Verstappen fastest at two-hour mark of F1 pre-season testing

Max Verstappen sits atop the timing sheets two hours into the first session of 2024 Formula 1 pre-season testing.

Using the C3 Medium tyres, he posted a 1:33.065 effort to climb up the board after his RB20 looked a handful on the harder C4 and C5 rubber in the earlier parts of the session, with Charles Leclerc in the Ferrari just 0.182s down on the Red Bull.

The first driver to hit the track was Mercedes' George Russell, who completed 19 tours in the two hours for the ninth-fastest time, as Fernando Alonso and Valtteri Bottas had strong mornings.

Alonso posted 32 laps as the AMR24 looked a compliant machine for the two-time World Champion, whilst Bottas raised the Stake to P1 early on and settled into fourth at the half-way mark of the four-hour morning session.

Yuki Tsunoda was the equal busiest driver with 37 laps on the board with Verstappen for the new RB machine, as Oscar Piastri only completed 17 laps in a quiet start to testing for McLaren.

The two hour period passed without any yellow flags, with the only incident of note beyond oversteer moments being for Esteban Ocon at Turn 4, with the Alpine skating across the gravel and pitting for repairs.