F1 2024 Testing Round-Up

It is just under a week until the 2024 season gets underway in Bahrain, but over the past three days we’ve got a first glimpse of the cars out on track in preseason testing! Whilst you can’t read too much into testing, let’s look back at some of the highlights from the past few days! 

Day 1

Russell was ready to rumble!

The British Mercedes driver was the first to take to the Bahrain track on Wednesday morning. George Russell was given reign of the W15 for the whole day getting in a total of 122 laps with a few breaks for car adaptations. 

Mercedes shared they were prioritising getting information from the car rather than performance, hence why Russell only finished 12th on the timesheet. 

The only other team to run a solo driver was Red Bull, Max Verstappen had the whole day to get some information out of the new RB20. 

The dominance continues

It may be preseason testing but Max Verstappen still has his competitiveness fully intact! The first overtake of the season saw the Dutchman pass Charles Leclerc’s Ferrari into turn one. He wasn’t done there, going on to overtake Russell into turn 13! 

The Red Bull driver managed to top day one’s timings with a 1.31.344 lap, a full one second ahead of second place. 

McLaren Momentum continues

The Woking based side had a strong end to the 2023 season with Lando Norris consistently finishing in the top six. 

The momentum continued into preseason testing, when Norris had the seat of the MCL38 in the afternoon, the Brit managed to get second fastest lap of the day with a 1.32.484. Oscar Piastri, too had a strong testing also finishing in the top half, considering the position the Papaya were in 12 months ago I’m sure they are feeling much happier this time around!

The SF25 fights back

In both sessions of day 1’s testing both Ferrari drivers went off track as they fought against their latest car. 

With the biggest story from the summer being about Lewis Hamilton’s move to Ferrari, Carlos Sainz would be feeling as though he has a lot to prove in the next 24 races if he wishes to remain in F1. The Spaniard still managed to impress despite having to battle against his car, and came out third best with a 1:32:584 lap. 

Name changes  

The 2024 season didn’t see any changes to its driver line up, instead we saw two teams change their names! 

The first saw Alfa Romeo become Stake F1 Team Kick Sauber, sporting their new bright green livery - they most certainly won’t be difficult to spot out on track!!

The other change saw Alpha Tauri swap to Visa Cash App RB Formula One Team, but they will be known as RB for short! The new livery consists of the sides historical royal blue colour, and it reminds me a lot of a Red Bull can! 

Dangerous Danny Ric!

In his first whole season with the formally known Alpha Tauri, Daniel Ricciardo impressed on the first day of testing putting the VCARB 01 in fourth on the timings. The Aussie finished ahead of teammate Yuki Tsunoda. 

Double trouble for Williams 

Both Williams drivers had time on the track on Wednesday, though unfortunately they were both met with issues. 

Alex Albon was first out in the morning, but his session was cut short after a fuel pump issue forced him to stop on track. 

In the afternoon it was Logan Sargent’s turn, with the American being victim to the first spin of the season! Sargent’s car also had a driveshaft issue meaning the side only got a total of 65 laps in on day one. 

No more Guenther Steiner

This was the first time Haas drove on track after parting ways with long serving team principal Guenther Steiner. The team are now managed by Ayao Komatsu, but still saw both their cars finish bottom two on Wednesday.

Day Two

Viva La Veterans 

Thursday saw Lewis Hamilton and Sergio Perez drive their respective cars for the first time for the whole day. 

The latter had his time cut short due to his breaks overheating but this was a quick fix for the Red Bull team. Unfortunately for them, another issue arose in the afternoon as he lost power, but again it was another easy fix. The Mexican managed to produce a lap faster than his teammates from the previous day. 

Drain Dilemma

Charles Leclerc dislodged a drain cover during one of his laps round the Bahrain Track. Lewis Hamilton shortly followed behind and ran over the ran releasing debris onto the track. Unfortunately for the Monegasque Ferrari driver, he drive over the debris on his next lap damaging the floor of his SF-24 resulting in a red flag and the session being abandoned. 

Williams on the right track

Following a disappointing day prior, Williams, particularly Logan Sargent, despite multiple running’s wide and lock ups managed to get more out of his FW46 ending the day in P11. 

Sainz soars into first place 

There were some good signs, no pun intended, for Ferrari Fan on the last two days of testing. Carlos Sainz took first place on the Thursday with a 1:29:921, only two tenths off last season’s Bahrain pole sitting time, are we going to see a more competitive season this time around?!

Lights out and away we go

It’s not quite race day but that won’t stop the drivers! Some of them had a mini race after a mandatory safety car test, they did a standing start and went charging down towards the first corner sending sparks flying! 

A windy day for the Brit

Despite being forced off the track on one of his laps by a strong gust of wind, Lando Norris managed to put his McLaren 4th fastest on day two!

Day Three

Almost a full house

Williams’ Logan Sargent was the only driver not to have time on the track on Friday’s testing session. Alex Albon, however, had the whole day to get information ahead of next week’s race.

The dodgy drain struck again

After a long investigation into the drain on day two, it wasn’t enough as the same issue happened again on day 3. The victim this time was Red Bull’s Sergio Perez, but he came away with minimal damage. 

Hammer Time for … Haas 

Kevin Magnussen had reported an issue in his cockpit but once back to the garage took matters in his own hands, a few hits with a hammer and he was good to go!

Final few tweaks 

Despite it being the final day of testing the tests were still using the information they were getting from the flow vis paint to identify and act on any issues for the final time ahead of next week’s race! McLaren and Ferrari were amongst those making aerodynamic changes. 

Mercedes vs Ferrari

Perhaps foreshadowing much of what we will be seeing this season, George Russell slipstreamed Charles Leclerc’s Ferrari down the pit straight before overtaking him into the corner.

Tricky turn four 

Fernando Alonso, George Russell, Pierre Gasly and Charles Leclerc all went off the track at turn four on day three, this could be something to look out for next week! 

Ferrari finish on top

Charles Leclerc topped the timings on the final day with a 1: 30.322 lap, meaning based on testing as whole Ferrari are the fastest, but we can only take that with a pinch of salt!

Based on what we have seen over the past few days, what are your predictions for next week’s Bahrain Grand Prix?!