Summary

  • Hamilton fastest in Bahrain both practice sessions

  • Albon crashes heavily

  • Get involved #bbcf1

Live Reporting

Victoria Turner

  1. A solid start indeed for the Racing Point team!

    Both cars inside the top ten.

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  2. Andrew Benson
    BBC Sport’s chief F1 writer

    Lewis Hamilton, in the first race since becoming the most successful driver of all time, dominated first practice at the Bahrain Grand Prix.

    Hamilton was 0.449 seconds ahead of team-mate Valtteri Bottas in second place, with Racing Point's Sergio Perez in third, nearly a second off the pace.

    It was an unrepresentative session, not least because the teams spent some of it assessing 2021-specification tyres.

    Read more here.

    hamilton in BahrainGetty Images

    Can Hamilton do it again in FP2?

  3. Quiz answers

    So the moment you have all been waiting for...

    The result of the first quiz.

    Question 1 - When was the first Grand Prix held at the track?

    Answer - 2004

    Question 2 - Who won that race?

    Answer - Michael Schumacher

    Huge congratulations to those who got it right - and there were a lot of you too. Will need to make the next one a little bit harder!

  4. Another FP session and another top Mercedes performance.

    For those of you who predicted a Mercedes one-two (and I know there were a few of you out there) well done!

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  5. Jolyon Palmer
    Former Renault driver on BBC Radio 5 live

    Jolyon what can we expect from FP2?

    "Look out more for the pecking order and qualifying simulation runs."

    Thanks Jolyon!

  6. Who ended FP1 outside of the top ten?

    Well, I will tell you.

    11. Leclerc

    12. Vettel

    13. Kubica

    14. Grosjean

    15. Magnussen

    16. Giovinazzi

    17. Kvyat

    18. Norris

    19. Latifi

    20. Nissany

  7. How FP1 finished

    The top ten fastest times

    1. Hamilton 1:29.033
    2. Bottas 1:29.482
    3. Perez 1:30.000
    4. Sainz 1:30.018
    5. Gasly 1:30.049
    6. Verstappen 1:30.294
    7. Albon 1:30.302
    8. Ocon 1:30.384
    9. Stroll 1:30.426
    10. Ricciardo 1:30.508
  8. chequered flag

    Chequered flag

    Hamilton finishes FP1 as the quickest driver after a 1:29.033 lap.

    And in the first session he completed 40 laps, so nearly a full race distance.

    So a lot of tyre testing for Mercedes.

    Stay tuned for a full run down!

  9. Jolyon Palmer
    Former Renault driver on BBC Radio 5 live

    "Ferrari do not look super strong."

    Leclerc is currently P11 and Vettel is P12.

  10. Your five minute klaxon warning!

    There are only a handful of minutes remaining to FP1

    So both Mercedes are out on the test tyre - and Hamilton is still fastest, followed by Bottas on the timing-screens.

    So there is no change at the top...yet.

  11. For Lando Norris fans he is currently P18 even though he is on the soft compound tyre.

    And some of you may have noticed that Norris has bright green marks on the side of his car, and this is because it is flow-vis paint, as teams can use this session to assess aerodynamic changes for next season.

  12. 15 minutes remaining....

    And it remains unchanged at the top of timing-screens.

    Hamilton is still quickest with a 1:29.033.

    Bottas is second, 0.449s behind his Mercedes team-mate with Perez third fastest in the Racing Point.

  13. Jolyon Palmer
    Former Renault driver on BBC Radio 5 live

    "I am certain that this track is not going to be particularly kind to Ferrari."

  14. Sebastian Vettel is the most successful driver to race at the Bahrain GP and the 5 live F1 team have been asking what is your favourite Vettel victory?

    Neil says: Vettel's best win is probably Monza in the Torro Rosso

    QuickSloth says: Vettel winning at Monza in the rain in the Torro Rosso sticks out for me!

    Gary says: Vettel's first win for Ferrari in Malaysia springs to mind.

    #bbcf1

    vettel in BahrainGetty Images

  15. Weather update

    We have just heard on Bottas' team radio that there are reports of light rain hitting the track.

    Rain watch begins!!

  16. The top ten so far

    With 25 minutes remaining....

    1. Hamilton
    2. Bottas
    3. Perez
    4. Sainz
    5. Gasly
    6. Verstappen
    7. Albon
    8. Stroll
    9. Kubica
    10. Grosjean

  17. Get Involved

    #bbcf1

    Who should have the last Red Bull seat?

    Matthew says: Albon demoted to Alpha Tauri, Perez to take Red Bull seat, and Hulk to return with Haas (who need an experienced driver) alongside the next F2 champion (Probably Schumi Jr)

  18. Leclerc team radio - 'tyres do not feel good'

    He is on the test tyre too and is still down in 15th on the timing-screens.

  19. The Mercedes fight back!

    Hamilton sets the pace again with a 1:29.033 with Bottas only 0.449s behind, pushing Gasly back down to third fastest.

    32 minutes remaining, so as we know anything can happen.

  20. Team radio - Kvyat 'get rid of these **** track limits'

    He is not happy as he gets his lap time deleted....

    He is now P11.