F1: McLaren’s Lando Norris Leads Opening Day of Bahrain Pre-Season Testing
The 2025 F1 Bahrain test saw a two-hour stoppage due to a power failure, affecting floodlights and facilities, leading to an extended session by an hour.
By Divyam Dubey
Lando Norris set the fastest time on the first day of Formula 1 pre-season testing in Bahrain, despite a power outage that briefly halted proceedings. The McLaren driver led by 0.157 seconds over Mercedes’ George Russell, with Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc completing the top four. A sudden electrical failure caused an hour-long stoppage in the afternoon, turning the pit lane into darkness and disrupting team schedules. Mechanics scrambled to adapt, but the lost time was later added to the session’s end to ensure more track action. Mercedes’ 18-year-old rookie Andrea Kimi Antonelli was impressed by topping the morning session and finishing seventh overall.
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Lewis Hamilton, also running in the morning when times were generally slower, placed fifth. However, test times are not always reliable indicators of actual race performance due to differing strategies.
Hamilton’s high-profile switch to Ferrari remains a major storyline. The 40-year-old left Mercedes after 12 years, where he won six of his seven world titles. He has teamed up with Leclerc for 2025, adding more excitement to the season.
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The morning session also featured key drivers like Liam Lawson (Red Bull), Oscar Piastri (McLaren), and Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin). Their laps provided valuable data as teams fine-tuned their cars for the upcoming season.
| Pos | Driver | Team | Time | Laps |
| 1 | Lando Norris | McLaren | 1m30.430s | 52 |
| 2 | George Russell | Mercedes | 1m30.587s | 70 |
| 3 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull | 1n30.674s | 74 |
| 4 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari | 1m30.878s | 71 |
| 5 | Carlos Sainz | Williams | 1m30.955s | 68 |
| 6 | Pierre Gasly | Alpine | 1m31.353s | 72 |
| 7 | Andrea Kimi Antonelli | Mercedes | 1m31.428s | 78 |
| 8 | Liam Lawson | Red Bull | 1m31.560s | 58 |
| 9 | Alex Albon | Williams | 1m31.573s | 63 |
| 10 | Yuki Tsunoda | Racing Bulls | 1m31.610s | 78 |
| 11 | Isack Hadjar | Racing Bulls | 1m31.631s | 76 |
| 12 | Gabriel Bortoleto | Sauber | 1m31.690s | 59 |
| 13 | Lewis Hamilton | Ferrari | 1m31.834s | 70 |
| 14 | Jack Doohan | Alpine | 1m31.841s | 68 |
| 15 | Fernando Alonso | Aston Martin | 1m31.874s | 46 |
| 16 | Lance Stroll | Aston Martin | 1m31.949s | 42 |
| 17 | Oscar Piastri | McLaren | 1m32.084s | 66 |
| 18 | Nico Hulkenberg | Sauber | 1m32.169s | 55 |
| 19 | Esteban Ocon | Haas | 1m33.600s | 88 |
| 20 | Oliver Bearman | Haas | 1m35.522s | 72 |
Each team can only run one car at a time during testing, making every lap crucial. The test sessions allow teams to assess performance, gather data, and make necessary adjustments before the season opener.
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With Day 1 complete, teams now focus on Day 2 of testing. As Bahrain hosts more track action, fans and analysts eagerly watch for further clues about the pecking order for the 2025 season.
