As F1 testing comes to an end, Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc sets the record.

At the same Sakhir circuit that will host the season opener next week, Charles Leclerc of Ferrari set the fastest time on Friday as Formula One’s winter testing came to a close.
On Friday, Charles Leclerc of Ferrari set the quickest time during Formula One’s winter testing. The season opener is scheduled for the Sakhir circuit, which Leclerc acknowledged gives Red Bull and world champion Max Verstappen “a good head start” next week. Leclerc’s Mercedes was 0.046 seconds faster than George Russell’s, and Zhou Guanyu of China was surprisingly third fastest in a Sauber. Verstappen, the clear favorite to win four straight championships in 2024, was only fourth fastest; Yuki Tsunoda of Racing Bulls, a Japanese driver, completed the top five.
Verstappen, on the other hand, chose to use softer tires, which made him significantly slower that day.

The new Formula One season, which will include a record 24 races, gets underway in Bahrain on March 2.

Leclerc stated, “Everything we expected from this car, we got it on the track, so that’s a good thing,” one day after fellow colleague Carlos Sainz had also topped the charts with a Ferrari.

Sainz, who will lose his place to seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton at the conclusion of the season, was the only driver to go sub one minute and thirty seconds during the three days of testing.

Ferrari team manager Frederic Vasseur stated, “I think I can say that we are off to a good start, if only by looking at our own performances.”

Leclerc was cautious about Ferrari’s prospects of surpassing Red Bull.
“For the moment, Red Bull still has a good head start,” he stated.

Mercedes brought a 2024 vehicle to Bahrain that is “very different”

Testing times on Friday:

1. George Russell (GBR/Mercedes) at +0.046 (67 laps), 2. Charles Leclerc (MON/Ferrari) in 1 minute 30.322 seconds. 3. Zhou Guanyu +0.325 (85) (CHN/Sauber), 4. Yuki Tsunoda (JPN/Racing Bulls) +0.453 (53), 5. Max Verstappen (NED/Red Bull) +0.433 (66), 6. +0.662 (121) Alex Albon (THA/Williams), 7. Oscar Piastri +0.708 (91) (AUS/McLaren), 8. ESP/Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso +0.837 (75), 9. +0.925 (71) Carlos Sainz (ESP/Ferrari), 10. Red Bull/MEX Sergio Perez +1.161 (53), 11. +1.364 (89) Nico Hulkenberg (GER/Haas), 12. Lewis Hamilton +1.677 (49) (GBR/Mercedes), 13. +1.716 (46), Lance Stroll (CAN/Aston Martin), 14. Lando Norris (20, +1.786, GBR/McLaren), 15. Pierre Gasly, +1.827 (47) (FRA/Alpine), 16. Kevin Magnussen +2.731 (80) (DEN/Haas), 17. +2.757 (55), Esteban Ocon (FRA/Alpine), 18. Daniel Ricciardo (AUS/Racing Bulls) +6.693 (70), 19. Valtteri Bottas (FIN/Sauber) +3.206 (28).

(This story is automatically generated from a syndicated feed; it has not been edited by NDTV staff.)