Verstappen beats Schumacher on F1 test debut

Max Verstappen has denied Mick Schumacher the dream debut Formula 1 test by topping the rain-interrupted opening day in Bahrain.

The 20-year-old drew attention from the entire F1 paddock at Ferrari as he made his F1 test debut for the Scuderia, emulating his father Michael who won five world titles with the iconic squad, and in the morning he notched up 33 laps before persistent rain halted track running for over four hours.

But once the rain drifted away from the Sakhir International Circuit, F1 testing resumed with two-and-a-half hours remaining to see a fight for top spot develop.

Initially Verstappen looked to lead the way for Red Bull Honda, displacing this morning’s quickest driver Romain Grosjean, before Schumacher strapped on a new set of the softest Pirelli tyres for his own quick run to produce a 1m 29.976s to take top spot.

But Verstappen responded with five minutes of the track action to go, on used C3 Pirelli tyres putting him on two-step harder tyres than Schumacher, to retake top spot with a 1m 29.379s and push Schumacher into second place.

Behind the front-runners, Lando Norris claimed third place for McLaren following his standout performance in the Bahrain Grand Prix.

Fernando Alonso made his F1 return in the McLaren Pirelli tyre test car completing 64 laps with a best time of 1m 32.207s. The two-time F1 world champion returns to testing action for half a day tomorrow before handing over to Sainz in the afternoon.

Grosjean ended the day in fourth having handed over the Haas junior Pietro Fittipaldi for the final 90 minutes of track action.

Alexander Albon followed up his impressive Bahrain race, having scored his maiden F1 points, to take fifth place for Toro Rosso. Lewis Hamilton ended the day in sixth place for Mercedes having completed the most laps of any driver on 77 laps.

Daniel Ricciardo continued to adapt to the Renault in seventh place ahead of Racing Point’s Lance Stroll who suffered a late issue on track in the closing minute.

Carlos Sainz, who was in the McLaren this morning, claimed ninth place ahead of Alfa Romeo’s Antonio Giovinazzi, Alonso and Fittipaldi.

Robert Kubica surged to 13th on the times for Williams having taken over from George Russell in the afternoon as Daniil Kvyat split the teammates having completed the Toro Rosso Pirelli tyre test.