F1 LIVE | The first free practice for the 2023 F1 Bahrain Grand Prix

The first Grand Prix weekend of 2023 is here. First of all, it is time for the first free practice session at the Bahrain International Circuit. All the action on and around the circuit can be followed in our liveblog.

LIVE | First free practice GP Bahrain 2023

First F1 session of the year

While it is always difficult to make a prediction based on the winter test, it did show that Red Bull Racing looked very consistent. The Austrian racing team looked fast, consistent and reliable and therefore seems to have the best chances for the opening race. Both Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez seemed to get on well with the RB19.

For Ferrari, the test also went smoothly, but the team is keeping in mind that Red Bull's pace may not be up to scratch at the moment. How the proportions actually are will have to be seen over the course of the weekend.

The test did not go smoothly for Mercedes, but such a poor season as the team experienced in 2022 is unlikely. Toto Wolff fears that Red Bull's pace is currently unbeatable and it is quite possible that Lewis Hamilton and George Russell will have to look back at Aston Martin, who seems to have made great strides. 

The liveblog above will be broadcast in English. Our liveblogs for qualifying and the race will be in the language of this edition. 

The Bahrain Grand Prix

 

 

 

 

 

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Formula 1 has been coming to Bahrain since 2004, hosting the first Middle Eastern Grand Prix that year. The race was initially held during the day, but has become an evening race since 2014. In 2014, an evening race was organised for the anniversary edition, but it was such a success that daytime racing was never repeated in Bahrain. In 2020, the country was called upon twice to host a race. Apart from the Bahrain GP, there was also the Sakhir Grand Prix, for which a different circuit layout was used. For this, the shorter, lightning-fast outside track was used, providing lap times of under a minute.

Verstappen may have 15 races to his name in 2022, but the Bahrain GP was not one of them. The reigning World Champion has never won the race and will be only too happy to change that. Together with Red Bull Racing, Verstappen hopes to kick off the season with a win and thus make a stronger start than the year before.

Lewis Hamilton still has the highest number of wins to his name in Bahrain. The Mercedes driver won five times at the Bahrain International Circuit, followed by Sebastian Vettel with four and Fernando Alonso with three wins. The latest race winner is Charles Leclerc, who made a strong impression in the opening race of the season in 2022.