The Red Bull driver was more than a second faster than Lando Norris in a McLaren with Carlos Sainz, about to start his final year as a Ferrari driver, in third place at the Sakhir track where the season-opener takes place on March 2.

Sainz will lose his seat at Ferrari to seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton who is entering his last campaign behind the wheel of a Mercedes. Hamilton will be in action on Thursday.

Verstappen's performance was a boost for a Red Bull team reeling from an investigation into team chief Christian Horner who has been accused of inappropriate and controlling behaviour by a female member of staff.

Testing times on the first day of three on Wednesday:

1. Max Verstappen (NED/Red Bull) 1:31.344 sec (143 laps)

2. Lando Norris (GBR/McLaren) +1.140 (73)

3. Carlos Sainz (ESP/Ferrari) +1.240 (69)

4. Daniel Ricciardo (AUS/Racing Bulls) +1.255 (52)

5. Pierre Gasly (FRA/Alpine) +1.461 (61)

6. Lance Stroll (CAN/Aston Martin) +1.663 (54)

7. Charles Leclerc (MON/Ferrari) +1.903 (64)

8. Fernando Alonso (ESP/Aston Martin) +2.041 (77)

9. Oscar Piastri (AUS/McLaren) +2.314 (57)

10. Zhou Guanyu (CHN/Sauber) +2.527 (63)

11. Logan Sargeant (USA/Williams) +2.538 (21)

12. George Russell (GBR/Mercedes) +2.765 (122)

13. Yuki Tsunoda (JPN/Racing Bulls) +2.792 (64)

14. Valtteri Bottas (FIN/Sauber) +3.087 (68)

15. Alex Albon (THA/Williams) +3.243 (40)

16. Esteban Ocon (FRA/Alpine) +3.333 (60)

17. Kevin Magnussen (DEN/Haas) +4.348 (66)

18. Nico Hulkenberg (GER/Haas) +4.562 (82)

(For more sports news and updates, follow Ahram Online Sports on Twitter at @AO_Sports and on Facebook at AhramOnlineSports.)

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