WATCH: Ride onboard as Verstappen sets fastest lap of Bahrain testing

Max Verstappen looked like a reigning champion on a mission on Saturday, as with less than an hour to go of the three-day Official Pre-Season Test on Bahrain, the Dutchman wound up his Red Bull RB18 and clocked the fastest time of anyone in Sakhir.

Verstappen’s eventual lap of 1m 31.720s was a full 0.695s quicker than the next best effort, that of Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc. Yes, it’s only testing – but it was still a fairly major shot across the bows of his rivals nonetheless.

READ MORE: Verstappen sets blistering benchmark to go top on final day of 2022 pre-season testing

Watch up top as Verstappen guides the #1-emblazoned Red Bull around the fastest lap of Bahrain pre-season testing.