The drivers are itching to stretch their legs on the never-before-used Bahrain Outer Track, but the man who got to pound the asphalt first was Safety Car driver Bernd Maylander.
As is the case at every race, the German driver - who has led more than 700 laps in F1 - enjoyed some exploratory laps of the Sakhir Grand Prix venue on Thursday, and we were there to stick a camera on the car!
So sit back and enjoy a lap of this unique new layout, which at just 3.5km is the shortest of the season. Oh, and if you think this looks quick, just wait until the F1 drivers have a go on Friday...
Next Up
Related Articles
Vasseur gives his verdict on Hamilton’s drive in Melbourne
Alonso explains what a positive weekend looks like for Aston Martin
How to stream the 2026 Chinese Grand Prix on F1 TV Premium
Top 10 rookie drivers to score points on F1 debut
AS IT HAPPENED: All the build-up to the Chinese GP
Lindblad admits F1 debut hasn’t ‘fully sunk in yet’