P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Qualifying at F1’s season opener has provided an insight into the development paths at each team on the grid.
The first qualifying session of the Formula 1 season at the Bahrain Grand Prix provided insight into the progress each team has made compared to last season. In the third year of the current technical regulations, some teams have more to gain than others, with Red Bull facing diminishing returns due to their dominance. McLaren showed the most improvement year on year with a lap time 1.767 seconds faster than last season – the largest improvement among all teams. Despite making one of the smallest advancements, Red Bull’s Max Verstappen still secured pole position with a comfortable lead over Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc. Alpine had a challenging year with minimal improvements, gaining only a tenth in lap time compared to the previous season. The comparison of qualifying times between 2023 and 2024 provides a clear picture of each team’s progress at the Bahrain GP.
