Max Verstappen leads the first day of testing, followed by Fernando Alonso and Carlos Sainz.
Max Verstappen, current Formula 1 World Champion, achieves the best time on the first day of the 2023 F1 tests at the Bahrain Circuit. The Dutchman, who was the only driver on the grid to complete the entire day, moved the Red Bull RB19 to the top of the table, stopping the timer at 1:32.837.
The surprise was the second classified on the first day of training, Fernando Alonso. Although the priority in the pre-season tests is not looking for the best time, far from it, today it was a real surprise that the British team finished on top, especially considering that the AMR23, with Felipe Drugovich at the wheel, stopped at nothing more start the day.
The fault lay with an electronic problem in the AMR23, which was solved after a couple of hours. This allowed the Brazilian to get back on track. In the afternoon, he handed over his place to Alonso, who also started late, due to repairs in the flat bottom area. But, when the Spaniard returned to the track, he managed to get the most out of the AMR23 to achieve a time of 1: 32.837.
Carlos Sainz, after a magnificent morning, ended the day with third time, four tenths behind Verstappen. His partner, Charles Leclerc, who rode in the afternoon, was just 14 thousandths behind Sainz, which confirms the good performance of the Ferrari SF-23, which in its first steps seems to be prepared to fight with Red Bull.
Lando Norris, with the McLaren MCL60, achieved the fifth fastest time, followed by Lewis Hamilton, who was the best Mercedes, six tenths behind Verstappen. Alexander Albon, Guanyu Zhou, George Russell and Logan Sargeant rounded out the top ten, surprisingly with two Williams (Albon and Sargeant) in the top ten.
On this first day of testing in 2023, we have seen the return of Nico Hülkenberg to the ownership of Formula 1, after three years out of the premier class. The German, behind the wheel of the Haas, was the eleventh fastest driver.
Results Day 1 Test Bahrain 2023
| Position | Pilot | Equipment | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | max verstappen | Red Bull | 1:32.837 |
| 2nd | Fernando Alonso | Aston Martin | +0.029 |
| 3rd | Carlos Sainz | Ferrari | +0.416 |
| 4th | charles leclerc | Ferrari | +0.430 |
| 5th | Lando Norris | McLaren | +0.625 |
| 6th | lewis hamilton | Mercedes | +0.671 |
| 7th | alexander albon | williams | +0.834 |
| 8th | guanyu zhou | alfa romeo | +0.886 |
| 9th | George Russell | Mercedes | +1,337 |
| 10th | logan sergeant | williams | +1,487 |
| 11th | Nico Hulkenberg | Haas | +1,587 |
| 12th | Valtteri Bottas | alfa romeo | +1,721 |
| 13th | nyck devries | AlphaTauri | +1,722 |
| 14th | Philip Drugovich | Aston Martin | +1,727 |
| 15th | Yuki Tsunoda | AlphaTauri | +1,834 |
| 16th | Pierre Gasley | Alpine | +1,985 |
| 17th | Esteban Ocon | Alpine | +2,034 |
| 18th | Oscar Piastri | McLaren | +2,051 |
| 19th | Kevin Magnussen | Haas | +2,250 |
The F1 2023 tests will continue tomorrow, Friday, with the second day of testing at the Bahrain Circuit. Alonso and Sainz will continue with the work they have started today, and what a good feeling it has left. As today, the day will begin at 8:00 a.m. and end at 5:30 p.m.
