Max Verstappen got the Formula One season in progress Friday with the quickest time in the primary practice for the Bahrain Grand Prix.
The Red Bull driver was .298 seconds in front of Mercedes driver Valtteri Bottas and .503 clear of McLaren's Lando Norris.
Best on the planet Lewis Hamilton drove right off the bat for Mercedes however dropped back to get done with the fourth-speediest time. The British driver was .527 seconds behind Verstappen.
There is a second practice on Friday evening.
Hamilton is hoping to win a record eighth F1 title to push one forward of Michael Schumacher, whose 22-year-old child Mick Schumacher is making his F1 debut with Haas.
He completed the principal meeting in nineteenth spot.
Comments