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The F1 season has kicked off, with the Bahrain event running a day earlier than customary to accomodate Ramadan.

Until we get racing it is hard make good predictions, but the consensus view from the off-season is that Red Bull will start well ahead again.

Free pratice 1 is a particularly un-representative session in Bahrain, due to the temperature variation from the night-time race conditions. For what it is worth Ricciardio recorded the top time in the session, followed by the two McLaren drivers.

EDIT: FP2 was strange. It is possible Red Bull are playing mind games, but here's how the session finished.
1. Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) - 1:30.374
2. George Russell (Mercedes) +0.206
3. Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin) +0.286
4. Carlos Sainz (Ferrari) +0.395
5. Oscar Piastri (McLaren) +0.410
6. Max Verstappen (Red Bull) +0.477
7. Nico Hulkenberg (Haas) +0.510
8. Lance Stroll (Aston Martin) +0.517
9. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) +0.739
10. Sergio Perez (Red Bull) +0.741

We have one more practice session tomorrow, then qualifying will give us a much better idea of where we stand.

EDIT 2:
Well normal service has been resumed, and the flying dutchman is back in front.
1. Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
2. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)
3. George Russell (Mercedes)
4. Carlos Sainz (Ferrari)
5. Sergio Perez (Red Bull)
6. Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin)
7. Lando Norris (McLaren)
8. Oscar Piastri (McLaren)
9. Lewis Hamilton
10. Nico Hulkenberg (Haas)
11. Yuki Tsunoda (RB)
12. Lance Stroll (Aston Martin)
13. Alex Albon (Williams)
14. Daniel Ricciardo (RB)
15. Kevin Magnussen (Haas)
16. Valtteri Bottas (Sauber)
17. Zhou Guanyu (Sauber)
18. Logan Sargeant (Williams)
19. Esteban Ocon (Alpine)
20. Pierre Gasly (Alpine)

A great drive from Hulkenberg, a bad day for Alpine. Sainz has been strong here, so may well be challnging for a podium slot tomorrow.