Bahrain GP 2024 LIVE: FP1 results, updates and schedule as Ricciardo comes out on top

Twenty-three days after allegations of “inappropriate behaviour” first emerged by means of whispers within the Dutch press, and following numerous denials on the eve of the brand new System One season, Purple Bull boss Christian Horner has lastly gained the battle of his life.

Touching down within the Center East on Wednesday night time, Horner shall be one relieved man stepping off his non-public jet. A crew principal and chief government who has barely missed a race since taking the reins on the inception of his Purple Bull crew in 2005, the 50-year-old will take his common place on the pit wall on the Bahrain Grand Prix this weekend as a person exonerated.

The assertion on Wednesday afternoon from Purple Bull GmbH – the mother or father firm, based mostly in Salzburg, of Horner’s Purple Bull Racing – was unwavering. It spoke of an investigation, outsourced to an exterior KC, which was “truthful, rigorous and neutral” and a “grievance” which has now been dismissed.

No surprises who the favorite is at this level!

Max Verstappen – 1/7Charles Leclerc – 12/1Lando Norris, Lewis Hamilton – 16/1Carlos Sainz – 25/1Sergio Perez – 28/1George Russell – 33/1Fernando Alonso – 40/1Oscar Piastri – 66/1Daniel Ricciardo – 500/1Alex Albon, Lance Stroll – 750/1Esteban Ocon, Pierre Gasly, Yuki Tsunoda, Valtteri Bottas, Zhou Guanyu – 1000/1Kevin Magnussen, Nico Hulkenberg – 1500/1Logan Sargeant – 2000/1

Max Verstappen has delivered an express verdict on Purple Bull’s RB20 throughout the early phases of apply for the Bahrain Grand Prix.

After a promising spell testing final week, expectations have been the three-time world champion and teammate Sergio Perez would dominate once more this season.

However the Dutch driver was left scathing throughout FP1, stating: “All the things is s***. Like, miles off.”

1. Daniel Ricciardo – 1:32:869

3. Oscar Piastri – +0.244

5. Fernando Alonso – +0.324

6. Max Verstappen – +0.369

7. George Russell – +0382

8. Charles Leclerc – +0.399

9. Lewis Hamilton – +0.433

10. Valtteri Bottas – +0.485

Daniel Ricciardo goes quickest within the RB, with a 1:32:869, 0.032 secs faster than McLaren’s Lando Norris in second. Oscar Piastri is in third, with Yuki Tsunoda in fourth – all on smooth tyres.

The quickest man on the mediums? Not Max Verstappen! He’s sixth, however Fernando Alonso is fifth.

Lewis Hamilton down in P9, with team-mate George Russell P7 – each on mediums although.

Second apply in a while – underneath the lights – shall be extra telling forward of qualifying and the race.

“Very inconsistent downshifts once more.”

Not probably the most satisfying opening session for Verstappen.

That top-four of Ricciardo, Norris, Piastri and Tsunoda are all on smooth tyres, whereas Verstappen is on sixth with Alonso in fifth.

Remaining 10 now…. no signal of the softs but for Max.

As we transfer on from mediums to softs, Daniel Ricciardo within the RB goes prime with a 1:32:869, 0.032 secs faster than Lando Norris in second

McLaren team-mate Oscar Piastri is third, two-tenths down on Ricciardo.

4-10: Tsunoda, Russell, Leclerc, Hamilton, Bottas, Sainz, Perez

Max Verstappen P11, however has not but placed on the softs.

“The downshifts are very unhealthy, the automobile is actually leaping!”

Into the storage goes the RB20…

It wouldn’t be a apply session with no Max criticism!