F1 practice LIVE: Bahrain GP lap times as Max Verstappen tops Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton struggles

LIVE – Updated at 16:14

The Bahrain Grand Prix is under way with Friday practice as Formula One returns for a new season. New rules are regulations are set to shake up the grid in what could be the most unpredictable F1 season in years.

Max Verstappen is the defending champion after a thrilling finale to the 2021 F1 season with Lewis Hamilton gunning to dethrone the Dutch-Belgian driver and break the record to land his eighth world title. The controversy of Abu Dhabi simmers as we approach the first race of the year, while the new rules and regulations add a wildcard, with Ferrari and McLaren ready to compete with favourites Mercedes and Red Bull. All the talking has been done now, with the Netflix series Drive to Survive adding extra spice to the off-season, with Verstappen not a fan and maintaining the sport does not “need to heal”.

In addition to new rules and regulations surrounding the cars, the fallout from Abu Dhabi led to more changes to the F1 hierarchy as race director Michael Masi was sacked, after Toto Wolff’s very public argument after watching Verstappen deny Hamilton and the Silver Arrows the title in that exhilarating final lap. A report into those events is expected to be published this weekend, with Masi operating in a new role after freestyling with the rules under extreme pressure at Yas Marina. Follow all the latest times from the Bahrain GP below.

So that wraps up today’s practice, with plenty to discuss ahead of tomorrow’s qualifying.

The performance of Hamilton’s car is undoubtedly the story of the day. Mercedes are struggling to address the problems on his car, as how else would you explain the difference between Russell and Hamilton. The 37-year-old’s car was bouncing all over the place out