Formula 1: Norris leads first day of winter testing

Formula 1 world vice-champion Lando Norris (McLaren) set the fastest time on the first day of pre-season winter testing on Wednesday at the Sakhir circuit in Bahrain. The British driver beat his compatriot George Russell (Mercedes) and the four-time reigning Dutch world champion Max Verstappen (Red Bull) by 157 and 244 thousandths of a second respectively.

Monaco's Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) took fourth place, ahead of Spaniard Carlos Sainz (Williams) and Frenchman Pierre Gasly (Alpine). The day was marked by the official debut with Ferrari of seven-time English world champion Lewis Hamilton, 13th on the timesheet, but also by a general power cut on the circuit which led to a one-hour interruption at the end of the afternoon.

Standings after the first day of three of the winter tests in Bahrain:

1. Lando Norris (GBR/McLaren) 1:30.430

2. George Russell (GBR/Mercedes) at 0.157

3. Max Verstappen (NED/Red Bull) 0.244

4. Charles Leclerc (MON/Ferrari) 0.448

5. Carlos Sainz Jr (ESP/Williams) 0.525

6. Pierre Gasly (FRA/Alpine) 0.923

7. Andrea Kimi Antonelli (ITA/Mercedes) 0.998

8. Liam Lawson (NZL/Red Bull) 1,130

9. Alexander Albon (THA/Williams) 1,143

10. Yuki Tsunoda (JPN/Racing Bulls) 1,180

11. Isack Hadjar (FRA/Racing Bulls) 1.201

12. Gabriel Borteleto (BRA/Sauber) 1,260

13. Lewis Hamilton (GBR/Ferrari) 1.404

14. Jack Doohan (AUS/Alpine) 1.411

15. Fernando Alonso (ESP/Aston Martin) 1,444

16. Lance Stroll (CAN/Aston Martin) 1,519

17. Oscar Piastri (AUS/McLaren) 1,654

18. Nico Hülkenberg (GER/Sauber) 1,739

19. Esteban Ocon (FRA/Haas) 3,170

20. Oliver Bearman (GBR/Haas) 5.092