Ted Kravitz says Verstappen has already mastered key technique for F1’s new cars

Max Verstappen made a strong impression on the opening day of pre-season testing in Bahrain, even though he didn’t set the fastest lap.

McLaren’s Lando Norris topped the timesheets at the Bahrain International Circuit, but Verstappen was just behind him in second place. While headline times don’t mean much in testing, Red Bull will be encouraged by Verstappen’s pace and his impressive mileage. He completed more laps than any other driver.

While Isack Hadjar took over driving duties for Red Bull on Thursday, Verstappen used his time to focus on finding a rhythm with the new car and managed to avoid major issues during his runs.

Toto Wolff noted how quick the RB22 looked down the straights, suggesting it might already be the car to beat. Whether that was a genuine assessment or a bit of mind games is open to debate, but Verstappen did draw attention for another reason too.

He appeared to be using a ‘clipping’ technique around certain corners – something few other drivers were trying out. This involves hitting a mid-corner apex before straightening up early for a better exit onto long straights.

The approach seems tailored to this year’s regulations, which allow drivers to adjust power deployment manually instead of relying solely on automated engine maps.

Kravitz suggested that no one else has quite mastered this style yet, which could give Red Bull an early edge if it proves effective over race distances.

Max Verstappen catching the eye in Bahrain testing thanks to his ‘clipping’ driving technique

Kravitz, speaking during Ted’s Notebook, discussed what Verstappen accomplished behind the wheel of the Red Bull on Wednesday. “I still think the day belongs to Red Bull Racing,” he said.

“Max Verstappen was out to do a day shift today. Was first out of the pit lane and then did 136 laps, set his quickest time in the heat of the day, ended up P2, had the aero rakes out, getting all the data that they needed, started to work on performance.

“And do you know what was really noticeable was just the clipping. So once you’ve exhausted what you’re doing on your kind of race run battery neutral mode in terms of using it and then charging it back up and using it, the normal race stuff, there’s a little clipping light or regen light, or recharge light when the car is just starting to slow down and that comes on on the Red Bull and then it goes off really quickly.

Kravitz highlighted how quickly this ‘clipping’ feature turned off in Verstappen’s car compared to others on track. “And so I think they’ve got their sort of their modes or they’re developing their modes really well,” Kravitz continued. “And that power unit has worked impeccably in this Red Bull today.

Red Bull looks poised for another strong season based on early testing form and Max Verstappen remains one step ahead with his new driving technique already catching attention ahead of 2024.

Lando Norris set an impressive pace for McLaren by going under 1m36s late in Wednesday’s session despite heavy tyre wear.

The headline times from testing should always be taken with a pinch of salt due to unknown fuel loads and engine settings.

But as Kravitz noted after more than a decade around Formula One: “It just felt like he [Verstappen] was under control.”

Why Max Verstappen’s Approach Could Play a Key Role in 2026

One of the key factors under the new rules will be how efficiently drivers can recharge their batteries each lap to maximise power deployment.

Damon Hill has already raised concerns about the complexity of the regulations, a sentiment echoed by Lewis Hamilton, who joked that fans might need a degree to keep up.

Verstappen was spotted downshifting into first gear at several points around the circuit, keeping revs high to speed up battery charging.

Audi’s Gabriel Bortoleto and Nico Hulkenberg were seen trying similar techniques, but Verstappen appeared more effective with his execution. There’s speculation that Verstappen may have honed this approach through extensive simulator work, something he’s well-known for outside of official sessions.

Red Bull has addressed one of Verstappen’s major concerns ahead of the season opener, and after day one of testing, he seems poised to deliver once again for the team.