Every insight emerging from winter testing should be taken with caution, as is well known by now. However, one thing seems certain: Scuderia Ferrari has improved as compared to the 2023 Formula 1 championship, perhaps more than other top teams, as evidenced by the race pace simulations of Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc on the second day of testing and the third day, respectively.
Where the Scuderia has consistently been competitive is in the single lap performance. In this case, the cumulative time standings see the SF-24 securing a one-two with Carlos Sainz leading Charles Leclerc. However, this indication should not be misleading, as Ferrari was the only team to go for a quick time using the soft C4 tire with both drivers over the three days in Bahrain.
F1 Bahrain Test, the total time standings
Here is the overview at the end of the three days of 2024 Formula 1 pre-season testing in Bahrain.
| Pos. | Drivers | Team | TIme | Tyre | Day and Hours |
| 1 | C. Sainz | Ferrari | 1:29.921 | C4 | 16:39.51 (day-2) |
| 2 | C. Leclerc | Ferrari | 1:30.322 | C4 | 16:54.47 (day-3) |
| 3 | G. Russell | Mercedes | 1:30.368 | C4 | 18:52.56 (day-3) |
| 4 | G. Zhou | Stake | 1:30.647 | C4 | 18:54.52 (day-3) |
| 5 | S. Perez | Red Bull | 1:30.679 | C3 | 18:50.40 (day-2) |
| 6 | M. Verstappen | Red Bull | 1:30.755 | C3 | 16:27.32 (day-3) |
| 7 | Y. Tsunoda | Racing Bulls | 1:30.775 | C4 | 18:37.54 (day-3) |
| 8 | A. Albon | Williams | 1:30.984 | C4 | 18:40.42 (day-3) |
| 9 | O. Piastri | McLaren | 1:31.030 | C3 | 17:08.38 (day-3) |
| 10 | L. Hamilton | Mercedes | 1:31.066 | C3 | 18:12.47 (day-2) |
| 11 | F. Alonso | Aston Martin | 1:31.159 | C3 | 16:55.42 (day-3) |
| 12 | L. Norris | McLaren | 1:31.256 | C3 | 16:23.46 (day-2) |
| 13 | D. Ricciardo | Racing Bulls | 1:31.361 | C4 | 18:37.33 (day-2) |
| 14 | N. Hülkenberg | Haas | 1:31.686 | C3 | 16:22.56 (day-3) |
| 15 | L. Stroll | Aston Martin | 1:32.029 | C3 | 16:04.33 (day-2) |
| 16 | E. Ocon | Alpine | 1:32.061 | C3 | 18:30.57 (day-2) |
| 17 | P. Gasly | Alpine | 1:32.149 | C3 | 18:23.20 (day-3) |
| 18 | V. Bottas | Stake | 1:32.227 | C3 | 15:39.36 (day-2) |
| 19 | L. Sargeant | Williams | 1:32.578 | C4 | 11:20.29 (day-2) |
| 20 | K. Magnussen | Haas | 1:33.053 | C3 | 12:14.54 (day-3) |
From the time standings, some interesting insights can be derived. Carlos Sainz’s time was achieved in similar weather and track conditions compared to Charles Leclerc’s: either the Monegasque didn’t give 100%, or he was running with different engine mappings/fuel loads. Red Bull attempted the quick lap only with the C3 (the qualifying tire for next week), while Mercedes did so only in the final minutes of testing with George Russell. Despite a cooler track, the British driver stopped four tenths behind Carlos Sainz and 44 thousandths behind Charles Leclerc.
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