2024 F1 Bahrain pre-season testing: Day 1 as it happened

Running will now resume for the next four hours.

All is quiet on the track for now. 

During the hour break from the on-track action, it is not only a chance to grab some lunch, but the teams will also be preparing their cars for any driver changes. 

Only Red Bull and Mercedes aren't swapping drivers for the afternoon session, meaning there is plenty of preparation needed to be done before the action resumes at 12pm UK time. 

This often results in an initial lull during the opening minutes of the afternoon running while final preparations are completed. 

Here's how things stacked up on the first morning of running in Bahrain as Max Verstappen topped the timesheets

• Max Verstappen heads Charles Leclerc on first morning of 2024 F1 testing in Bahrain

The current order is Verstappen, Leclerc, Alonso, Piastri, Tsunoda, Bottas, Albon, Ocon, Russell and Magnussen.

It's been generally a smooth morning of running in Bahrain, with Albon's recent stoppage the only major hiccup so far, highlighting how reliable F1 cars are in 2024.

The first car to stop out on track is Albon in the Williams.

No sign of a red flag just yet but he's been stopped for over two minutes now.

Here's how things are looking in terms of the fastest lap times in Bahrain currently 

• 2024 F1 Bahrain pre-season testing results: Day 1 lap times

A trip across the gravel for Ocon at Turn 4 - that Alpine looks to be a bit of a handful currently.

The Frenchman is back in the pit lane.

Verstappen leads the way currently with a 1m33.065s, less than 0.2s ahead of Leclerc in the Ferrari.

Alonso rounds out the top three, 0.3s off the pace.

A little moment for Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc.

Attempting to edge Verstappen's fastest time, he locked up at Turn 8 and was forced to abort his lap.

Uh oh, a sign of things to come?

Max Verstappen overhauls Fernando Alonso by three tenths after clocking 1:33.065.

Fernando Alonso goes three tenths clear of Charles Leclerc at the top of the timesheet.

His time was 1:33.385.

2024 F1 Bahrain pre-season testing results: Day 1 lap times

Esteban Ocon lost control of his Alpine and ended up in the gravel at Turn 4.

That might've been worse, but he got away with it.

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The Ferrari driver clocks 1:33.658 to move top of the timehsheet.

He has overhauled Fernando Alonso's time.

The 14 laps from George Russell are the most of any driver/team so far.

The W15 has had a busy start to Bahrain testing.

No need to say how important the early weeks of the F1 2024 season could be for Mercedes...

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Alonso has taken to the top of the timesheets now in the Aston Martin with a 1m34.334s, 1.0s clear of Bottas. 

Magnussen rounds out the top three for Haas, 1.3s shy of Alonso's early benchmark.

Still no times from Albon, Ocon or Piastri at this early stage.

We're just 10 minutes into the first four-hour session of winter testing in Bahrain.

Leclerc leads the way with a 1m37.432s - he's completed five laps so far in the Ferrari. Russell is just over 0.8s off in the Mercedes W15, with six laps to his name.

Tsunoda is 1.1s off in the RB, while reigning world champion Verstappen completes the current lap times at this early stage.

Of course, times at this point are pretty irrelevant, but they are still nice to talk about. 

Red Bull boss Christian Horner is in the paddock, with it being "business as usual" despite the ongoing investigation into his conduct from allegations from a female employee.

The outcome of the investigation - and when it will be announced - is still unclear.

The first time of 2024 goes to Russell in the Mercedes. It's just a 1m39.956s for the British driver - over 10 seconds off Verstappen's 2023 pole position from last year.

There's still just under two minutes until the morning session kicks off but George Russell is waiting at the end of the pit lane in the Mercedes W15.

He's got a huge aero rake fitted to his car as Mercedes look to get some early data on their new challenger. Is it performing as expected? Is the air-flow the same as it was back in the factory? 

Fernando Alonso is also ready to take to the track in the Aston Martin - he's behind Russell in the pit lane. 

Here's who will be in action in the first session of testing in Bahrain which runs from 7am to 11am (UK time)

Red Bull: Max Verstappen

Mercedes: George Russell

Ferrari: Charles Leclerc

McLaren: Oscar Piastri

Aston Martin: Fernando Alonso

Alpine: Esteban Ocon

Williams: Alex Albon

RB: Yuki Tsunoda

Sauber: Valtteri Bottas

Haas: Kevin Magnussen

All the information you need ahead of this morning's F1 test session in Bahrain can be found here, including how to watch the action.

• How to watch F1 Bahrain preseason testing today: Live stream for free