrift. It remains to be seen whether this is merely a matter of experimental setup or a more structural limitation within the project.

Rounding out the top five were Esteban Ocon in the Haas, fourth at 0.909, and Oscar Piastri, fifth in the second McLaren at 0.933. A double papaya presence near the front reinforces the impression of a well-prepared and cohesive team. George Russell placed sixth, 1.439 seconds back in the Mercedes, though his day was not without setup challenges. In the afternoon, the wheel was handed over to Kimi Antonelli, who finished 11th at 2.960; the young Italian’s program was curtailed by a technical issue that limited his work primarily to managing the hard compound tires.

A separate chapter belongs to Aston Martin, among the more disappointing notes of day one. Limited mileage for the Silverstone-based squad, hampered by Honda power unit issues, represents an early warning sign at a stage of the season when every lap is invaluable.

It is only the beginning, and testing always tells partial truths. But if these early indications hold, the Norris–Verstappen rivalry looks set to reignite with the same intensity with which it ended.

© Cavalieri Garage & Co.