Daniel Ricciardo topped the first practice session of the new Formula 1 season at the Bahrain GP for the renamed RB team but few questions about the early pecking order were answered in 2024’s first hour of competitive running.
Six days after the conclusion of pre-season testing at the same circuit, F1’s 20 drivers and their all-new 2024 cars hit the Bahrain International Circuit again with the session ending with a surprise at the top of the timesheet.
One on a handful of drivers to use the quickest soft tyre during the hour, Ricciardo clocked a best time of 1.32.869 for the former AlphaTauri team to outpace McLaren’s Lando Norris, who used the same compound, by 0.032s.
The pair’s respective team-mates, Oscar Piastri and Yuki Tsunoda, were third and fourth having also set their times on the quickest available compound.
Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso was the quickest medium tyre-shod runner in fifth place, just 0.3s back on Ricciardo, with world champion Max Verstappen sixth for Red Bull.
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This weekend’s Bahrain Grand Prix will be taking place on Saturday rather than the usual Sunday slot!
But the Dutchman, who starts as clear favourite for this season again after winning 19 of last season’s 22 races, did not yet appear happy with the handling of hid RB20 car.
“Everything is like miles off,” said Verstappen over team radio during his first run of the session on track.
George Russell was the lead Mercedes in seventh, with Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc eighth ahead of his 2025 team-mate Lewis Hamilton in ninth in the other Mercedes.
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There’s plenty to look forward to on Sky Sports F1 as the start of the 2024 season edges closer
More to follow…
Sky Sports F1’s live Bahrain GP schedule
Thursday February 29
- 12.55pm: F3 Qualifying
- 1.40pm: F2 Qualifying
- 2.35pm: Bahrain GP Practice Two (session starts at 3pm)
- 4.15pm: The F1 Show
Friday March 1
- 10.10am: F3 Sprint Race
- 12.15pm: Bahrain GP Practice Three (session starts at 12.30pm)
- 2.10pm: F2 Sprint Race
- 3.10pm: Bahrain GP Qualifying build-up
- 4pm: BAHRAIN GP QUALIFYING
- 6pm: Ted’s Qualifying Notebook
Saturday March 2
- 8.55am: F3 Feature Race
- 10.25am: F2 Feature Race
- 1.30pm: Bahrain GP build-up: Grand Prix Saturday
- 3pm: THE BAHRAIN GRAND PRIX
- 5pm: Bahrain GP reaction: Chequered Flag
- 6pm: Ted’s Notebook
- 6.30pm: Bahrain GP highlights
Watch every round of the new season, starting with the Bahrain Grand Prix this week, with the opening race on Saturday at 3pm. Stream every F1 race and more with a NOW Sports Month Membership