The 2025 Formula 1 pre-season testing thundered into action on Wednesday at the renowned Sakhir Circuit in the heart of Bahrain. The day comprised two adrenaline-pumping sessions, with each of the 10 teams taking to the track in both the morning and afternoon.
However, the afternoon session was injected with an unexpected twist. The 10 drivers, each settled into their respective race cars, faced a sudden halt in proceedings as night began to descend. An unforeseen power cut, wiping an hour off the schedule, brought an unexpected suspense to the first batch of running.
Emerging from this electrifying day of testing, McLaren’s Lando Norris dominated the track, edging out his competitors to end the day as the fastest driver. Norris, with his razor-sharp precision, managed to clock in 0.157 seconds faster than Mercedes’ George Russell. Not far behind was the reigning champion, Max Verstappen, securing third place for Red Bull.
Mercedes and Red Bull, both powerhouse teams in the Formula 1 landscape, made a strong statement with all their cars securing spots in the top-10. Representing Mercedes and Red Bull respectively, Andrea Kimi Antonelli and Liam Lawson drove their way to the seventh and eighth positions.
The Williams team also claimed their stake in the top-10. Carlos Sainz, in a stellar fifth position, and Alex Albon, just tailing at ninth, showcased their collective strength on the track.
Charles Leclerc, of Ferrari fame, maneuvered his car into the fourth slot, while Alpine’s Pierre Gasly claimed the sixth position. Completing the top-10 was Yuki Tsunoda from Racing Bulls.
Here are the full results from Wednesday’s testing:
1. Lando Norris, McLaren, 1:30.430
2. George Russell, Mercedes, 1:30.587
3. Max Verstappen, Red Bull, 1:30.674
4. Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, 1:30.878
5. Carlos Sainz, Williams, 1:30.955
6. Pierre Gasly, Alpine, 1:31.353
7. Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes, 1:31.428
8. Liam Lawson, Red Bull, 1:31.560
9. Alex Albon, Williams, 1:31.573
10. Yuki Tsunoda, Racing Bulls, 1:31.610
This fascinating day of pre-season testing underscores the fierce competition we can expect in the upcoming Formula 1 season. As teams and drivers push their limits in these tests, we look forward to the thrilling races that lie ahead.
