Lando Norris takes the lead on the first day of testing

      Cloudy. Dry. Air +15...14C, highway +25...18C

      It was cool on the first day of testing in Bahrain, and rain was forecast. Barcelona, where winter tests usually took place, is even a little warmer now. It's going to rain a little and the forecast is for tomorrow.

      The teams tested the new cars in advance during the filming days and immediately began collecting information and comparing different configuration options during the tests. Under the conditions of stable regulations, the cars have hardly changed, but the team tried to solve last year's problems. There were no problems with reliability – on the first day of testing, almost everyone completed the race distance (in Bahrain, this is 57 laps).

      The teams divided the program – some racers worked until lunch, others after, but all twenty main drivers visited the track on the first day. The cars resembled last year's except for the coloring, but Ferrari decided on radical changes in the design of the front suspension and were in the spotlight.

      Tsunoda and Alonso had a little problem with the brakes. Lawson took off at the third corner, Hadjar spun around at the exit of the fourth without any consequences for the cars.  The day was unsuccessful for Aston Martin – in the morning Alonso drove the least, and in the afternoon Stroll lost a lot of time.

      There were just under two hours left before the end of the tests when red flags appeared – the electricity went out at the circuit. The nearest substation has failed. Only the emergency system was working, the mechanics in the pits took out flashlights, and the racers used their phones. Only computers and television equipment with autonomous power worked. Someone complained about the smell of burning.

      The pause dragged on, it was dangerous to conduct tests at dusk – the racers left the cars and waited for the situation to develop. Despite the unpleasant loss of precious time, everyone reacted to what was happening with a smile. On top of that, it started to rain.

      Half an hour later, the lights gradually started to turn on, at the exit from the pit lane, the green light turned on for a while, but the floodlights did not work on half of the track, so they turned on the red light again.

      Half an hour later, a safety car pulled out, and then the riders were released onto the track. There were 50 minutes left before the end of the session, but they decided to increase the duration of the tests, taking into account the lost hour.

      No one worked on the speed, but the results turned out to be incredibly dense. The protocol of the first day of testing was led by Lando Norris, who completed the best lap on C3 tires in 1:30.430. Esteban Ocon has the longest distance of the day – 88 laps.

      The tests will continue tomorrow.

      Results of the first day of winter tests

      Pilot

      

      The Time Team

       Difference

       Circles

       Tires *

      

      1. L. Norris

       McLaren

       1:30.430

       -

       52

       C3

      2. D.Russell

       Mercedes

       1:30.587

       +0.157

       70

       C3

      3. M.Verstappen

       Red Bull

       1:30.674

       +0.244

       74

       C3

      4. S.Leclair

       Ferrari

       1:30.878

       +0.448

       71

       C3

      5. K.Sainz

       Williams

       1:30.955

      +0.525

      68

      C3

      6. P.Gasli

       Alpine

       1:31.353

       +0.923

       72

       C3

      7. K.Antonelli

       Mercedes

       1:31.428

       +0.998

       78

       C3

      8. L. Lawson

       Red Bull

       1:31.560

       +1.130

       58

       C3

      9. A.Elbon

       Williams

       1:31.573

       +1.143

       63

       C3

      

      10. Yu.Tsunoda

       Racing Bulls

       1:31.610

       +1.180

       78

       C3

      

      11. A.Hajjar

       Racing Bulls

       1:31.631

       +1.201

       76

       C3

      

      12. The city of Bortoleto

       Sauber

       1:31.690

       +1.260

       59

       C2

      

      13. L. Hamilton

       Ferrari

       1:31.834

       +1.404

       70

       C3

      

      14. D. Duane

       Alpine

       1:31.841

       +1.411

      68

      S3

      

      15. F.Alonso

       Aston Martin

       1:31.874

       +1.444

       46

       C3

      

      16. L.Stroll

       Aston Martin

       1:31.949

       +1.519

       42

       C3

      

      17. O. Piastri

       McLaren

       1:32.084

       +1.654

       66

       C3

      

      18. N. Hulkenberg

       Sauber

       1:32.169

       +1.739

       55

       C3

      

      19. E.Okon

       Haas

       1:33.600

       +3.170

       88

       C3

      

      20. O. Berman

       Haas

       1:35.522

       +5.092

       72

       C2