Formula 1 world champion Norris fastest on first day of Bahrain testing, Verstappen impresses

[p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/norris-lando/WSVABbVF/"]Norris[/a] lapped the Sakhir circuit ‌in a time of one minute 34.669 seconds in the new MCL40, with four-times world ‌champion [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/verstappen-max/UV3mgeXB/"]Verstappen[/a] 0.129 slower, but quickest after the first half of ‌the day's running.[/p][p]Verstappen was in his RB22 all day and completed 136 laps, however, ‌compared to McLaren's combined 112 laps with [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/piastri-oscar/MqKAIeUf/"]Oscar Piastri[/a] doing 54 ‌in the morning.[/p][p]"[b]They (Red Bull) are able to deploy far more energy on the straights than everybody else[/b],” Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff told reporters at the break. “[b]I mean, I'm ‌speaking a second per lap, over consecutive laps[/b].[/p][p]”[b]I would ⁠say that as per today on ‌the first official day of testing, which is always with the caveat of ​that, they've set the benchmark[/b],” added the Austrian.[/p][embed guid="f9416265-0e95-4e45-a20d-503fae7bfeec" url="https://x.com/redbullracing/status/2021618423286112347" social-type="twitter" /][p]Red Bull are racing with their own engine this season after parting from Honda.[/p][p]Mercedes-powered McLaren ​said they had focused on gathering aerodynamic data, rather than mileage or lap times, to provide a broader understanding of the car's operating window.[/p][p]"[b]Positive day, ⁠lots learned and looking ​forward to getting back in the car tomorrow[/b]," said Norris. Piastri said all had run smoothly and felt he had a better handle on the car.[/p][p]Ferrari's [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/leclerc-charles/KlCOSRub/"]Charles Leclerc[/a] was third on the timing screens, ahead of Ferrari-powered Haas's [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/ocon-esteban/nZKY1D4O/"]Esteban ‌Ocon[/a] (115 laps) and Piastri. Pre-season favourite [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/russell-george/xxF56RaN/"]George Russell[/a] was sixth for Mercedes.[/p][p]Mercedes had an issue in the afternoon when [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/antonelli-andrea-kimi/ptGu0mT1/"]Kimi Antonelli[/a] was in the car while the Aston Martin AMR26 didn't appear at all for the later stint.[/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/stroll-lance/I3p9zz4s/"]Lance Stroll[/a] completed 36 laps before a data anomaly emerged in the Honda power-unit and stopped further running.[/p][p]Williams made up for lost time by getting in 145 laps with [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/sainz-carlos-jr/l6kEzjTF/"]Carlos Sainz[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/albon-alexander/OEbwYC7k/"]Alex Albon[/a] after missing the pre-season shakedown in Barcelona last month.[/p][embed guid="a7fbecaf-3e32-4e81-876c-6b7e84ec132b" url="https://x.com/F1/status/2021648931273203938" social-type="twitter" /][p]"[b]Our intent all the way through was ‌just making sure we did the mileage required to learn and understand about ​the chassis, the power unit, and to start flushing gremlins out ‌of the system[/b]," said team boss James Vowles.[/p][p]"[b]There will be a lot of them, and these next three days are all about getting a good foundation to work from, and we can then build performance[/b]."[/p][p]Newcomers Cadillac managed 107 laps, with [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/perez-sergio/foV8RteD/"]Sergio Perez[/a] 14th of 18 drivers ⁠who set a time. Audi, the ⁠former Sauber team, had [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/hulkenberg-nico/GfW4SMu7/"]Nico ‌Hulkenberg[/a] ninth fastest with 73 laps.[/p]