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

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

Alonso, Norris and Hamilton are now on track.

Just Bottas and Magnussen are in the pit lane.

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

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

Verstappen breaks the afternoon silence in the Red Bull.

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

Putting in those laps #F1Testingpic.twitter.com/qxAVsuESn2

— Crash F1 (@CRASH_NET_F1) February 23, 2023

Toto Wolff says George Russell reported no bouncing on the W14 this morning #F1#F1Testing

— Lewis Larkam (@Lewis_Larkam) February 23, 2023

Verstappen fastest, Aston Martin hit early trouble as F1 test begins

Click here for the full order...

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

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

Russell Gasly

Our first testing tussle! #F1#F1Testingpic.twitter.com/y1iAWmBLyc

— Formula 1 (@F1) February 23, 2023

Verstappen remains on top, 0.3s ahead of Sainz.

Albon, Zhou and Russell complete the top five.

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

Putting in those laps #F1Testing pic.twitter.com/qxAVsuESn2

— Crash F1 (@CRASH_NET_F1) February 23, 2023

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. 

Mercedes W14 Ferrari SF-23 #F1#F1Testingpic.twitter.com/7mDDB1zUCs

— Formula 1 (@F1) February 23, 2023

How things stand after three hours of running... 

Albon has 51 laps on the board.

The fewest? Drugovich with 22.