Verstappen made the most of the upgraded RB18 to set the pac♛e on day three in Bahrain.

A series of fast laps at the end of the day put the reigning world champion on top with a 1m31.720s, over🌟 0.5s clear of Haas’ Mick Schumacher.

Spea𝄹king after the final day of running ahead of the new season, Verstappen🌠 played down his impressive lap times.

“The main focuꦍs today was testing the tyres we are going to use next week, Verℱstappen said.

“The car felt alright and we completed the programme we set out to do, so that’s always positive.꧃ 

“No o🐼ne gives full beans or goes to qualifying spec at testing, so we can’t read too m﷽uch into the timing screens. The new parts we tested today worked well which is what we always hope for.”

Red Bull introduced a sig𓆉nificant upgrade package on the final day of the test and Verstappen was pleas⭕ed with how they worked.

𒆙“Compared to Barcelona I think more of it is the track, the rough su𝓰rface and the warmer conditions, with the layout of the track it makes it a completely different feeling compared to Barcelona,” he added. “We learned a lot more about the car and we made the car faster and I think that’s what you want.

“Of course, it’s best in low fuel, naturally on high fuel the car is lazy and doesn’t really do a lot. That’s the same for everyone, but I think with the new p🦋arts which arrived today they also worked well, which you always hopeꦜ for.”

Verstappen’s title defence will begiꦓn next weekend at the Bahrain International Circuit on March 18-20.