The 2025 F1 season gets underway this week as Bahrain hosts the official three-day pre-season test for all 10 teams.
It is the fifth year running that the Bahrain International Circuit hosts the pre-season test, as momentum builds towards the first race of the season, in Australia, on 16 March.
Lewis Hamilton takes to Ferrari’s SF-25, with Kimi Antonelli, Liam Lawson and Fernando Alonso also in action on Thursday.
McLaren are the favourites this season after their constructors’ title victory last year but what will the early lap times say about their chances this year?
Follow live updates from pre-season testing with The Independent
F1 TESTING 2025 - LATEST UPDATES
- Day 2 of pre-season testing took place on Thursday
- Carlos Sainz quickest overall; Hamilton 2nd; Leclerc 3rd
- EXCLUSIVE: Drive to Survive star unsure of future on Netflix show after surprise F1 exit
- Testing in Bahrain stopped on Wednesday due to a power cut
- Major rule change for Monaco Grand Prix slammed by F1 pundits
Who's driving on Friday morning:
17:20
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Kieran Jackson
McLaren - Norris
Ferrari - TBC
Red Bull - Verstappen (all day)
Mercedes - Antonelli
Aston Martin - Stroll
Williams - Albon (all day)
Alpine - Doohan
Racing Bulls - Hadjar
Haas - Bearman
Sauber - Bortoleto
Lewis Hamilton sends message to ‘older, white men’ who criticise him
17:12
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Kieran Jackson
In an interview with Time, the publication made reference to former F1 team owner Eddie Jordan’s claim that it was “absolutely suicidal” for Ferrari to replace Carlos Sainz with Hamilton.
“I’ve always welcomed the negativity,” said Hamilton.
“I never, ever reply to any of the older, ultimately, white men who have commented on my career and what they think I should be doing. How you show up, how you present yourself, how you perform slowly dispels that.”
DAY 2 REPORT: Lewis Hamilton shines for Ferrari at F1 testing – but the man he replaced grabs top spot
16:45
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Kieran Jackson
After a stop-start day one of pre-season testing, the odd drops of rain did not curtail action on track on Thursday in Bahrain.
Lewis Hamilton was once again in the SF-25 Ferrari F1 challenger in the morning and, this time, alerted the attention of those watching with a string of table-topping laps, keeping old Mercedes teammate George Russell behind him.
Yet by the ‘chequered flag’ after eight hours of testing, it was in fact the man he replaced who stood on top.
Carlos Sainz on top!
16:24
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Kieran Jackson
Racking up an impressive 127 laps, the Spaniard – who has won four grands prix – set the fastest time of the day at 1:29:348.
Hamilton ended his morning session on top, completing 45 laps to take his weekly tally up to 115 – over two race distances around the Bahrain International Circuit.
His teammate Charles Leclerc finished third overall, trailing the Brit by just 0.052 seconds.
DAY 2 - TOP-10 LEADERBOARD
16:11
,
Kieran Jackson
1. Carlos Sainz - 1:29:348 (127 laps)
2. Lewis Hamilton - +0.031 (45)
3. Charles Leclerc - +0.083 (83)
4. George Russell - +0.430 (71)
5. Kimi Antonelli - +0.436 (87)
6. Lance Stroll - +0.881 (57)
7. Liam Lawson - +0.904 (91)
8. Jack Doohan - +1.020 (80)
9. Pierre Gasly - +1.082 (40)
10. Isack Hadjar - +1.327 (94)
Leclerc and Hadjar go 'racing'!
16:04
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Kieran Jackson
Leclerc has his DRS open down the main straight but opts not to go for a move on Hadjar!
All the cars are now going to stop on the straight for another practice start.
RED FLAG TEST
15:58
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Kieran Jackson
Red flag has been thrown as a trial for the FIA systems.
We saw the same earlier this morning...
Norris abandons hot lap!
15:57
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Kieran Jackson
Norris went through sector one, was well down on Sainz - and abandoned his lap!
That looks to be P1 for Sainz.
Lando Norris goes out on new medium tyres!
15:54
Norris, after a terrific race run for a few hours, goes out on fresh medium tyres!
Can he usurp Sainz late on here?
6:00 to go.
Carlos Sainz clocks 125 laps
15:51
,
Kieran Jackson
Two race distances and some for the Spaniard, who looks set to stay top of the timesheet as we enter the final 10 minutes.
Practice pit stops and grid starts aplenty across the 10 cars in action right now...
Lando Norris makes a quick pit stop
15:44
,
Kieran Jackson
The McLaren driver goes in for a pitstop before heading back out for the last 15 minutes.
Isack Hadjar also has a practice pit stop with the Racing Bulls team...
Isack Hadjar up to top-10
15:33
,
Kieran Jackson
The French rookie posts a 1:30:675, putting him in 10th.
Stroll has also moved into the top-10, in sixth, with Liam Lawson now in 7th.
Most cars coming to the end of their race laps now in Bahrain with just 30 minutes to go today...
Red Bull statement on Lawson's day:
15:20
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Kieran Jackson
“We are racking up a little bit of mileage today and the car needs an occasional service between runs.”
Lawson has done 73 laps - the most of any driver today!
Russell, however, did 71 in this morning’s session alone!
DAY 2 TOP-10 WITH 1 HR TO GO!
15:11
,
Kieran Jackson
1. Carlos Sainz - 1:29:348
2. Lewis Hamilton - +0.031
3. Charles Leclerc - +0.083
4. George Russell - +0.430
5. Kimi Antonelli - +0.436
6. Jack Doohan - +1.020
7. Pierre Gasly - +1.082
8. Fernando Alonso - +1.352
9. Yuki Tsunoda - +1.445
10. Oscar Piastri - +1.473
Most drivers now on long runs on hard tyres, so times not improving on the whole...
Liam Lawson returns to track
14:58
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Kieran Jackson
The final hour is approaching and it’s the final hour of testing for Lawson and Sainz.
Lawson has clocked 73 laps so far, Sainz with 68.
Alex Albon on working with Carlos Sainz at Williams:
14:52
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Kieran Jackson
"It's been really nice to have that experience."
— Sky Sports F1 (@SkySportsF1) February 27, 2025
Alex Albon discusses how Carlos Sainz joining Williams has been pic.twitter.com/28RaosYuwO
Carlos Sainz returns to track
14:42
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Kieran Jackson
The table-topping Spaniard returns to the circuit, having already completed 89 laps.
Rain is on the way, so says the forecast.
DAY 2 TOP-10 WITH 1 HR 40 MINS LEFT
14:22
,
Kieran Jackson
1. Carlos Sainz - 1:29:348
2. Lewis Hamilton - +0.031
3. Charles Leclerc - +0.083
4. George Russell - +0.430
5. Kimi Antonelli - +0.436
6. Jack Doohan - +1.020
7. Pierre Gasly - +1.082
8. Fernando Alonso - +1.352
9. Yuki Tsunoda - +1.445
10. Oscar Piastri - +1.473
Laps completed so far:
13:55
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Kieran Jackson
Liam Lawson (Red Bull) - 74 (all day)
Carlos Sainz (Williams) - 68 (all day)
Lando Norris (McLaren) - 9
Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) - 25
Andrea Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) - 23
Lance Stroll (Aston Martin) - 11
Jack Doohan (Alpine) - 22
Oliver Bearman (Haas) - 31
Isack Hadjar (Racing Bulls) - 42
Gabriel Bortoleto (Sauber) - 16
Charles Leclerc has a spin!
13:45
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Kieran Jackson
The Ferrari driver was on a cool-down lap anyway but at the final turn, 15, he goes for a spin!
He catches it well, before entering the pits.
A few drops beginning to fall once more...
DAY TWO LEADERBOARD
13:35
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Kieran Jackson
Here is the new leaderboard, with four drivers in this current session in the overall top-10:
1. Carlos Sainz - 1:29:348
2. Lewis Hamilton - +0.031
3. Charles Leclerc - +0.083
4. George Russell - +0.430
5. Kimi Antonelli - +0.436
6. Jack Doohan - +1.020
7. Pierre Gasly - +1.082
8. Fernando Alonso - +1.352
9. Yuki Tsundoa - +1.445
10. Oscar Piastri - +1.473
A spin for Carlos Sainz!
13:18
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Kieran Jackson
The chart-topper loses it at turn one, spinning, but manages to save it and continues on with his lap!
That’s now on the soft tyres.
Jack Doohan, meanwhile, up to P6 overall...
Charles Leclerc goes third!
13:14
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Kieran Jackson
A new push lap for Leclerc, who goes third overall - just behind his teammate and former teammate!
Three hours to go in Day 2!
Carlos Sainz goes fastest!
12:35
,
Kieran Jackson
The Williams driver, who is in the car all day, has set the new fastest time of 1:29:366 - beating Lewis Hamilton’s time by just 0.013 seconds!
The rain is back!
12:26
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Kieran Jackson
Charles Leclerc making enquiries on the radio about the light spots of rain - and he’s told it will stick around for about 20 minutes.
Not an ideal start... but it is very light at the moment.
A reminder who is driving this afternoon:
12:20
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Kieran Jackson
McLaren - Norris
Ferrari - Leclerc
Red Bull - Lawson (all day)
Mercedes - Antonelli
Aston Marti - Stroll
Alpine - Doohan
Haas - Bearman
RB - Hadjar
Williams - Sainz (all day)
Sauber - Bortoleto
Red Bull boss Christian Horner:
12:11
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Kieran Jackson
On the test: “It’s freezing here! It’s going OK, you try different setups and at the moment we’re running with the programme and the data ties in with our simulator results.
On Lawson: “He’s done a great job so far, his feedback is Max and matches what Max is saying.”
Afternoon session begins!
12:05
,
Kieran Jackson
Isack Hadjar for Racing Bulls is the first car out on track as we get going with the second four-hour session of the day!
A big four hours for Liam Lawson and Carlos Sainz, as this will be their last session of pre-season testing for Red Bull and Williams respectively!
Max Verstappen on the boos at F1 75 Live:
11:55
"There was any booing? Maybe I'm deaf!
“I don't really need to talk about it, it's not worth my time."
Who's driving this afternoon?
11:30
,
Kieran Jackson
McLaren - Norris
Ferrari - Leclerc
Red Bull - Lawson (all day)
Mercedes - Antonelli
Aston Marti - Stroll
Alpine - Doohan
Haas - Bearman
RB - Hadjar
Williams - Sainz (all day)
Sauber - Bortoleto
Lewis Hamilton quickest in morning session!
11:20
,
Kieran Jackson
Encouraging signs for the seven-time world champion, who continuously set quicker lap times throughout that session!
It feels like a step forward from yesterday for Hamilton.
DAY 2 MORNING LEADERBOARD:
11:10
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Kieran Jackson
Here’s the final standings then after this morning’s session:
1. Lewis Hamilton - 1:29:379
2. George Russell - +0.399
3. Carlos Sainz - +0.711
4. Pierre Gasly - +1.051
5. Fernando Alonso - +1.321
6. Yuki Tsunoda - +1.414
7. Oscar Piastri - +1.442
8. Liam Lawson - +1.854
9. Nico Hulkenberg - +2.078
10. Esteban Ocon - +3.692
Practice start!
11:07
,
Kieran Jackson
Sorry to report it was all a bit of an anti-climax!
Ocon was ‘on pole’ and got away best, but Piastri and Russell seemed to just be focusing on their own systems to start the car as opposed to the lights...
Anyway, that’s that for the morning session of testing!
Only 3 drivers coming out for practice start!
11:01
,
Kieran Jackson
Russell, Piastri and Ocon are the only drivers who’ve decided to come out for the practice start on the grid!
That’s a shame...
Fake red flag!
10:59
,
Kieran Jackson
A red flag concludes the session, but that’s just for the FIA to test their systems.
But that won’t be it! The session should, if all goes to plan, end with a race start on the grid - I wonder how many drivers will take up that plan!
Liam Lawson stays in garage!
10:50
,
Kieran Jackson
We have a reason for Lawson’s lack of laps: Red Bull have suffered from a loss of engine water pressure.
Work to do on the RB21 over the lunch break!
George Russell cuts the deficit to Lewis Hamilton
10:43
Russell’s Mercedes stays in P2, but cuts the gap by a tenth to 0.399 seconds with a time of 1:29:778.
It’s worth pointing out that despite Hamilton’s superior time, Russell has set 27 more laps than his compatriot - 69 to 42.
In fact, Russell has set the most laps of any driver this morning! Liam Lawson, who drives this afternoon too for Red Bull, has set the least at 28.
20 mins to go this morning!
Oscar Piastri and Nico Hulkenberg touch!
10:27
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Kieran Jackson
Down at the sector two hairpin, Hulkenberg cuts across Piastri down the inside and they - gently - touch!
Piastri throws his hands up - did the German not see him?!
No harm done to either car.
Contact between Oscar Piastri & Nico Hulkenberg pic.twitter.com/PkwfrZqS2b
— Sky Sports F1 (@SkySportsF1) February 27, 2025
Lewis Hamilton goes even quicker!
10:20
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Kieran Jackson
It has been a very encouraging morning for Lewis Hamilton!
The Briton has been going quicker and quicker and as he gets more to grips with the Ferrari machinery, he goes faster still!
A new fastest time of 1:29:379 for the seven-time world champion, putting him exactly half-a-second clear of former teammate George Russell in second!
Lewis Hamilton goes fastest!
07:56
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Kieran Jackson
Hamilton goes fastest not once, but twice!
He beats former teammate Russell’s time and sets the new fastest time of 1:30:080!
That’s almost a second quicker than Hamilton managed in the Mercedes in testing last week!
Promising stuff!
Most cars out on track!
07:15
A lot of cars have aerorakes on at the start of this session, but given the rain anticipated later in the session, there may be a bit of a rush to get that off and start a performance lap in Bahrain.
Piastri and Tsunoda have already headed back in, with Hamilton and Ocon the only cars now out on track.
When is the first race of the 2025 season?
06:30
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Kieran Jackson
The season-opener this year takes place at Albert Park in Melbourne, Australia, on Sunday 16 March.
The race starts at 4am (GMT), 3pm local time.
It will mark Hamilton’s highly-anticipated first race in Ferrari red.
Christian Horner responds to Adrian Newey’s ‘lack of experience’ claim about Red Bull engineers
06:00
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Kieran Jackson
Christian Horner insists Red Bull’s sudden drop in performance last year was due to “deep-rooted” issues as he responded to Adrian Newey’s statement over the team’s group of engineers.
In a recent interview with German media outlet Auto Motor und Sport, Aston Martin-bound Newey was asked about Red Bull’s sudden drop in performance and said: “From what I can see from the outside… the guys at Red Bull, this is no criticism, but I think they just, perhaps through lack of experience, kept going in that same direction.”
Horner, however, insists Red Bull’s issues go back further to the 2023 campaign, when they won 21 out of 22 races.
Full story below:
THE CLASS OF 2025 PHOTO
04:00
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Kieran Jackson
Striking.
F1 prize money: How much will teams earn for 2025 season?
03:01
The prize pot for the teams at the end of the season is usually around 50% of F1’s commercial rights profit.
1st - $140m
2nd - $131m
3rd - $122m
4th - $113m
5th - $104m
6th - $95m
7th - $87m
8th - $78m
9th - $69m
10th - $60m
Figures are approximate and currently based on 2024 sums
Alpine team principal Oliver Oakes:
Wednesday 26 February 2025 20:08
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Kieran Jackson
“You’re always hopeful of getting closer [to top four] but we want to produce a good car, we want to start off as well.
“The disappointment at the start of last year took a bit of energy from the team, we’re keeping our head down.
On Doohan: “I feel for him, he’s getting some flak and it’s not fair. It’s been a quiet winter so that’s been a news story. From my side, it’s good to have Jack with us - he came through our academy. This morning, he hit the ground running straight away, he’s shutting out the noise.”
Day 2 start time and driver schedule:
Wednesday 26 February 2025 19:10
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Kieran Jackson
Day 2 starts at 7am (GMT) and goes on until 4pm, with two four-hour sessions.
And here’s the lineup!
McLaren
- Thursday: Piastri (AM), Norris (PM)
- Friday: Norris (AM), Piastri (PM)
- Thursday: Hamilton (AM), Leclerc (PM)
- Friday: TBC
Red Bull
- Thursday: Lawson
- Friday: Verstappen
Mercedesw
- Thursday: Russell (AM), Antonelli (PM)
- Friday: Antonelli (AM), Russell (PM)
Aston Martin
- Thursday: Alonso (AM), Stroll (PM)
- Friday: Stroll (AM), Alonso (PM)
Williams
- Thursday: Sainz (AM), Sainz (PM)
- Friday: Albon (AM), Albon (PM)
Alpine
- Thursday: Gasly (AM), Doohan (PM)
- Friday: Doohan (AM), Gasly (PM)
Haas
- Thursday: Ocon (AM), Bearman (PM)
- Friday: Bearman (AM), Ocon (PM)
Sauber
- Thursday: Hulkenberg (AM), Bortoleto (PM)
- Friday: Bortoleto (AM), Hulkenberg (PM)
FULL DAY 1 LEADERBOARD
Wednesday 26 February 2025 18:45
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Kieran Jackson
The Day 1 results are in! ⏱️
— Formula 1 (@F1) February 26, 2025
Lando Norris sets the fastest time in Sakhir in the PM session #F1Testing #F1 pic.twitter.com/uwQxpk0NyT
Power cut, Monaco rule change and Hamilton in red: Day one of F1 in 2025 did not disappoint
Wednesday 26 February 2025 18:20
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Kieran Jackson
Take a look at the leaderboard and, at first glance, you may well assume not much has changed.
At the end of nine hours of track time on day one of testing in Bahrain, one more hour than planned, McLaren’s Lando Norris topped the timesheet, picking up from where he left off with his win at the season finale in Abu Dhabi in December, which secured the papaya’s first constructors’ title since 1998.
But beyond the standings which should, anyhow, be taken with a pinch of salt, there was plenty happening both at the Sakhir circuit and in the boardroom as the start of the 2025 season nears.
A power cut suspended proceedings for one hour. It rained in the usually bone-dry Bahrain. Then an unprecedented rule change was announced. Oh, and we also had Lewis Hamilton driving a Ferrari car for the first time in front of TV cameras aplenty.
After day one of testing, we evaluate a busy few hours:
F1 pundit Bernie Collins tears apart Monaco GP rule change with new race theory
Wednesday 26 February 2025 18:02
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Kieran Jackson
Bernie Collins was unimpressed with a new rule change announced for the Monaco Grand Prix in May – with former F1 driver Jolyon Palmer labelling the alteration a “gimmick.”
The FIA announced on Wednesday plans to make the Monaco GP a two-stop race, with a minimum of three different tyre sets to be used by each car in an unprecedented change of race regulations.
Yet former Aston Martin engineer and current Sky F1 pundit Collins immediately dissected the news with a theory which could undermine the rule change.
Full story and quotes:
How much flow-vis?!
Wednesday 26 February 2025 17:20
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Kieran Jackson
Quite a lot of flow-vis on Lando Norris' McLaren! #F1Testing #F1 pic.twitter.com/aowzyoapXP
— Formula 1 (@F1) February 26, 2025
DAY ONE OF F1 TESTING - LEADERBOARD, TOP-10
Wednesday 26 February 2025 17:06
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Kieran Jackson
1. Lando Norris - 1:30:430
2. George Russell - 1:30:587
3. Max Verstappen - 1:30:674
4. Charles Leclerc - 1:30:878
5. Carlos Sainz - 1:30:955
6. Pierre Gasly - 1:31:353
7. Kimi Antonelli - 1:31:428
8. Liam Lawson - 1:31:560
9. Alex Albon - 1:31:573
10. Yuki Tsunoda - 1:31:610
Gabriel Bortoleto goes 12th-fastest!
Wednesday 26 February 2025 16:52
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Kieran Jackson
Sauber’s Gabriel Bortoleto, last year’s F2 champion, goes 12th fastest with a push lap under the floodlights in Bahrain.
Final 10 minutes now!
Every car aside from Lando Norris out there at the moment...
DAY ONE LEADERBOARD - 15 MINS TO GO
Wednesday 26 February 2025 16:43
,
Kieran Jackson
1. Lando Norris - 1:30:430
2, George Russell - +TBC
3. Max Verstappen - TBC
4. Charles Leclerc - TBC
5. Carlos Sainz - +0.525
6. Pierre Gasly - +0.923
7. Kimi Antonelli - +0.998
8. Liam Lawson - +1.130
9. Alex Albon - +1.143
10. Yuki Tsunoda - +1.180
As you can see, the leaderboard not quite updating! More as we get it.
Major rule change approved for Monaco Grand Prix ‘to promote better racing’ at famous F1 circuit
Wednesday 26 February 2025 16:10
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Kieran Jackson
The FIA announced on Wednesday that a plan to increase the amount of pit-stops at the Monaco Grand Prix this year has been approved.
The famous race on the streets of the principality is regularly criticised for its lack of overtaking opportunities, with Red Bull’s Max Verstappen labelling last year’s race as “boring” – with the top-10 not changing order at all from the start of the race to the end.
As a result, after a meeting of the F1 Commission last Tuesday morning in London, it was agreed that the number of mandatory pit stops (one) per driver should be increased.
The FIA, F1’s governing body, confirmed the change on Wednesday, detailing that teams must stop at least twice and use three different tyre sets (though only two different compounds.)
Max Verstappen goes second-fastest!
Wednesday 26 February 2025 16:05
Final hour now and Max Verstappen sets his quickest time, but still two-tenths off Lando Norris at the top!
Verstappen has completed 14 more laps (48 to 34) than his McLaren rival though!
Is that going to be the standard top two this season?!
Lando Norris goes quickest!
Wednesday 26 February 2025 15:37
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Kieran Jackson
By four-tenths, Norris goes fastest of anyone, dropping Charles Leclerc into second.
3-10: Russell, Verstappen, Gasly, Sainz, Antonelli, Lawson, Albon, Tsunoda
We now have 1 hour and 20 minutes to go with today’s afternoon session!
BREAKING: Testing extended by one hour!
Wednesday 26 February 2025 15:34
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Kieran Jackson
F1: “Following the power outage during Bahrain Pre-Season Testing, the FIA, Formula 1, and the teams have agreed to extend this afternoon's session by one hour to compensate for the time lost under the red flag.
“The session will now conclude at 20:00 local time.”
That’ll be 5pm in the UK. Makes sense.
Carlos Sainz:
Wednesday 26 February 2025 15:31
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Kieran Jackson
“It’s started to rain a little bit, you can see it.”
Wind, no power and rain on day one in Bahrain!
Statement from the Bahrain International Circuit:
Wednesday 26 February 2025 15:15
“At approximately 5pm today, a power outage caused by an external substation failure led to the afternoon session on track to be paused.
“Power has since been restored and the afternoon session has resumed. We appreciate everyone’s patience.”
Cars out on track!
Wednesday 26 February 2025 15:11
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Kieran Jackson
Alpine’s Pierre Gasly the first car out on track after the one-hour red flag!
And the lights are firmly on around track.
McLaren’s Lando Norris, who has just over 10 laps on track, follows him shortly after.
Green flag!
Wednesday 26 February 2025 15:09
We have all the lights on around the circuit and we’re underway!
But there are now sprinkles of rain in Bahrain - so no cars immediately out on track!
F1 testing
Wednesday 26 February 2025 15:02
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