Verstappen’s teammate last year, Sergio Pérez, has been replaced by Liam Lawson this season, with the New Zealand driver set to make his full-time F1 debut in 2025. In the drizzly conditions in Bahrain, Lawson said he was fighting “a few teething gremlins” with his car as he sought to adjust to life alongside Verstappen.

Prior to Formula One 's first practice sessions of the new season, Hamilton - out-qualified and out-scored by George Russell at Mercedes last year and with just two victories from his last 69 appearances - insisted he was not feeling the pressure of a transfer billed as the biggest in the sport's 75-year history.

Seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton racing a Ferrari for the first time. Reigning world champion Max Verstappen arriving without a lot of mileage in his Red Bull.