© Vladimir RysFree Practice Update - Bahrain Grand Prix 2021Bulls get the season up and running at the Bahrain International Circuit.
Welcome back Formula One! The record-breaking 2021 season has kicked off in Bahrain, the first of 23 races scheduled for the season.
Granted we were only here two weeks ago for pre-season testing, however, this is now when it really matters and everyone sees what each team is really made of, come Qualifying at least!
Free Practice in 2021 looks different to last year, well 30 minutes different on Friday in fact. All three sessions this year are only one hour long, meaning more cramming to get those final tweaks right.
Bahrain Pre-Race Stats© Red Bull Racing Honda
Max and got the 2021 season underway for the Team in Free Practice One, starting at 14:30 local time, a few hours earlier than the race start time on Sunday.
At the end of the hour it was Max who topped the timesheet. He brought his RB16B back in P1 with a 1:31.394, after 12 laps. Checo's first practice with the Team saw him finish P6. The Mexican managed a 1:32.071 after 15 laps.
Friday afternoon's Free Practice Two saw the cars go under lights and test out the track in conditions which will be similar to qualifying and the race.
Max once again finished P1 with a best time of 1:30.847. He managed to lay down 23 laps. Checo ended the day in P10 setting a 1:31.503, after 23 laps.
This final practice session on Saturday, Free Practice Three, once again saw Max bring the RB16B back in P1. The Dutchman posted his best time so far, a 1:30.577. He completed 11 laps. Checo came back in P5, managing a 1:31.908. He also managed 11 laps.
Bahrain Grand Prix 2021: Free Practice
Sparks Are Back For The Season© Getty Images
Sergio Studies The Data© Getty Images
Getting Set For The Session© Getty Images
Putting Our Stamp On The Tower© Getty Images
Max On Track For FP1© Getty Images
Max During The First Practice Of 2021© Getty Images
Watching From Anywhere Possible© Getty Images
Bulls Shine Bright At Night On Friday© Getty Images
Max Leads The Way On Friday© Getty Images
A Solid Day For Sergio© Getty Images
I am pretty happy, but tomorrow is a different day and we have to see whether we can do it in qualifying when it counts.
“It’s been a good day again and with the heat and the wind it is not easy to find a perfect balance around the whole lap but overall I would say it was a positive day. There are still things to improve and look into for tomorrow, tyre wise and a bit of balance tuning, plus I think it will be even more windy which is a challenge for everyone in these cars. I am pretty happy with the start of the weekend but tomorrow is a different day and we have to see whether we can do it in qualifying when it counts.”
“It feels great to finally get into a race weekend and I’m pleased so far with how things are going. I’m settling in well and taking some steps forwards. If I were to summarize today, I’ve got some work to do on the short runs as over one lap I don’t quite feel the car is within me just yet and I still have to think about what the car is doing, but in the long runs I’m more comfortable and I think the pace is there so that’s positive. I think we have some work to do on the soft tyre as there is also room for improvement there, but the car is performing well, we have good pace and tomorrow it will be pretty close in qualifying so we need to make sure we get it right and have a good start to the season.”
| Position | Driver | Team | Time | | 1. | 2. | 3. | 4. | 5. | 6. | 7. | 8. | 9. | 10. |
| Max Verstappen | Valtteri Bottas | Lando Norris | Lewis Hamilton | Charles Leclerc | Sergio Pérez | Pierre Gasly | Carlos Sainz | Daniel Ricciardo | Antonio Giovinazzi |
| Red Bull Racing Honda | Mercedes | McLaren | Mercedes | Ferrari | Red Bull Racing Honda | AlphaTauri | Ferrari | McLaren | Alfa Romeo |
| 1.31.394 | 1.31.692 | 1.31.897 | 1.31.921 | 1.31.993 | 1.32.071 | 1.32.195 | 1.32.366 | 1.32.434 | 1.32.786 |
| Position | Driver | Team | Time | | 1. | 2. | 3. | 4. | 5. | 6. | 7. | 8. | 9. | 10. |
| Max Verstappen | Lando Norris | Lewis Hamilton | Carlos Sainz | Valtteri Bottas | Daniel Ricciardo | Yuki Tsunoda | Lance Stroll | Pierre Gasly | Sergio Pérez |
| Red Bull Racing Honda | McLaren | Mercedes | Ferrari | Mercedes | McLaren | AlphaTauri | Aston Martin | AlphaTauri | Red Bull Racing Honda |
| 1.30.847 | 1.30.942 | 1.31.082 | 1.31.127 | 1.31.218 | 1.31.230 | 1.31.294 | 1.31.393 | 1.31.483 | 1.31.503 |
| Position | Driver | Team | Time | | 1. | 2. | 3. | 4. | 5. | 6. | 7. | 8. | 9. | 10. |
| Max Verstappen | Lewis Hamilton | Pierre Gasly | Valtteri Bottas | Sergio Pérez | Carlos Sainz | Kimi Räikkönen | Esteban Ocon | Lance Stroll | Daniel Ricciardo |
| Red Bull Racing Honda | Mercedes | AlphaTauri | Mercedes | Red Bull Racing Honda | Ferrari | Alfa Romeo | Alpine | Aston Martin | McLaren |
| 1.30.577 | 1.31.316 | 1.31.583 | 1.31.855 | 1.31.908 | 1.32.108 | 1.32.224 | 1.32.423 | 1.32.431 | 1.32.477 |
