Bahrain GP - Free Practice

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Gulf Air Bahrain GP - Free Practice

Free Practice 1

Feb. 29, 2024

At the Bahrain Grand Prix, during the initial practice session of the 2024 Formula One season, Daniel Ricciardo set the fastest time for the Visa Cash App RB team. On Thursday, the Australian driver completed a lap around the 5.4km Sakhir desert track in 1 minute, 32.869 seconds, edging out McLaren's Lando Norris by a mere 0.032 seconds.

Oscar Piastri, a teammate of Norris, secured the third position, with Yuki Tsunoda from the same team following closely. For the season, the AlphaTauri team, now rebranded as Visa Cash App RB, implemented this change.

The practice session rankings were somewhat deceptive, as three of the top four drivers achieved their fastest times on soft tires during the night session under artificial lights. Despite facing gear-shifting problems, Max Verstappen, the reigning champion of Red Bull, remains the favorite going into the weekend, posting the sixth-fastest time behind Fernando Alonso of Aston Martin.

George Russell claimed the top spot for Mercedes in seventh place, with Charles Leclerc of Ferrari following in eighth. Lewis Hamilton, in his final season with Mercedes before moving to Ferrari in 2025, finished ninth, while Valtteri Bottas of Sauber rounded out the top 10.

Sergio Perez, Verstappen's teammate, finished 12th, trailing Carlos Sainz of Ferrari, who is expected to be replaced by Hamilton. Esteban Ocon, Pierre Gasly, Kevin Magnussen, and Nico Hulkenberg occupied the lower positions for Alpine and Haas on the timing sheets.

The first race of the season is set for Saturday, with qualifying scheduled for Friday.

Free Practice 2

Feb. 29, 2024

In Bahrain, Lewis Hamilton's exceptional skills led Mercedes to victory, showcasing his strategic prowess. Despite fierce competition, Hamilton's determination solidified his dominance in Formula 1. Max Verstappen faced challenges and finished sixth. The Grand Prix highlighted drivers' talent, teamwork, and strategy in motorsport success, captivating fans worldwide. Hamilton's win and Verstappen's resilience set the stage for an exciting F1 season ahead.

During the practice session for the Bahrain Grand Prix on Thursday, Lewis Hamilton surprisingly set the fastest time of one minute 30.374 seconds, with his teammate George Russell following closely behind. Fernando Alonso of Aston Martin claimed the third position.

Max Verstappen, the reigning triple world champion, could only secure sixth place in his Red Bull car.

Despite being the favorite, Verstappen finished the day 0.477 seconds adrift of the leaders after coming in sixth during the initial practice session.

Carlos Sainz from Ferrari finished fourth, while Australian Oscar Piastri of McLaren took fifth place.

Mercedes, who had a winless season in 2021, have implemented significant changes to their car for the 2024 season in a bid to enhance its performance.

The promising performance in practice is raising hopes for Russell and Hamilton, who are both aiming to return to the winner's podium.

Qualifying for the race is scheduled for Friday, with the Bahrain Grand Prix and the subsequent race in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, set for Saturdays to accommodate the start of Ramadan.

Free Practice 3

March 1, 2024

Carlos Sainz from Ferrari was the fastest driver in the final practice session for the Bahrain Grand Prix, setting the stage for a competitive qualifying session later in the day.

The 29-year-old completed the Sakhir desert track in 1:30.824, with Fernando Alonso from Aston Martin trailing by 0.141s and Max Verstappen from Red Bull in third, 0.238 seconds behind. Verstappen, along with his teammate Sergio Perez, Alonso, and Lewis Hamilton from Mercedes, all took their turns at the top before Sainz delivered his final flying lap.

The top 14 drivers were separated by less than a second, with Charles Leclerc in fourth, followed by Lando Norris from McLaren and George Russell from Mercedes. Oscar Piastri finished seventh, ahead of Perez, Nico Hulkenberg from Haas, and Lance Stroll from Aston Martin in the top 10.

The practice times on Friday eased concerns of a dominant performance by Verstappen and Red Bull, hinting at a potential multi-team battle for pole position, especially after Daniel Ricciardo led the way in Thursday's practice.

In the second session, Hamilton led a Mercedes one-two with George Russell. The Bahrain Grand Prix kicks off a record 24-race season for Formula One, with the race and the subsequent round in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia scheduled on a Saturday to accommodate races before the start of Ramadan.

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