Formula 1: Daniel Ricciardo fastest in first pre-season testing, successful debut for Mick Schumacher

Daniel Ricciardo (McLaren) was the fastest in the morning session of the first day of Formula 1 pre-season testing on Friday. The Australian completed the 5.412 km circuit in Sakhir (Bahrain) in 1: 32.203.

For his debut with McLaren, where he replaced Carlos Sainz who left for Ferrari, Ricciardo beat Frenchman Pierre Gasly (AlphTauri / + 0.028) and Dutchman Max Verstappen (Red Bull / + 0.042). French Esteban Ocon (Alpine / + 0.756) and Monegasque Charles Leclerc (Ferrari / + 1.039) complete the top 5.

Michael Schumacher’s son Mick Schumacher made his F1 debut with Haas. He clocked the ninth time at 3.924 from Ricciardo. Sebastian Vettel set the seventh fastest time (+1.539) for his first time at the wheel of the Aston Martin (ex-Racing Point).

On the Mercedes side, the British team experienced a gearbox problem at the start of the session, forcing Valtteri Bottas to return to the pits at the end of his first lap. The Finnish driver was finally able to start again 36 minutes from the end of the session and set the tenth and final time at 4.647 for Ricciardo.

The pre-season tests run until Sunday with two four-hour sessions per day and each team can only field one single-seater per session. The second session of this Friday begins at 1:00 p.m. with the first laps of the seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes), Carlos Sainz, for his first steps with Ferrari, but also Lance Stroll (Aston Martin) and Lando Norris (McLaren) .