After a busy three days of action at the Bahrain International Circuit, F1 pre-season testing has come to a close. Before the cars return to the track for the first race of the campaign next week, let’s take a closer look at how each team performed with their new challengers…
Total Laps – 441
Fastest Lap – 1m 31.686s (Nico Hulkenberg)
Despite often finding themselves in the bottom half of the timesheets on each day in Bahrain, Haas amassed the highest mileage of any team. While the squad have stated that they don’t expect to have made great gains in the pecking order entering into 2024, their main focus has been on addressing the tyre degradation issues that they faced in the previous year.
READ MORE: Haas outline their 2024 ambitions with Komatsu realistic over early chances
Total Laps – 416
Fastest Lap – 1m 29.921s (Carlos Sainz)
Ferrari seemed to be in a good place during the pre-season test – the team not only recorded the second-highest lap count but also ended the second and third days of action on top, with Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc leading the way respectively. Sainz’s time on Day 2 proved to be the fastest lap of the whole test, and the drivers both sounded cautiously optimistic about how the team had carried out their programme.
READ MORE: Leclerc and Sainz give their verdicts on where Ferrari stand relative to Red Bull
Total Laps – 391
Fastest Lap – 1m 30.679s (Sergio Perez)
It is perhaps unsurprising to see reigning world champions Red Bull nearer the higher end of the mileage charts. Despite a brief interruption caused by a brake fire and possible power issue on the second day, Sergio Perez still managed to set the squad’s fastest lap of the test with a time of 1m 30.679s. Max Verstappen also sounded a positive note after the end of the final day.
READ MORE: Verstappen explains Red Bull’s focus after final day of ‘very positive’ pre-season test
Total Laps – 379
Fastest Lap – 1m 30.647s (Zhou Guanyu)
There were some issues for Kick Sauber as the final day of testing got underway, with Valtteri Bottas’ running cut short due to a technical problem. Despite this, the team still managed to record a decent amount of laps, with Zhou Guanyu putting in 85 and even setting the third fastest time of the day.
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Total Laps – 379
Fastest Lap – 1m 31.159s (Fernando Alonso)
Aston Martin tied with Kick Sauber on a total of 379 laps. Their fastest lap came on the third and last day of testing courtesy of Fernando Alonso, as the team look to maintain more consistency in 2024 following their drop-off in form during the 2023 campaign.
READ MORE: Stroll reveals changes to training programme to avoid repeat of 2023 injuries as he sets target for new season
Total Laps – 367
Fastest Lap – 1m 30.775s (Yuki Tsunoda)
RB caught the eye of many during the test, with the outfit ending each day within the top five as well as recording a healthy lap count. While the team are potentially expecting a slower start to the season following their upgrades at the end of 2023, Daniel Ricciardo and Yuki Tsunoda have seemed in good spirits following their performance in Bahrain.
READ MORE: Tsunoda hopeful RB changes can bring 'winning mindset' as team hold lofty ambitions
Total Laps – 361
Fastest Lap – 1m 30.369s (George Russell)
The Mercedes duo of Lewis Hamilton and George Russell have both spoken positively about the W15, with the car offering a sense of optimism after a difficult couple of seasons with its predecessors. Hamilton stated that the team had gained a “lot of learnings” during testing, something that could provide a “good foundation” to build on.
READ MORE: Bullish Hamilton doubles down on Russell’s positive comments after first run in Mercedes W15
Total Laps – 334
Fastest Lap – 1m 32.061s (Esteban Ocon)
Alpine held the third lowest lap count across the field during the three days of testing, while their fastest time was provided by Esteban Ocon on the second day of action. With the team opting for an entirely new concept in 2024, the squad are still learning about the car but both drivers praised its reliability during the test.
READ MORE: Gasly ‘physically and mentally’ in the best place he’s ever been ahead of 2024 season
Total Laps – 328
Fastest Lap – 1m 31.030s (Oscar Piastri)
Unlike their difficult start to 2023, McLaren enjoyed a much stronger opening day of action in Bahrain this time around. There have been some hiccups during the days that followed, with Lando Norris losing time on Thursday due to a fuel system issue before then having his running on Friday cut short owing to a clutch problem. While there is work to do, the mood in the team looks to be positive.
READ MORE: Cars on film – why McLaren and their rivals go testing for the cameras
Total Laps – 299
Fastest Lap – 1m 30.984s (Alex Albon)
Another team to encounter some issues were Williams. Having opted for a new direction with their 2024 car, the squad faced problems on Wednesday which curtailed their running. However, Logan Sargeant and Alex Albon recorded more laps as each got behind the wheel for a full day on Thursday and Friday respectively, with Albon setting their quickest time on the final day of action.
READ MORE: 'I just feel so much more healthy' – Sargeant explains how he has bounced back after rookie season took ‘big toll’
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