Verstappen shows number 1 in Formula 1 first training

Formula 1 will officially start a new and long season on Friday with the free practice sessions for the Bahrain Grand Prix. Max Verstappen drives as world champion with the number 1 on his Red Bull car.

Last year the Limburger conquered pole position on the desert circuit of Sakhir in qualifying, but in the race he had to tolerate Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes. The race led to a tense battle between Verstappen and Hamilton that was only settled in the Dutchman’s favor in December in Abu Dhabi.

It remains to be seen whether the two rivals will compete for the title alone this year. Formula 1 has drastically changed the rules of aerodynamics with the result that the cars are streamlined very differently. In the test races, Ferrari and Alpine also seemed very fast.

The starting field has undergone some changes. Guanyu Zhou is the first Chinese to make his premier class debut on behalf of Alfa Romeo, the Thai Alexander Albon returns to Formula 1 with Williams, the Dane Kevin Magnussen replaces the dismissed Russian Nikita Mazepin at Haas and Nico Hulkenberg takes the place of Sebastian Vettel, who tested positive for corona at Aston Martin. The first free practice starts at 1:00 PM.