Max gets off on the wrong foot at first free practice Bahrain

Published on 06 April 2018 by Mike Motilall

Max Verstappen has gotten off on the wrong foot in the prelude to the Bahrain Grand Prix this weekend. Electrical issues hampered him from getting a time on the clock resulting in him finishing twentieth, the last one on the grid. Team mate Daniel Ricciardo topped the leaderboard in his Red Bull on the 5,412 meter long Bahrain International Circuit. Valtteri Bottas followed in his Mercedes in second, Kimi Raikkonen was third fastest in his Ferrari.

Prior to the session, Formula 1-owner Liberty Media informed the respective teams of their plans for 2021 and beyond. Exact details were not made public by Liberty Media nor by the international motorsports council FIA. Thus it remains anyone’s guess in which direction Formula 1 is heading to regarding the engines and how the revenues will be divided.

When it’s lights out at 14.00 hrs local time, the temperature is quite nice in Bahrain with readings of 30 degrees Celsius. The track temperature, being more than 42 degrees, is a tad bit higher. The first car on track is Max’ Aston Martin Red Bull RB14. The rest follow suit in his wake. Most of the drivers head back into the pits after an installation lap, but Max immediately heads off for a timed lap. However, it never gets to that. Moments later Max is cruising the track. On the radio he reports that he thinks there is a problem with the turbo. He doesn’t make it to the pitlane and gets out at the start of the straight.

After about fifteen minutes into the session, both Force India’s are the first ones to get a time on the clock, while Red Bull keeps Daniel Ricciardo inside for a precautionary check. Shortly afterwards, the Ozzie gets out on track and puts his RB14 on P1. After half an hour, we see both Mercedes lead the pack while Max and both Renaults haven’t put any time on the clock.

Halfway during the session, when it’s time to hand back the first set of tyres to Pirelli, Max is the only one without a time. Since he came to a standstill at the start of the session, he has remained inside. The team is investigating an electrical issue and hopes to be able to send out the young Dutchman back on track again before the end of the session.

In Bahrain as well, the Haas’ car is doing well as Romain Grosjean is the quickest after about an hour in the session. With Kevin Magnussen in third, all is looking well for the American team. But some minutes later the leaderboard has completely changed. Mercedes restores the pecking order by topping the board once more.

In the closing stages we see Ricciardo out on track. After a fine lap he puts his Red Bull in P1. He does this on a set of the soft compound tyres. This puts Red Bull Racing first and last, while the team is still busy working on Max’ car. Unfortunately time runs out and the team isn’t able to send out the youngster back out on track again. It’s a very disappointing start of the weekend for him.

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Results first free practice Bahrain: