F1 LIVE | The first free practice session of 2021 ahead of the Bahrain Grand Prix

For Formula 1 fans, perhaps the most enjoyable moment of the year has arrived. The Formula 1 season is about to start! In the first free practice of the year, we can get used to the new colours, drivers and other changes. On top of that, we will get a better understanding of the relationships between the teams. Have Mercedes managed to improve on their car and are Red Bull really as strong as they demonstrated in pre-season testing? 

Liveblog

Mercedes in pursuit

Mercedes are known for underperforming in pre-season testing and then finding pace during the first Grand Prix weekend. This season that doesn't seem to be the case. The first free practice doesn't give a definitive answer, but it will be an indication. We'll see how stable the Mercedes car looks for Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas

Red Bull Racing as favourites?

You can't put too much interest on one test, but it was such a success for the team that it would be a disappointment if either Max Verstappen or Sergio Perez didn't win in Bahrain. Especially considering the speed the team showed at the end of last season.

New drivers, new colours

As well as Sergio Perez at Red Bull, there are many other changes this year. Sebastian Vettel has swapped Ferrari-red for Aston Martin-green, Carlos Sainz has moved from McLaren to Ferrari and Daniel Ricciardo from Renault to McLaren.

There are also some drivers on the grid who were not there a few months ago. Nikita Mazepin and Mick Schumacher with Haas, Yuki Tsunoda with AlphaTauri and Fernando Alonso with Alpine, the team that was known as Renault last season.