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
- Pre-season testing continues at 7am (GMT) on Thursday
- Testing in Bahrain stopped on Wednesday due to a power cut
- Lando Norris quickest on day one; Russell 2nd; Verstappen 3rd; Hamilton 13th
- PREVIEW: What to look out for in F1 testing
- Major rule change for Monaco Grand Prix slammed by F1 pundits
FULL DAY 1 LEADERBOARD
18:45
,
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
Day 2 start time and driver schedule:
19:10
,
Kieran Jackson
Day 2 starts at 7am (GMT) and goes on until 4pm, with two four-hour sessions.
And here’s the lineup!
Who is driving at F1 pre-season testing?
McLaren
- Thursday: Piastri (AM), Norris (PM)
- Friday: Norris (AM), Piastri (PM)
- Thursday: TBC
- 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)
Power cut, Monaco rule change and Hamilton in red: Day one of F1 in 2025 did not disappoint
18:20
,
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
18:02
,
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?!
17:20
,
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
17:06
,
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!
16:52
,
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
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
16:10
,
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!
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!
15:37
,
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!
15:34
,
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:
15:31
,
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:
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!
15:11
,
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!
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
15:02
,
Harry Latham-Coyle
There is a safety car gingerly making its way around the circuit, venturing into the dark like a weary-eyed traveller on an early morning airport run. A promising sign, even if the lights aren’t all illuminated just yet.
F1 testing set to resume shortly
14:58
,
Harry Latham-Coyle
Hurrah - the FIA have been in touch with a statement: “The power, electronic systems and lights around the circuit are slowly coming back to normal, we expect to restart the session shortly.”
Currently under red flag just over halfway through the afternoon session #F1Testing #F1 pic.twitter.com/cwd1VrjHrD
— Formula 1 (@F1) February 26, 2025
Inside Lewis Hamilton’s first month at Ferrari F1 – including ‘perfect’ meal at Schumacher’s go-to restaurant
14:53
,
Harry Latham-Coyle
While we wait for proceedings to recommence, do have a read of Kieran Jackson’s look at Lewis Hamilton’s first month in Ferrari red:
F1 testing
14:40
,
Harry Latham-Coyle
The glitz and glamour that usually accompanies Formula 1 has been replaced by gloom - it’s dark and dreary in Bahrain. Some of the floodlights are now reactivated, but not all. A few drivers are back in their cars, though, including George Russell, who looks rather ready for a resumption.
F1 testing paused after power cut
14:33
,
Harry Latham-Coyle
The floodlights, however, are not on at the circuit - with those in Bahrain suggesting that it is a regional issue, rather than track-specific. There are also a few spits and spots of rain apparent. Frustrating, particularly for the teams with under an hour and a half of scheduled testing left today.
Oscar Piastri also has a natter with Sky
14:32
,
Harry Latham-Coyle
“It’s been a little bit tricky, yes. The car is feeling pretty good. WE are just trying to get in a better window and try a bunch of stuff. This red flag is not ideal, but it’s a similar story for everybody.
“There are a few teams that are looking good early on. But we are pretty happy with how we are going. Lando and I are on the same page, which is what we want. Everything is working as it should do, which is what you want out of today. It’s very hard to know who is doing what. We are focussing on ourselves and finding out some good information.
“I’m preparing to try to challenge for both of the championships. This is where you put in the hard work. This is the only time you can try and improve yourself on track. It’s been a good morning, and hopefully it’s an exciting year.”
And in excellent news, the end of the Oscar Piastri chat is rather better lit than the start - the power is back on at the Sakhir Circuit, which means we may soon have cars back on track.
And here is George Russell, who has been snared by Sky Sports
14:28
,
Harry Latham-Coyle
"I came out the pits and thought 'it's suddenly quite dark out here', and I radioed saying I need to change my visor, and I realised there are no floodlights around,” George Russell tells the broadcaster.
"Would have been a bit hectic of this was an hour later and the sun had already set."
F1 testing paused
14:24
,
Harry Latham-Coyle
This stoppage affords all of the teams a chance to check in, Lando Norris engaging in a discussion with some McLaren personnel and some visitors. George Russell chuckles away in the Mercedes area.
RED FLAG!
14:20
,
Kieran Jackson
Session still paused here whilst they look to get full power back around the Bahrain International Circuit!
What a bizarre stoppage on the first day of the 2025 F1 season!
Power cut!
14:13
,
Kieran Jackson
The power has gone down across the paddock leaving some very dark corridors indeed - and some bemused team personnel!
RED FLAG!
— Sky Sports F1 (@SkySportsF1) February 26, 2025
We have a halt to testing due to a power cut at the circuit ⚠️ pic.twitter.com/PwK0Uxxqte
Torches down at Ferrari!
14:09
,
Kieran Jackson
Ferrari engineers are using torches from their phones to look at Charles Leclerc’s car!
And an alarm is going off in the circuit!
FIA:
14:08
,
Kieran Jackson
“A circuit-wide power failure,” is the official line from the FIA.
Not exactly ideal... the clock will continue to run in this session...
RED FLAG!
14:05
There’s a power cut in Bahrain!
The session has been stopped!
Lando Norris goes third-fastest!
13:58
Lando Norris finally gets his first lap time in on the C3 medium tyre and goes third-fastest overall with a 1:31:2.
Finally! And not bad after just nine laps!
George Russell fastest!
13:48
,
Kieran Jackson
Pushing the Mercedes W16, Russell goes to the top of the timesheet overall (that includes this morning’s session) with a 1:31:082 - 0.271 secs ahead of Alpine’s Pierre Gasly.
Charles Leclerc is fifth overall with a 1:31:468 - four-tenths quicker than Lewis Hamilton this morning!
Lando Norris, meanwhile, still yet to set a time!
Earlier today - Lewis in a Ferrari!
13:45
,
Kieran Jackson
Lewis SF-25
— Formula 1 (@F1) February 26, 2025
Ride onboard with the seven-time world champ in his first session as a @ScuderiaFerrari driver #F1Testing #F1 pic.twitter.com/EK8piNq6US
Lando Norris yet to set a lap time!
13:38
,
Kieran Jackson
Norris has just done four laps and is yet to set a timed lap.
McLaren say “nothing has gone wrong” today with their plans. Interesting...
Lando Norris finally joins the track!
13:17
,
Kieran Jackson
It’s taken an hour - but the MCL39 is finally ready!
The 2024 runner-up takes to the Sakhir circuit!
Gasly and Verstappen the top-two!
13:10
,
Kieran Jackson
LEADERBOARD AFTER ONE HOUR:
13:02
,
Kieran Jackson
Here’s this afternoon’s timings after the first hour:
1. Pierre Gasly - 1:31:443
2. Max Verstappen - 1:31:444
3. Carlos Sainz - 1:33:245
4. George Russell - 1:34:607
5. Charles Leclerc - 1:35:145
6. Isack Hadjar - 1:35:780
7. Esteban Ocon - 1:36:363
8. Gabriel Bortoleto - no time
9. Lance Stroll - no time
10. Lando Norris - no time
Norris has not actually been out on track yet, while work continues on the McLaren car.
Pierre Gasly quickest early on!
12:55
,
Kieran Jackson
Gasly quickest in this session so far - and second-fastest overall - with a 1:31:443! Max Verstappen is just 0.001 secs behind him!
3-10: Russell, Leclerc, Ocon, Bortoleto, Stroll (no time), Norris (no time), Sainz (no time)
Verstappen has completed the most laps so far, at 15.
Cars out on track!
12:25
,
Kieran Jackson
Racing Bulls rookie Isack Hadjar and Haas’s Esteban Ocon are the first cars out on track after a 20-minute wait!
The sound of engines, finally!
10 minutes in - and no drivers on track!
12:10
,
Kieran Jackson
A lot of work being done on the cars in the garage after lunch and, as a result, there are no cars out on track in Bahrain!
Drivers are out of the cockpit relaxing. Hold your horses everyone...
Afternoon session - drivers:
12:05
,
Kieran Jackson
McLaren - Lando Norris
Ferrari - Charles Leclerc
Red Bull - Max Verstappen
Mercedes - George Russell
Aston Martin - Lance Stroll
Alpine - Pierre Gasly
Haas - Esteban Ocon
Racing Bulls - Isack Hadjar
Williams - Carlos Sainz
Sauber - Gabriel Bortoleto
Afternoon session underway!
12:00
,
Kieran Jackson
And we’re off with the afternoon session in Bahrain!
Midday-4pm (GMT) for this session, as a new set of drivers take to their car!
In fact, every team has changed driver!
George Russell, speaking in this morning's press conference:
11:55
,
Kieran Jackson
"It's a fresh start for all of us, so excited to see what the season will bring.
“This morning was a solid start from the team. The car's handling well.
"It's obviously very different conditions here compared to what we're used to, very windy.”
Afternoon session!
11:42
,
Kieran Jackson
The second session - in which we’ll see Max Verstappen and Lando Norris for the first time - starts at midday (GMT)!
Lewis Hamilton's first morning in 2025 Ferrari F1 car in Bahrain:
11:16
Quickest time: 1:31:834
Number of laps: 61
A few slides off the track for the 40-year-old in the SF-25 but overall, steady and solid in his first F1 outing for his new team.
DAY 1 MORNING SESSION - LEADERBOARD:
11:08
,
Kieran Jackson
1. Kimi Antonelli - 1:31:428 (69 laps)
2. Liam Lawson - +0.132 (58)
3. Alex Albon - +0.145 (55)
4. Yuki Tsunoda - +0.182 (71)
5. Lewis Hamilton - +0.406 (61)
6. Jack Doohan - +0.413 (60)
7. Fernando Alonso - +0.446 (41)
8. Oscar Piastri - +0.656 (55)
9. Nico Hulkenberg - +0.741 (55)
10. Ollie Bearman - +4.094 (70)
Kimi Antonelli quickest in morning session!
11:02
,
Kieran Jackson
That’ll do it for the first four hours - and it’s the 18-year-old on top!
Antonelli’s quickest time of 1:31:428, 0.132 secs quicker than Liam Lawson in second!
Albon 3rd, Tsunoda 4th, Hamilton 5th.
Five minutes left in morning session!
10:57
,
Kieran Jackson
Final laps - most on the medium tyre - for these sets of drivers today then!
Fernando Alonso, by some distance, has completed the least laps for Aston Martin, on 41.
Yuki Tsunoda, for Racing Bulls, has the most with 71...
WATCH: Piastri's little moment...
10:53
,
Kieran Jackson
Turn 2 in Bahrain is becoming a real enemy to drivers in testing so far... Oscar Piastri the latest to experience problems pic.twitter.com/sLwDO4ZQyO
— Sky Sports F1 (@SkySportsF1) February 26, 2025
Ollie Bearman completes race distance!
10:43
,
Kieran Jackson
With 57 laps under his belt, the 19-year-old has completed a race distance with 15 mins left before this session ends!
Antonelli, Lawson, Tsunoda, Hamilton and Doohan have also completed 57 laps or more this morning!
LEADERBOARD WITH 20 MINS LEFT
10:41
,
Kieran Jackson
1. Kimi Antonennli - 1:31:248
2. Liam Lawson - +0.132
3. Alex Albon - +0.145
4. Yuki Tsunoda - +0.182
5. Lewis Hamilton - +0.406
6. Jack Doohan - +0.413
7. Fernando Alonso - +0.446
8. Oscar Piastri - +0.656
9. Nico Hulkenberg - +0.741
10. Ollie Bearman - +4.094
Oscar Piastri has a slide!
10:39
,
Kieran Jackson
Piastri has a similar moment to Lawson at turn 2 - not just the Red Bull driver having handling issues in sector one!
WATCH: Lawson spins in testing!
10:10
,
Kieran Jackson
A replay of Lawson’s moment in sector one!
BIG moment for Liam Lawson who spins and loses control pic.twitter.com/WzPeGvqdAr
— Sky Sports F1 (@SkySportsF1) February 26, 2025
Liam Lawson has a spin!
10:03
,
Kieran Jackson
The Red Bull driver with the first spin off track in Bahrain testing!
Just coming out of turn 3!
Lawson keeps the Red Bull on track, but the Kiwi struggling for control on the car as he accelerates out of the corner!
All fine, though. He’ll pit and change tyres.
LEADERBOARD WITH ONE HOUR LEFT
10:00
,
Kieran Jackson
1. Alex Albon - 1:31:573
2. Liam Lawson - +0.001
3. Lewis Hamilton - +0.261
4. Jack Doohan - +0.268
5. Fernando Alonso - +0.301
6. Oscar Piastri - +0.511
7. Yuki Tsunoda - +0.588
8. Nico Hulkenberg - +0.596
9. Kimi Antonelli - +0.625
10. Ollie Bearman - _4.046
Bearman seemingly the only driver yet to string a hot lap properly together - he’ll have one more hour to do so!
Liam Lawson with some serious oversteer!
09:57
,
Kieran Jackson
Lawson, on a hot lap, with some big oversteer and his Red Bull slides off the track but manages to hold it!
Lap ruined though!
Toto Wolff dismisses complaints over Verstappen and Horner jeers at F1 event in London
09:54
“We shouldn’t talk an event down that was mega just because one single individual, rightly or wrongly, was booed when he spoke,” he told Sky Sports.
“It was a great event. The spectators there were great. The presentation of the cars was good.
“And it sets a new format for the years to come and that is the positive we need to take from that.”
When asked if Wolff himself booed old foe Horner, the Austrian replied: “No I wasn’t booing – there was 15,000 people that did that!
Ollie Bearman feeling the chill right now!
09:43
,
Kieran Jackson
“It’s cold out here!”, says Bearman.
“I feel like the wind is picking up as well.”
Only 15C out there in Bahrain! Warm for the UK but chilly for the Gulf!
Bearman last on the timesheets so far...
Jack Doohan goes off track
09:22
,
Kieran Jackson
Doohan goes wide on lap 11, much like Hamilton earlier, but the ‘offs’ so far have been limited.
Hamilton just kicks out the gravel, too, as he searches for rhythm and handling in his new Ferrari!
Alex Albon goes quickest!
09:17
,
Kieran Jackson
The Williams driver, in his fourth season with the team, goes quickest with a 1:31:537 - a mere 0.001 secs faster than Red Bull’s Liam Lawson!
Every car, bar Lawson, on a medium tyre as we start the second half of this morning session!
Lewis Hamilton goes second fastest!
08:42
,
Kieran Jackson
The Ferrari goes 0.040 secs off Albon’s time on the hard tyre, but then skews off the track on his cool-down lap!
It’s windy in Bahrain, so perhaps a strong tailwind out there on track for the drivers to deal with early on!
Alex Albon goes quickest!
08:04
,
Kieran Jackson
With a time of 1:32.862, Albon tops the leaderboard for Williams after an hour!
Aston Martin officially launch 2025 car!
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