Ferrari boss Fred Vasseur said he was in "absolutely no doubt" that Lewis Hamilton would be ready "to perform and perform soon" after his star signing finished fifth in practice for the season-opening Australian Grand Prix.

Verstappen’s teammate last year, Sergio Pérez, has been replaced by Liam Lawson this season, with the New Zealand driver set to make his full-time F1 debut in 2025.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.