Testing for the 2023 Formula 1 season got under way on Thursday morning at the Bahrain International Circuit, where all 10 teams took to the track with their brand-new machinery.
Mercedes' George Russell was the first driver to emerge from the pits in the morning heat before Carlos Sainz followed in his Ferrari and Max Verstappen in his Red Bull RB19.
ESSENTIAL GUIDE: How to read Bahrain pre-season testing – with F1 strategy expert Bernie Collins
Pre-season testing is the first opportunity to have a proper look at the 2023 breed of cars, which have been designed with new floor regulations in mind, with Red Bull to begin their title defence at this very circuit on March 5.
It wasn't all smooth running at the Bahrain International Circuit, as not 10 minutes had gone by before the red flag was flown for a stoppage: Felipe Drugovich, standing in for the injury side-lined Lance Stroll, rolled to a halt in his Aston Martin, a sub-optimal start for the team in green.
Watch the 2023 cars on track in the video player above.
Next Up
Related Articles
/GettyImages-2297994269.webp)
Gasly insists Alpine must ‘look ahead’ after Baku collision
UnlockedRalf Schumacher on his brother and ‘idol’ Michael
BettingBest value early bets for the Bahrain Grand Prix
Ocon confirms his intentions after announcing Haas exit
Hadjar explains what makes Verstappen such a tough driver
UnlockedTop 10 most memorable F1 moments at Sepang