Max Verstappen has downplayed Red Bull’s early impressive form after topping the timesheets on the opening day of For🤡mula 1 pre-season testing.

Verstappen set t෴he fastest time on day one of testing in Bahrain, just over 0.2s clear of McLaren’s Lando Norris.

The Dutchman c🎉ompleted 139 laps come the close of the day - the most of any single driver.

While it was a strong day for Red Bul🐬l, reigning champions Mercedes completed the fewest laps of anyone after a gear shift issue forced it into a gearbox change in the morning session.

Reflecting on the opening day of testing in Bahrain, Verst🗹appen wasn’t getting carried away after topping the timesheets but felt it was “a very positive day”.

“Yeah very good, we had a☂ very positive day,” Verst꧂appen said. “We could do a lot of laps, even though the track conditions were quite difficult - very warm, a lot of wind - and of course we know the degradation around here is quite high and it’s not easy to do a lot of laps in a row.

“But very happy witಌh today. I mean, we dꦆon’t need to speak about pace or whatever, we just did our programme, the car felt nice to drive which I think is always very positive to start the test like that.”

A sandstorm had hit th🌊e circuit resulting in poor track conditions and visibility.

Speaking of the conditions, he added: “The he☂at initially just makes it all a bit more diff﷽icult in general, but I have to say I changed my visor and I think it’s always looking a bit more tricky on the camera. When you’re sitting in the car it’s fine.”

Verstappe🧔n will hand the RB16B over to new teammate Sergio Perez for day two of the test.