Max Verstappen clocked the fastest time during the opening practice session of the 2021 Formula 1 season in Bahrain.
Red Bull Racing driver Verstappen set the fastest time during testing and remained atop the timesheets as all 20 cars took to the circuit for the first time.
The opening one-hour session is typically one of the least representative of the season, owing to hot and sunny conditions, with qualifying and the race taking place in the evening.
Verstappen’s benchmark time of 1:31.394s was almost three seconds down on the best effort he clocked during pre-season testing at the same circuit on March 14.
The 23-year-old nonetheless finished with a comfortable buffer of 0.298s back to Mercedes’ Valtteri Bottas.
Reigning World Champion Lewis Hamilton finished fourth, half a second behind Verstappen.
Norris spends time atop the table
Lando Norris provided McLaren with some optimism as he briefly fronted the session, prior to being shuffled down by Verstappen and Bottas.
Norris nonetheless classified third overall, ahead of Hamilton, with Charles Leclerc giving Ferrari a much-needed boost by taking fifth.
Sakhir Grand Prix victor Sergio Perez was sixth on his first practice outing for Red Bull, and the quickest of the drivers who have changed teams.
AlphaTauri’s Pierre Gasly was seventh, ahead of Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz and McLaren’s Daniel Ricciardo.
Alfa Romeo’s Antonio Giovinazzi edged Kimi Raikkonen to capture the final spot inside the top 10.
Little drama in quiet session
At a venue where drivers carried out pre-season testing, and two grands prix last autumn, there was little in the way of mistakes and setbacks for teams.
Aston Martin and Alpine both had low-key sessions, with none of its representatives in the top 10, as Sebastian Vettel took 12th and the returning Fernando Alonso only 16th.
Williams and Haas occupied up their anticipated positions at the rear of the field, with Mick Schumacher getting the better of team-mate Nikita Mazepin.
Friday’s second practice session will begin at 18:00 local time
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