F1 Bahrain GP Live Commentary and Updates - FP3 & Qualifying
Friday's action from the first round of the 2024 Formula 1 season.
Lewis Hamilton led a surprise Mercedes 1-2 at the end of practice on the opening day of track action, but many expect Red Bull to surge back to the front come qualifying.
FP3 begins at 12:30pm GMT (3:30pm local time) with qualifying at 4pm GMT (7pm local time).
In truth, all the teams are right to stay in the garages for now. Any performance running will only take focus away from setting up the car in conditions that'll be more likely for quali and the race and burn through tyres without an obvious upside.
Hamilton has the freedom of the Bahrain circuit as he started a first timed lap. Top spot guaranteed, that's the mentality you need to be a seven-time world champion.
No surprise that it is a leisurely start to this session given track conditions are unrepresentative compared to quali and the race. Most of the drivers are in their garages but not busting a gut to get on track.
And, for now at least, the wind has died down which will also pose less of a problem to the drivers on the track. Ideal conditions for an afternoon run in the sunshine, really.
Yesterday was a chilly day by Bahrain standards, far warmer than back in Europe mind, but the sun is heating things up today as the mercury raises to just above 20C and track temperature up to 34.3C ahead of FP3. Obviously the temperatures will dip by the start of qualifying when the night draws in.
With Red Bull keeping its engine powder dry, will the world champions give us a glimpse of its full potential in final practice? Probably not everything, but perhaps a glimpse to get its rivals worried before qualifying.
It is a saga that won't go away and has led to FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem and F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali being set to meet in Bahrain to discuss potential next steps over the Horner controversy. It certainly wasn’t the way the FIA or F1 wants to start the 2024 season.
Before FP3 gets rolling, let's recap the biggest talking points so far. Most of the focus has been off the track, with the alleged Christian Horner messages leaked just a day after Red Bull’s investigation cleared him of wrongdoing. Horner said: "I won't comment on anonymous speculation, but to reiterate, I have always denied the allegations."
Great to hear - but before that you'll have to wait a little longer as there is the small matter of final practice to complete before qualifying which starts at 4pm GMT. I know, qualifying on a Friday feels odd, right? At least we've had the sprint race format to get used to this.
