AlphaTauri’s Pierre Gasly fastest on Day 1 testing, Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton off the pace

AlphaTauri’s Pierre Gasly recorded the fastest time at Day 1 of testing at the Bahrain Grand Prix circuit. Bahrain will hold the season’s first event on March 20 after the postponement of the usual campaign-starter, the Australian Grand Prix.

Ad/> All teams attended in the Middle East following on from the previous testing session in Barcelona, Spain. Formula 1Magnussen reflects on 'crazy' week as he replaces Mazepin at Haas2 HOURS AGO There were a number of issues to be ironed out.

Everybody had to contend with the new phenomenon of bouncing cars when they approached their top speed, caused by airflow through ‘venturi tunnels’ as designers looked to maximise downforce without compromising speed. Another design problem was dealt with in a variety of ways, with German manufacturer Mercedes bringing controversy upon themselves with a sidepod that was radically different from the other teams, a barely-there invention compared to other creations.

Both Red Bull’s main driver, Max Verstappen, and team principal, Christian Horner, would not be drawn on the legality or otherwise of the design, but at such an early stage of the season it would appear that any early advantage would lead to copies if it was allowed by the governing body, or it will simply be outlawed if the rules have to be tidied up. Formula 1’s managing director Ross Brawn admitted his surprise at the development, but gave no indication over how it would be addressed, if at all.