Lewis Hamilton fifth fastest on full testing debut for Ferrari in Bahrain

Lewis Hamilton ended his full testing debut for Ferrari in fifth as Formula One’s pre-season running fired up in Bahrain.

Hamilton’s transfer from Mercedes to Ferrari is the major talking point prior to the opening round of the season in Melbourne on March 16.

And, after last week claiming his new employers are ready to carry him to a record eighth world title, the 40-year-old Briton ended the first morning of this week’s three-day test 0.406 seconds off the pace.

With mileage vastly more important than eye-catching times, Hamilton completed 70 laps – more than the equivalent of a race distance – on a trouble-free morning in his new scarlet machine.

Hamilton will now hand over testing duties to Ferrari team-mate Charles Leclerc for the remainder of Wednesday’s running, with the seven-time world champion likely to return to his cockpit in Bahrain on Thursday.

As the grid’s teams trial different fuel loads and tyres, and iron out any teething problems within their new machinery, Hamilton’s replacement at Mercedes, Kimi Antonelli, 18, led the way, 0.132secs clear of Red Bull’s Liam Lawson, with Alex Albon third for Williams.

Lawson, who has replaced Sergio Perez this season, suffered the biggest scare of the day so far when he spun at turn three but was able to keep his Red Bull out of the gravel.

Max Verstappen, who last year took his third successive world championship, will be in action after the lunch break.

Verstappen will be joined on track by McLaren’s Lando Norris, the driver he beat to the title with three rounds to spare.

McLaren ended their 26-year wait for a constructors’ title last season and, with only minor changes to the rulebook, the British team are expected to start the new campaign with the quickest car.

Norris’ team-mate Oscar Piastri ended the morning session eighth of the 10 runners, 0.656s behind Antonelli. British rookie Ollie Bearman set the slowest time but managed to complete 72 laps for Haas.