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.
Lando Norris and Max Verstappen are in the car this morning, while Lewis Hamilton drives for Ferrari in the afternoon session on Friday - the final day of the test.
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
- George Russell was quickest on Friday; Verstappen 2nd; Albon 3rd
- READ: Is Lewis Hamilton in contention for F1 title after testing?
- EXCLUSIVE: Drive to Survive star unsure of future on Netflix show after surprise F1 exit
- Carlos Sainz quickest overall on Thursday; Hamilton 2nd; Leclerc 3rd
- Major rule change for Monaco Grand Prix slammed by F1 pundits
READ: Lewis Hamilton causes a stir off track at F1 testing – but are Ferrari in title contention for 2025 season?
18:15
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Kieran Jackson
in a week where all eyes were on Lewis Hamilton’s first public outings in the Ferrari cockpit, it was away from the racetrack where he made his biggest waves.
Acting as creative director for his own TIME photoshoot and interview, in which he posed next to a stallion named Aroma, the seven-time F1 world champion caused a stir with his punchy comments directed at “older, white men.”
But the official three-day pre-season test this week in Bahrain gave us a first indication of what the state of play is on the racetrack ahead of the 2025 season-opener in Australia in a fortnight’s time. And it isn’t all sunshine and roses in scarlet red.
Read full testing review here:
2025 title odds!
17:38
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Kieran Jackson
Fancy a pre-season flutter?
- Lando Norris - 13/8
- Charles Leclerc, Max Verstappen - 10/3
- Lewis Hamilton - 11/2
- Oscar Piastri - 15/2
- George Russell - 14/1
- Liam Lawson - 35/1
- Kimi Antonelli - 55/1
- Yuki Tsunoda - 70/1
- Fernando Alonso - 80/1
- Pierre Gasly, Carlos Sainz - 175/1
Exclusive: Drive to Survive star unsure of future on Netflix show after surprise F1 exit
17:06
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Kieran Jackson
Drive to Survive star Will Buxton admits he is unsure whether he will continue in his role on the hit Netflix show beyond the new season airing on 7 March.
In recent years, Buxton has worked for F1TV as a presenter but announced a surprise departure last month, as he takes up a new role as lead commentator for Fox’s coverage of IndyCar for the 2025 season.
As a result, Buxton will not be a permanent presence in the F1 paddock this year, bringing into question his future on the Netflix series.
This was nice earlier today!
16:45
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Kieran Jackson
Wholesome moment as George Russell waves to Lewis Hamilton on track pic.twitter.com/1bfEszULIf
— Sky Sports F1 (@SkySportsF1) February 28, 2025
LAPS COMPLETED IN TOTAL
16:30
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Kieran Jackson
1. Mercedes 458
2. Haas 457
3. Racing Bulls 454
4. Alpine 405
5. Williams 395
6. Ferrari 382
7. McLaren 381
8. Sauber 354
]9. Aston Martin 306
10. Red Bull 304
Lewis Hamilton on his three days of testing for Ferrari:
16:20
“It's hard to believe it's the last day of testing. It's kind of crazy. It's so short for everyone, but these are really a vital few days that you get in the car. We're just focusing on doing the best job we can with what we have, and understanding the package we have.
"For me, I'm learning more and more of how the team likes to work and making small tweaks here and there to improve my efficiency and the efficiency of how we work together.
“So it's been really positive."
LEADERBOARD ON FINAL DAY OF TESTING
16:10
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Kieran Jackson
1. George Russell - 1:29:545 (90 laps)
2. Max Verstappen +0.021 (81)
3. Alex Albon +0.105 (136)
4. Oscar Piastri +0.395 (84)
5. Pierre Gasly +0.495 (83)
6. Lewis Hamilton +0.800 (47)
7. Yuki Tsunoda +0.592 (86)
8. Esteban Ocon +1.183 (102)
9. Charles Leclerc +1.266 (66)
10. Kimi Antonelli +1.343 (61)
George Russell quickest on day 3
16:05
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Kieran Jackson
Testing 2025? Complete.
Mercedes’s George Russell set the quickest lap on Thursday with a 1:29:545, 0.021 secs quicker than last year’s world champion Max Verstappen.
Albon, Piastri and Gasly complete the top-five.
A fascinating few days. McLaren with the advantage in terms of race simulations, compared mainly to Mercedes, while promising few days for Alpine and Williams.
George Russell goes P1
15:59
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Kieran Jackson
With five minutes to go, Russell has put in a flier!
He goes fastest with a 1:29:566, just 0.021 secs quicker than Max Verstappen.
Last moments on track now. Lewis Hamilton is in the pits, having done 47 laps of running today.
Max Verstappen spins at the same spot!
15:45
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Kieran Jackson
Even the best can lose it!
Verstappen has a spin at turn 1 but saves it, lights up the tyres and continues on.
Are they pushing hard as testing draws to a close?
Esteban Ocon goes for a spin!
15:42
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Kieran Jackson
The Haas driver has a spin at turn 1, with the Aston and Sauber having to avoid the Frenchman!
Took around 10-15 seconds to bring the car back round, but not hugely encouraging for the American-owned team!
Max Verstappen goes fastest!
15:32
New tyres, new fastest lap!
Verstappen goes to P1 with a 1:29:566, 0.084 secs quicker than Albon.
Half-an-hour to go of testing!
TOP-10 LEADERBOARD - 45 MINS TO GO
15:15
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Kieran Jackson
1. Alex Albon - 1:29:650 (115 laps)
2. Max Verstappen +0.149 (68)
3. Pierre Gasly +0.390 (59)
4. George Russell +0.404 (64)
5. Lewis Hamilton +0.695 (44)
6. Charles Leclerc +1.161
7. Oscar Piastri +1.177
8. Kimi Antonelli +1.238
9. Lando Norris +1.293
10. Esteban Ocon +1.137
Alex Albon goes quickest!
15:06
Albono up top!
Albon, who has been in the Williams all day, goes P1 with a 1:39:650, 0.149 secs quicker than Max Verstappen.
Carlos Sainz, his teammate, was quickest on Thursday. Room for optimism for Williams?!
Fernando Alonso replaces Lance Stroll
14:54
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Kieran Jackson
The sun has set and it’s nightfall in Bahrain - and we have a mid-session change of driver!
Lance Stroll felt unwell this morning and though he took to the cockpit briefly this afternoon, he is still feeling under the weather and so Alonso has taken to the cockpit for the remaining hour or so!
TOP-5 WITH 1 HR 20 MIN TO GO
14:40
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Kieran Jackson
1. Max Verstappen - 1:29.844
2. Pierre Gasly - +0.196
3. George Russell - +0.210
4. Alex Albon - +0.358
5. Lewis Hamilton - +0.501
Lewis Hamilton speaking in the FIA press conference earlier:
14:26
Is this the best you’ve felt in these set of regulations?
“This is the most positive feeling I’ve had in a long time, that’s all I can say now.”
"This is the most positive feeling I've had in a long time"
— Sky Sports F1 (@SkySportsF1) February 28, 2025
Lewis Hamilton is loving life at Ferrari pic.twitter.com/coTMICfFlO
Max Verstappen goes P1!
14:17
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Kieran Jackson
There’s a statement from the four-time world champion!
Max Verstappen is the first driver of the day into the 1:29 time-zone, as he goes fastest by 0.196 secs to Pierre Gasly.
That was on the medium C3 tyre...
DAY THREE LEADERBOARD - 2 HOURS TO GO
14:12
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Kieran Jackson
1. Pierre Gasly - 1:30:040
2. George Russell - +0.014
3. Max Verstapprn - +0.103
4. Lewis Hamilton - +0.561
5. Charles Leclerc - +0.771
6. Oscar Piastri - +0.787
7. Kimi Antonelli - +0.848
8. Lando Norris - +0.903
9. Esteban Ocon - +0.927
10. Jack Doohan - +1.199
Lewis Hamilton back out on track
13:52
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Kieran Jackson
OK, Lewis, what can you do here?
He’s out there on the hard C4 tyre, as he looks to build his confidence in the SF-25.
Third-fastest currently, but will be eyeing some strong race simulation over the next hour...
Ollie Bearman in the FIA press conference:
13:44
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Kieran Jackson
“Very happy to be sharing the track with people I shared it last year, not the only one in the rookie camp.
“We're all going through the same experiences, new tracks and stuff like this, nice not to be alone.”
ICYMI: F1 testing suspended in Bahrain due to bizarre bus and broken glass incidents
13:30
F1 pre-season testing was suspended on Friday due to a bizarre incident involving shattered glass on track in Bahrain - and another incident involving a random bus on track.
Pierre Gasly back to P1!
13:25
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Kieran Jackson
Gasly usurps Russell this time, with a time of 1:30:040 inching him into P1 by a margin of 0.014 secs.
Nip and tuck at the top!
Gabriel Bortoleto in the press conference:
13:15
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Kieran Jackson
“It’s cool to see young drivers getting into Formula 1 now.
“A lot of us deserved to get the opportunity, good result in junior series and testing. Looking forward to the fun battles.”
Lewis Hamilton goes third-fastest!
13:12
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Kieran Jackson
Big gains for Hamilton - but still not quick enough to usurp the top two!
The Ferrari goes third-fastest but is still 0.457 secs short of Russell in P1.
A bit better for Lewis.
DAY 3 LEADERBOARD - 3 HOURS TO GO
13:07
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Kieran Jackson
1. George Russell* - 1:30:054
2. Pierre Gasly* - +0.228
3. Charles Leclerc - +0.757
4. Kimi Antonelli - +0.834
5. Lando Norris - +0.889
6. Esteban Ocon* - +1.070
7. Max Verstappen* - +1.155
8. Jack Doohan - +1.185
9. Lewis Hamilton* - _1.204
10. Alex Albon* - +1.390
*active in the afternoon session
George Russell goes quickest!
13:00
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Kieran Jackson
The British driver surges into the top spot, beating Pierre Gasly’s time by two-tenths for a 1:30:054!
Mercedes occupying two of the top four positions...
A slide for Hamilton!
12:51
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Kieran Jackson
Hamilton with a small slide as he makes the sharp right-handed turn at turn 1... all in control, all fine.
But the SF-25 doesn’t look THAT easy to drive today, with a bit of wind around the track too.
Kimi Antonelli in the press conference:
12:45
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Kieran Jackson
On rookies: “It was nice, also with Ollie last year, we got along pretty well and Isack in F2.
“Nice we’re sharing the F1 track together.”
Gasly goes quicker!
12:41
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Kieran Jackson
Go on Pierre!
The Alpine goes even faster with a C3 tyre, setting a 1:30:459 - 0.352 secs quicker than Leclerc earlier!
And it’s a full second than his nearest competitior - Russell - in this session!
Pierre Gasly fastest so far
12:35
The Alpine driver sets a 1:30:657, a time two-tenths quicker than Charles Leclerc’s time earlier to go quickest of Day 3 so far.
A reminder: times are likely to tumble later in the day as the track ramps up in speed.
Five drivers yet to start
12:30
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Kieran Jackson
Stroll, Piastri and Hulkenberg have not left their respective garages yet.
Bit odd. Work to do on their cars from the morning, clearly.
Max Verstappen and Alex Albon, who drove this morning, also yet to emerge for the afternoon.
Who's driving this afternoon?
12:12
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Kieran Jackson
McLaren - Piastri
Ferrari - Hamilton
Red Bull - Verstappen (all day)
Mercedes - Russell
Aston Martin - Stroll
Alpine - Gasly
Haas - Ocon
Racing Bulls - Tsunoda
Williams - Albon (all day)
Sauber - Hulkenberg
Afternoon session begins:
12:00
Here we go then with the sixth and final session of pre-season testing in Bahrain!
No rain today, it’s perfect 17C conditions as we have the final four hours of testing before we head to Australia in two weeks time.
Oscar Piastri, speaking to Sky Sports:
11:40
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Kieran Jackson
On weather: "I don't think anyone expected rain in Bahrain, so that was a slight spanner in the works yesterday.
"I think still achieved a fair bit and learned a lot. Excited to try and get a few more laps in this afternoon. I think it's all going pretty well."
On testing so far: "In terms of pace, I don't really know where we see it; it's kind of hard to say. There have been some runs that have looked good and some runs that haven't looked so good; that's kind of looked the story for everybody a little bit, but I think we're still pretty confident.
"We're not going to know until we get to Melbourne, but I think the signs have been positive."
Ferrari chairman John Elkann is in Bahrain
11:23
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Kieran Jackson
Elkann had a huge part to play in persuading Lewis Hamilton to join Ferrari this year and, according to Italian media, is at pre-season testing for just the second time in seven years.
He was chatting to Hamilton yesterday as well as team principal Fred Vasseur.
There can be no doubt: it is one BIG year for the prancing horse.
DAY 3 MORNING LEADERBOARD
11:06
1. Charles Leclerc - 1:30:811 (66 laps)
2. Kimi Antonelli - +0.077 (61)
3. Lando Norris - +0.132 (57)
4. Max Verstappen - +0.398 (47)
5. Jack Doohan - +0.428 (61)
6. Alex Albon - +0.633 (58)
7. Isack Hadjar - +0.950 (73)
8. Fernando Alonso - +1.273 (49)
9. Gabriel Bortoleto - +1.336 (35)
10. Ollie Bearman + 1.550 (59)
Charles Leclerc fastest in morning session!
10:59
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Kieran Jackson
It was set very early doors - within the first hour - but Charles Leclerc is top of the timesheet for Ferrari!
Mercedes’s teenage star Kimi Antonelli has impressed massively, for me, and is second-fastest - with Lando Norris in third.
Max Verstappen, who will also drive this afternoon, was fourth.
VSC TEST
10:56
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Kieran Jackson
Five minutes to go and we have a Virtual Safety Car test, as the FIA test all their systems ahead of the new season.
That should be that then for this morning’s leaderboard!
Antonelli makes a move on Leclerc!
10:53
Antonelli is getting tucked into some racing in his final minutes of testing!
The 18-year-old goes down the outside of Leclerc on the main straight, with DRS open!
Leclerc doesn’t fight it - but it’s entertaining still for us!
Race lengths - tick
10:46
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Kieran Jackson
Norris, Doohan and Leclerc have all completed race distances now, which is 57 laps in Bahrain.
Max Verstappen is also out of the car with 15 minutes to go, and is deep in converstation with Christian Horner and Helmut Marko.
Interesting - are they satisfied with where the RB21 is?!
Lando Norris misses out!
10:32
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Kieran Jackson
Straight out on C2 tyres, Norris looks set to go fastest after a purple first sector but then goes wide in the final sector!
He aborts his lap. A shake of the head on the McLaren pit wall...
GREEN FLAG
10:29
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Kieran Jackson
Green flag gets us going!
But Antonelli and Alonso did a lap under red flag conditions... I think there was a green light at the end of the pit lane when they went out, but they calmly came back in.
Glass all cleared up and we’re back on track...
RED FLAG!
10:20
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Kieran Jackson
This is a bit of a bizarre.
Something has fallen and shattered on the start-finish straight.
It might be glass from the start-finish box above the track!
How odd... but it’ll need to be swept up!
RED FLAG
10:17
,
Kieran Jackson
Gosh, how odd!
A lot of broken glass on the track. How did this happen?!
Did the window of the start-finish box shatter randomly? Or did someone break it?
Haven’t heard this one before!
RED FLAG
— Formula 1 (@F1) February 28, 2025
Debris on the start/finish straight - looks like a pane of glass from the starter's booth has fallen onto the track #F1Testing #F1 pic.twitter.com/Fi4UOHCAap
Close shave between Antonelli and Albon
10:16
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Kieran Jackson
Bit of racing already?!
Antonelli trails Albon down into turn 4 and then goes down the inside at turun 8!
Not too much resistance from the Williams man, but a nice bit of entertainment!
MORNING LEADERBOARD - 1HR TO GO
10:03
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Kieran Jackson
1. Charles Leclerc - 1:30:811
2. Kimi Antonelli - +0.077
3. Lando Norris - +0.132
4. Max Verstappen - +0.398
5. Jack Doohan - +0.428
6. Alex Albon - +0.633
7. Isack Hadjar - +0.950
8. Fernando Alonso - +1.273
9. Gabriel Bortoleto - +1.414
10. Ollie Bearman - +1.550
Pit stop practice for Ferrari
09:57
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Kieran Jackson
A quick in and out for Leclerc in the pit box, as the Ferrari mechanics recharge their pit-stop batteries after a long off-season.
No change to the leaderboard as of yet, with most drivers doing their long race runs around the Bahrain International Circuit at the moment!
Just over an hour to go...
DAY TWO LEADERBOARD - 1 HR 30 MIN TO GO
09:40
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Kieran Jackson
1. Charles Leclerc - 1:30:811
2. Kimi Antonelli - +0.077
3. Lando Norris - +0.132
4. Max Verstappen - +0.398
5. Jack Doohan - +0.428
6. Alex Albon - +0.633
7. Isack Hadjar - +0.950
8. Gabriel Bortoleto - +1.414
9. Ollie Bearman - +1.550
10. Fernando Alonso - +2.858
No cars out on track
09:33
,
Kieran Jackson
The wind has picked up in Bahrain and, as such, no cars out on track at the moment!
Lando Norris goes third-fastest
09:07
,
Kieran Jackson
The McLaren driver puts in his best push lap to go P3 on the leaderboard - 0.132 secs off Leclerc’s time in P1.
Two hours to go in this morning’s session!
Lando Norris goes wide!
08:49
,
Kieran Jackson
Norris goes off track on a push lap, but all fine as he weaves his McLaren back to the racetrack!
Lance Stroll update
08:45
,
Kieran Jackson
Stroll had been due to take to the cockpit this morning for Aston Martin, but was feeling unwell.
As a result, Fernando Alonso took to the car. But the team have confirmed Stroll will return to the car this afternoon.
A full day of testing for Max Verstappen
08:32
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Kieran Jackson
Verstappen has the full eight hours of testing time today and has already completed 20 laps out there.
He remains third-fastest on the timesheet.
DAY 3 MORNING LEADERBOARD - 1 HR GONE
08:09
,
Kieran Jackson
1. Charles Leclerc - 1:30:811
2. Kimi Antonelli - +0.077
3. Max Verstappen - +0.631
4. Alex Albon - +0.633
5. Isack Hadjar - +0.950
6. Jack Doohan - +1.001
7. Gabriel Bortoleto - +1.414
8. Ollie Bearman - +2.866
9. Fernando Alonso - +3.010
10. Lando Norris - no time
Bortoleto only driver out on track
07:56
,
Kieran Jackson
The Brazilian driver, who comes into this season for Sauber as a rookie having won F3 in 2023 and F2 in 2024, is the only driver out on track right now.
He picks up a bit of gravel on one of his push laps...
Laps completed so far:
07:45
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Kieran Jackson
Max Verstappen - 7
Alex Albon - 2
Lando Norris - 2
Charles Leclerc - 6
Andrea Kimi Antonelli - 5
Fernando Alonso - 2
Jack Doohan - 6
Oliver Bearman - 5
Isack Hadjar - 3
Gabriel Bortoleto - 6
Problem for Ollie Bearman!
07:35
,
Kieran Jackson
An engine cover on the sidepod of Bearman’s Haas has flown off the car!
He returns to the pits. Suspicious - how did that happen?!
Leclerc now up to P1
07:30
The Ferrari puts in a quickest middle sector and takes top spot, with a 1:30:861.
Two-tenths faster than Leclerc.
Antonelli P1
07:18
,
Kieran Jackson
Kimi Antonelli was just four tenths behind Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc but the Mercedes man has now claimed top spot, his time is now 1:31.189.
Jack Doohan is third, Gabriel Bortoleto fourth and Oliver Bearman fifth after 20 minutes.
Alonso has issues straight away
07:10
The 43-year-old has stopped at the end of the pit-lane and is now being wheeled back to the Aston Martin garage, under a yellow flag being waved by a marshal.
Not entirely sure what the issue is.
MORNING SESSION UNDERWAY!
07:06
Max Verstappen has a big aerorake on his RB21 as he gets his eight hours underway!
Charles Leclerc also straight out there on a clear, warmer day in Bahrain, with Fernando Alonso’s Aston Martin also sporting a big aerorake on the front of his car!
Lando Norris among the drivers on the track this moring!
07:00
,
Kieran Jackson
Norris appears for McLaren in the sun in Bahrain first up this morning!
And Max Verstappen is on for the whole day!
Lewis Hamilton sends message to ‘older, white men’ who criticise him
06:45
,
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.”
Toto Wolff dismisses complaints over Verstappen and Horner jeers at F1 event in London
06:30
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Kieran Jackson
Toto Wolff has dismissed the FIA’s complaints over booing of Max Verstappen and Christian Horner at F1 75 Live in London last week – adding that the event was “mega.”
Red Bull’s four-time world champion Verstappen received a swathe of jeers when he was introduced by host Jack Whitehall, which was then drowned out by cheering and applause. Later on, Red Bull team principal Horner was booed by the 15,000-strong crowd.
The FIA condemned the “tribalist reaction” of the British fans in a statement on Saturday, while Verstappen has threatened to boycott any future F1 launch events in England.
DAY 2 REPORT: Lewis Hamilton shines for Ferrari at F1 testing – but the man he replaced grabs top spot
06:18
,
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.
Christian Horner reacts to Max Verstappen boos at F1 event in London: ‘That was disappointing’
06:02
,
Kieran Jackson
"Of course launching your car is a bit like launching your away strip in a home fans’ stadium, so fans will always back the teams and drivers that they want to. Of course we’ve been the protagonists over the years.
“The only disappointment I had with it was the reaction to Max as a four-time world champion, that was disappointing. But passion in sport is always going to be there.
“If the launch had been in Holland, no doubt the reception would have been somewhat different.”