The 26-year-old driver and Red Bull had an incredibly successful season last year, winning almost all of the 22 races. This year, they seem to be even stronger with the Red Bull RB20, which caused a lot of excitement during the Bahrain F1 Testing last week.
Verstappen, who started 2023 by leading Sergio Perez to a one-two victory at Sakhir, won 19 races and broke Michael Schumacher’s record of 37 consecutive races in the championship lead from 2000-2002.
The Dutch driver finished the season with seven consecutive wins, and the recent pre-season testing in Bahrain indicated that this winning streak is likely to continue as the sport enters a record-breaking 24-race championship.
After the testing, Verstappen commented: “We had some productive testing days and gained valuable insights from the car. Of course, we shouldn’t get ahead of ourselves and we still need to ensure we do everything right to have a strong start to the season. Overall, I’m excited to begin racing again.”
Red Bull is celebrating their 20th season, but there are concerns surrounding team principal Christian Horner, who is currently under investigation for undisclosed allegations of misconduct towards a female colleague.
Horner has denied these allegations, and a decision on his future is expected to be made soon, before the Bahrain GP, according to multiple sources. Rival teams will be eager to exploit any weaknesses, but they will also be competing to be the best of the rest.
Ferrari, with their new car, the SF-24, showcased promising speed and achieved impressive mileage during testing. Carlos Sainz set the fastest time on the second day, and Charles Leclerc topped the timesheets on the final day.
However, testing timesheets can be misleading as teams run different programs and fuel levels. Nevertheless, Ferrari team boss Fred Vasseur, entering his second season in charge at Maranello, is optimistic about their performance: “We can be satisfied with what we accomplished during this test.”
Mercedes is also quietly confident after redesigning their car to make it less unpredictable. Team boss Toto Wolff hopes that the W15 can provide more consistency and better pace for his drivers.
The team experienced their first winless season since 2011 last year, and both George Russell and Lewis Hamilton, who last won in 2021 and will be joining Ferrari next year, will be looking for signs that the car has the potential to win races.
Following the completion of testing, Wolff stated: “The drivers are much more satisfied with the overall equilibrium. It provides a solid foundation for future development.”
McLaren, who made significant progress last season, will be eager to maintain their momentum, while two-time champion Fernando Alonso hopes to add to his podium finishes for Aston Martin.
The rebranded Visa Cash App RB team, as well as Sauber, who will compete under the Stake and Kick names in different races this season, are also determined to leave their mark as sister teams to Red Bull.
The lineup of drivers for the 20th Bahrain Grand Prix will remain unchanged.
The race, along with the following round in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, a week later, will be held on a Saturday to allow the Middle Eastern countries to host races before the start of Ramadan. (Report by Abhishek Takle)
WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
GRAND PRIX VICTORIES, POLE POSITION & PODIUM FINISHES
F1 SEASON OPENING RACE
MILESTONE
One week after the conclusion of pre-season testing, Formula 1 returns to Bahrain for the first round of the 2024 season, from Thursday, 29 February to Saturday, 2 March.
The usual schedule for the grand prix weekend has been moved up by one day – the same will be done the following weekend in Saudi Arabia – with two practice sessions on Thursday, FP3 and qualifying on Friday, and the grand prix itself on Saturday.
This change has been implemented by Formula 1 to accommodate the start of Ramadan on the second Sunday of March.
The teams arrive at Sakhir with ample information regarding how the car and tire package perform on this particularly abrasive track, where traction and braking stability are crucial for performance, both in a single lap and during longer runs.
Track conditions do not evolve significantly, with temperature being the main factor influencing performance. Two out of the three FP sessions take place in the heat of the day, making it challenging to obtain accurate race data.
Another element that affects the cars is the wind, as it can blow sand onto the track and make the balance unpredictable. Thermal degradation will play a significant role and can have a decisive impact on race performance, while tire wear is generally minimal.
The Bahrain Grand Prix can be one of the most thrilling races of the year, offering numerous opportunities for overtaking, particularly in Turns 1, 4, and 11. Tire degradation, along with the resulting variety of race strategies, also adds an intriguing element to the performance differentials.
In last year’s #BahrainGP, the preferred strategy was a two-stop race using the C1 and C3 tires, with McLaren being the only team to use the C2 tire. (Source: Pirelli)