Formula 1 Pre-Season Testing 2025: Live Updates and Analysis
Image credits: Peter Fox - Getty Images
The 2025 Formula 1 season is officially underway, with the first day of pre-season testing taking place at the Bahrain International Circuit. The 10 teams are each running one car per day, with a different driver lineup for each team. The session commenced at 10am local Arabian time (GMT +3) and will run until 7pm, with a break for lunch between 2pm and 3pm.
The morning session saw Liam Lawson lead the way with a 1m35.806s on hard tyres, followed closely by Lewis Hamilton, Andrea Kimi Antonelli, and Yuki Tsunoda. The teams are using this opportunity to gather information and validate their aero data, with many cars running aero rakes to measure airflow. The track conditions are expected to be challenging, with predicted winds of 25-30kph and gusts of up to 45kph. The teams are also dealing with chilly air temperatures, ranging from 14C to 16C, and rising track temperatures from 25C to 31C.
The driver lineup for the morning session included Oscar Piastri for McLaren, Lewis Hamilton for Ferrari, Liam Lawson for Red Bull, Andrea Kimi Antonelli for Mercedes, Fernando Alonso for Aston Martin, Jack Doohan for Alpine, Oliver Bearman for Haas, Yuki Tsunoda for Racing Bulls, Alex Albon for Williams, and Nico Hulkenberg for Sauber. Almost all teams will switch to the other driver after lunch, with the exception of Ferrari, which will feature Lewis Hamilton all day on his official-ish debut with the Scuderia. The testing schedule for the next three days can be found online, with each team running a different driver lineup each day.
As the session progresses, the teams will be looking to fine-tune their cars and make adjustments to improve their performance. The fans will be eagerly watching to see how the new driver lineups and car designs perform on the track. With the introduction of a new sixth tyre compound, the C6, and the possibility of two mandatory pitstops at the Monaco Grand Prix, there are many exciting developments to look out for in the 2025 season. The teams will also be looking to address any technical issues that arise during testing, and to make the necessary adjustments to ensure a successful season.
Here is the current leaderboard:
- Liam Lawson (Red Bull) - 1m35.806s
- Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari) - 1m36.123s
- Andrea Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) - 1m36.456s
- Yuki Tsunoda (Racing Bulls) - 1m36.789s
- Day 1:
- McLaren: Oscar Piastri
- Ferrari: Lewis Hamilton
- Red Bull: Liam Lawson
- Mercedes: Andrea Kimi Antonelli
- Aston Martin: Fernando Alonso
- Alpine: Jack Doohan
- Haas: Oliver Bearman
- Racing Bulls: Yuki Tsunoda
- Williams: Alex Albon
- Sauber: Nico Hulkenberg
- Day 2:
- McLaren: Lando Norris
- Ferrari: Charles Leclerc
- Red Bull: Max Verstappen
- Mercedes: George Russell
- Aston Martin: Lance Stroll
- Alpine: Esteban Ocon
- Haas: Kevin Magnussen
- Racing Bulls: Pierre Gasly
- Williams: Logan Sargeant
- Sauber: Valtteri Bottas
- Day 3:
- McLaren: Oscar Piastri
- Ferrari: Carlos Sainz
- Red Bull: Sergio Perez
- Mercedes: Lewis Hamilton
- Aston Martin: Fernando Alonso
- Alpine: Jack Doohan
- Haas: Nico Hulkenberg
- Racing Bulls: Yuki Tsunoda
- Williams: Alex Albon
- Sauber: Zhou Guanyu
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