P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Ahead of pre-season testing day two getting underway, here is what the data from day one showed us in Bahrain!
Max Verstappen and Red Bull’s RB21 showed strong performance on the first day of pre-season testing, with promising signs suggesting that they have addressed their 2024 issues. Verstappen demonstrated great long run pace, completing 74 laps at Bahrain International Circuit with consistent times. Lando Norris and McLaren also impressed, topping the timesheets ahead of George Russell and Verstappen. Although ultimate lap time interpretation can be tricky in testing, Verstappen’s strong long run pace stood out. Red Bull’s new car appeared more consistent than the previous model, as highlighted by Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko. In addition to Red Bull, McLaren and Mercedes showed competitive performance, while Ferrari seemed to hold back some potential in testing. Overall, the first day of testing provided valuable insights into the upcoming season’s competitiveness.
