The 2024 Formula One season begins in Bahrain with two free practices on Thursday, February 29. Race day is scheduled for Saturday, March 2.
SAKIR, Bahrain—Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) closed out the 2024 Formula 1 pre-season testing Friday at the Sakir International Circuit with the quickest time of the day, a 1:20:322, 0.046 seconds ahead of the George Russell (Mercedes). Kick Sauber’s Zhou Guanyu was impressive and took third.
It was the second day in a row of a drain cover coming loose, this time caused by the Red Bull of Sergio Perez. Officials returned to that section of turn 11, where repairs had to be made with 27 minutes left in the morning session. As happened on Thursday, Friday’s session was scrapped so officials could fix the damage, but unlike Thursday, the scheduled lunch break was canceled, and drivers were allowed to finish testing. That decision extended the test day until 7 p.m.
Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, again the driver to watch this season, took fourth, while Yuki Tsunoda (Visa Cash App Red Bull) found his rhythm and finished in fifth. Alex Albon was sixth in his Williams, with Oscar Piastri in the McLaren seventh. Fernando Alonso was eighth in his Aston Martin, and fellow countryman Carlos Sainz, who took the best time on Thursday in his Ferrari, finished in ninth. Perez and his Red Bull ended up in tenth.
Haas F1 team driver Nico Hulkenberg entered 11th, considering that the car had been nearly last in the order. Lewis Hamilton finished 12th in his Mercedes, with Aston Martin driver Lance Stroll in 13th. McLaren’s Lando Norris, who had been in the top four on the first two test days, was disappointing on the final day and ended up in 14th. The rest of the field included Pierre Gasly (Alpine) 15th, Kevin Magnussen (Haas) 16th, Esteban Ocon (Alpine) 17th, Valtteri Bottas (Kick Sauber) 18th, and Daniel Ricciardo 19th (Visa Cash App Red Bull).
With the testing completed, many think the Red Bull duo of Perez and Verstappen will be hard to catch, with Ferrari, Mercedes, McLaren, and Aston Martin battling for podium positions. The Cash App Red Bull entry looks like a possible challenger, along with Alpine.
Courtesy Bahrain International Circuit
The long-awaited Formula One season begins next week in Bahrain. The racing season begins with Free Practice 1 and 2 on Thursday, February 29 (televised on ESPN 2 at 6:30a and 10:30a Eastern, respectively), followed by Friday’s Free Practice 3 and Qualifying (also televised by ESPN2 at 7:30a and 11a Eastern, respectively), and concluding with the race, Saturday, March 2, on ESPN at 10a Eastern.
