What happened on the opening day of F1 2023 pre-season testing

What happened on the opening day of pre-season testing for F1 2023 in Bahrain?

12:47
Hamilton watch

His first lap of the afternoon puts him 12th overall, 5.6s off Verstappen. 

12:43
Busy, busy

Alonso, Norris and Hamilton are now on track.

Just Bottas and Magnussen are in the pit lane.

12:40
Intrigue at Mercedes and Ferrari...

Read more here about Mercedes' wires and Ferrari's front wing...

Carlos Sainz Jr (ESP) Ferrari SF-23. Formula 1 Testing, Sakhir, Bahrain, Day One.- www.xpbimages.com, EMail:
Carlos Sainz Jr (ESP) Ferrari SF-23. Formula 1 Testing, Sakhir, Bahrain,…

12:36
More cars...

De Vries and Leclerc join the track for the first time this afternoon. 

12:28
A car on track!

Verstappen breaks the afternoon silence in the Red Bull.

12:24
The new Alfa

Zhou Guanyu (CHN) Alfa Romeo F1 Team C39. Formula 1 Testing, Sakhir, Bahrain, Day One.- www.xpbimages.com, EMail:
Zhou Guanyu (CHN) Alfa Romeo F1 Team C39. Formula 1 Testing, Sakhir,…

12:21

An extended lunch break for a lot of the teams it seems.

12:17
F1 2023 is here

Yuki Tsunoda (JPN) AlphaTauri AT04. Formula 1 Testing, Sakhir, Bahrain, Day One. - www.xpbimages.com, EMail:
Yuki Tsunoda (JPN) AlphaTauri AT04. Formula 1 Testing, Sakhir, Bahrain,…

12:16
The afternoon session is underway!

No cars out on track yet.

12:05
The morning session
12:04
Porpoising?
12:03
F1 has some new rules this year

Remote video URL

11:20
Morning results

Click here for the full order...

George Russell (GBR) Mercedes AMG F1 W14. Formula 1 Testing, Sakhir, Bahrain, Day One.- www.xpbimages.com, EMail:
George Russell (GBR) Mercedes AMG F1 W14. Formula 1 Testing, Sakhir,…

11:15
Chequered flag

Morning session is over - Verstappen on top for Red Bull.

11:07
VSC period over

VSC test is over. Into the final eight minutes of the morning session.

11:02
Virtual Safety Car!

Looks like it's a test of the FIA's systems ahead of the season.

10:55
10:44
30 minutes to go

Verstappen remains on top, 0.3s ahead of Sainz.

Albon, Zhou and Russell complete the top five.

10:37
Verstappen on a charge!

He finds nearly 0.3s to improve to a 1m32.959s.

10:28
10:18
Into the final hour!

We're now into the final hour of the first session in Bahrain.

It's not been the most exciting (testing never is...) but intriguing nonetheless. 

10:08
10:02
The most laps so far?

Albon has 51 laps on the board.

The fewest? Drugovich with 22. 

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