Red Bull driver Max Verstappen prepares for the primary follow session forward of the Formula One Bahrain Grand Prix on the Bahrain International Circuit in Sakhir, on February 29, 2024.
| Photo Credit: AP
After probably the most dramatic offseason in current Formula 1 historical past comes its longest ever season.
Thursday follow for the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix launches the primary of 24 race weekends. Champion Max Verstappen — sixth within the first follow — is amongst a number of drivers elevating considerations concerning the influence of a relentless schedule.
As follow obtained underway, the main focus remained on Red Bull and its group principal Christian Horner. He stays in cost after the group’s guardian firm in Austria mentioned on Wednesday {that a} grievance made towards him was dismissed after an inner investigation.
Also this offseason, seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton shocked the collection by saying he’s transferring to Ferrari subsequent 12 months. The swap shocked his present group, Mercedes, and even his dad and mom. Also, Netflix star Guenther Steiner was faraway from his function main the Haas group.
It’s been loads for drivers and F1 followers to comply with even earlier than a marathon season begins.
All three previous and current champions on the grid — Hamilton, Verstappen and Fernando Alonso — agree 24 races push the boundaries of what F1 drivers and group members can take.
“When I started we had 16 races,” mentioned two-time champion Alonso, who has a file 377 profession race begins. “Now we are up to 24 and this is not sustainable for the future for anyone.” “I really feel already that we’re manner over the restrict of races,” said Verstappen, who questioned if some drivers might “start shortening their careers” over the workload.
Since Liberty Media took over F1 before the 2017 season, the number of races has risen from 20.
The growth is driven by Liberty’s strategy of staging races in destination cities like Las Vegas, Miami, Jeddah in Saudi Arabia and, from 2026, Madrid.
Verstappen’s Red Bull teammate Sergio Perez voiced concern for staff on F1 teams who, he said, seemed exhausted at the final races last year.
“I remember seeing a lot of zombies in Abu Dhabi, after Vegas,” he said. “We are trying to basically put some points across that it’s not only for the drivers, to be honest. There’s a lot of mechanics, engineers and basically they travel the world weekend after weekend, a lot of hours on the planes.” This file season means an prolonged goodbye for Hamilton, who’s leaving Mercedes on the finish to be a part of Ferrari, and raised considerations over how the expanded calendar would possibly worsen F1’s influence on the setting.
Daniel Ricciardo was a shock chief within the first follow for Red Bull’s second group, the newly renamed RB, previously generally known as AlphaTauri. The two McLarens of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri had been second and third quickest.
Practice in Bahrain was extensively seen as a continuation of final week’s preseason testing on the similar monitor as groups tried out setups and methods. The daytime situations weren’t consultant of qualifying and the race, which shall be held within the evenings.
Testing was twice disrupted by drain covers flying off and leaving particles throughout the monitor — prompting Verstappen to voice considerations over security — however that downside has been solved for now.
Rain is not a significant concern in Bahrain so downside drains at two corners have merely been crammed in with concrete.
Modern F1 vehicles’ highly effective ground-effect aerodynamics generate grip between the ground and the monitor floor however that pressure also can pull unfastened objects away from the bottom.
Carlos Sainz Jr.’s Ferrari was badly broken by a water valve cowl in follow for the Las Vegas GP in November, underlining the dangers to drivers. (AP) DDV
