F1 fans have already written the 2024 season off after Max Verstappen blitzed this year’s first pre-season testing session. And he has started off the new year in the same vein by crushing his opposition in the opening pre-season testing session on Wednesday. Verstappen finished day one a seismic 1.14 seconds quicker than McLaren’s Lando Norris in second, with Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz a further 0.1 seconds back in third. And while lap times in testing are not necessarily a reliable indicator of performance, fans are already handing Verstappen another world title. While a fourth responded: “But who will be second in the drivers championship? Verstappen won 19 of the 22 races last season, with Red Bull team-mate Sergio Perez claiming two of the other three.

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