The 2024 F1 preseason test is attracting attention, with Ferrari's Carlos Sainz setting the top time. Key statistics for the event include:
Speed is what teams are looking for during testing, but more importantly, they want to get more miles in the time.
The 2024 test was a little different, with progress halted by not one but two drains, but there was still plenty of time for teams to collect vital data for the upcoming season.
Total number of test laps completed
Haas was clearly at the top of the list for laps, having completed 441 laps around the Bahrain circuit, compared to Ferrari's 416 laps. Whether by coincidence or by design, Ferrari's count was exactly the same as in 2023.
The driver with the most accomplishments is Kevin Magnussen, with 239 laps equivalent to 803.757 miles (1,293.468 km).
Williams were the only team to complete less than 300 laps as their runs were interrupted due to a number of problems. McLaren fell to the bottom in 2023, and then fell back to the bottom.
1) Haas: 441 (Nico Hulkenberg – 202, Kevin Magnussen – 239)
2) Ferrari: 416 (Charles Leclerc – 192, Carlos Sainz – 224)
3) Stake: 378 (Valtteri Bottas – 193, Guanyu Zhou – 185)
4) Red Bull: 390 (Max Verstappen – 208, Sergio Perez 182)
5) Aston Martin: 378 (Fernando Alonso – 183, Lance Stroll – 214)
6)RB: 366 (Daniel Ricardo – 209, Yuki Tsunoda – 157)
7) Mercedes: 360 (Lewis Hamilton – 172, George Russell 188)
8) Alpine: 333 (Esteban Ocon – 193, Pierre Gasly 140)
9) McLaren: 327 (Lando Norris – 144, Oscar Piastri – 183)
10) Williams: 299 (Alex Albon – 161, Logan Sargent – 138)
10 Fastest Laptops in Test
For the first time in a while, it was not Max Verstappen who led the timing session, as Carlos Sainz set the overall fastest time on the second day. Although his teammate led the time on the final day, Verstappen's best effort was enough for him to take first place. The first day was 1 minute 30 seconds 755.
Chou Guanyu also recorded an amazing speed of 1 minute 30.647 seconds on the third day, and George Russell was third fastest.
1) Carlos Sainz – Ferrari – 1:29.921 (2nd day)
2) Charles Leclerc – Ferrari – 1:30.322 (3rd day)
3) George Russell – Mercedes – 1:30.368 (3rd day)
4) Zhou Guanyu – Stake – 1:30.647 (3rd day)
5) Sergio Perez – Red Bull Racing – 1:30.679 (Day 2)
6) Max Verstappen – Red Bull Racing – 1:30.755 (Day 1)
7) Hiroki Tsunoda – RB – 1:30.775 (3rd day)
8) Alexander Albon – Williams – 1:30.984 (Day 3)
9) Oscar Piastri – McLaren – 1:31.030 (3rd day)
10) Lewis Hamilton – Mercedes – 1:31.066 (Day 2)
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Lap time improvement test, 2023 and 2024 (in seconds)
At the end of this list is a surprising name, Red Bull actually clocked 0.374 seconds. Slower I don't know if they'll care as much as they will in 2023 though.
At the top end, Williams was once again in the lead, as it was in 2023, with McLaren also making significant gains.
williams -1.565
mclaren -1.135
ferrari -1.103
Takayama -0.701
R.B. -0.486
mercedes -0.296
aston martin -0.291
stake -0.180
hearth +0.305
red bull +0.374
Read next: 2024 F1 Test: Charles Leclerc finishes test in first place at next opening race
