McLaren's Norris Tops Bahrain Test Session Cut Short for Practice Starts

Lando Norris set the fastest time in the first session of the final pre-season test day in Bahrain, leading Max Verstappen by just over a tenth of a second. The session ended ten minutes early to allow teams to conduct practice starts, while Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton was severely hampered by a chassis issue, completing only five laps.

Why it matters:

Pre-season testing times are notoriously difficult to interpret, but session-topping pace combined with reliability is the ideal combination any team seeks. McLaren showing speed while Red Bull focuses on consistent, high-mileage runs sets an intriguing early narrative. Conversely, a major technical problem for Ferrari, especially on a new driver's first proper test day with the team, is a significant early setback in their preparation.

The Details:

• McLaren and Red Bull Pace: Norris's benchmark of 1m33.453s was narrowly faster than Verstappen's Red Bull. While Verstappen was only second, his team's focus appeared to be on consistent long runs, completing 56 laps without issue.
• Mercedes' Mileage Leader: George Russell was third fastest but completed the most laps of anyone (77), indicating a strong and reliable start to the test day for Mercedes as they gather crucial data.
• Ferrari's Setback: Lewis Hamilton's session was effectively ruined by a chassis problem on the SF-24, limiting him to just five installation laps before the lunch break. This continues a run of troubled testing for the Scuderia in Bahrain.
• Mixed Bag for Others: Williams (Albon) and Haas (Bearman) logged solid lap counts in the top six, while Alpine, Racing Bulls, and Aston Martin had quieter sessions focused on their own programs. Valtteri Bottas joined the session late for Cadillac, ending up slowest as the team took a cautious approach.

What's next:

Testing resumes for the final afternoon session in Bahrain, offering a last chance for teams to refine setups and, for Ferrari, a critical opportunity to recover lost track time. All collected data will now be analyzed intensely ahead of the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix next week, where true competitive order will begin to reveal itself.