Day 2 — Morning times

New York Times

27-02-2025

Follow updates from day two of Formula One's sole preseason test in Sakhir ahead of the 2025 season, with Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton fastest this morning
Carlos Sainz's Williams (1:29.366) superseded the morning best of Lewis Hamilton, in the afternoon session of preseason testing in Bahrain.
Hamilton's 1:29.379 in his new Ferrari was the fastest lap of the morning, while George Russell's Mercedes had racked up the most laps at 71 — arguably a more valuable currency from testing.
All 10 teams and the majority of the 20 drivers will take to the Bahrain International Circuit today in their new cars over two sessions, bidding to complete as much running as possible before the chequered flag on testing's final day tomorrow.
Lando Norris' McLaren (1:30.430) posted the quickest lap time after the opening day's running yesterday, with Haas (160) completing the most laps.
Barring any delays, today's afternoon session is scheduled to finish at 11am ET (4pm GMT). Watch: ESPN (U.S.), Sky Sports (UK)
ESPN (U.S.), Sky Sports (UK) Next: Round 1 — Australia (March 14-16)
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F1 preseason testing 101: Where teams showcase (and conceal) their 2025 pace
I know. Times mean nothing in testing but everyone wants to see them right?
Here you go. These are the best lap times set by each driver this morning — and yes, we are into the 1:29s… 1: Lewis HAMILTON (FER) — 1:29.379
2: George Russell (MER) — 1:29.778
(MER) — 1:29.778 3: Carlos Sainz (WIL) — 1:30.090
(WIL) — 1:30.090 4: Pierre Gasly (ALP) — 1:30.430
5: Fernando Alonso (AST) — 1:30.700
6: Yuki Tsunoda (RB) — 1:30.793
7: Oscar Piastri (MCL) — 1:30.821
8: Liam Lawson (RBR) — 1:31.233
9: Nico Hulkenberg (SAU) — 1:31.457
10: Esteban Ocon (HAS) — 1:33.071
The benchmarks here are significantly quicker than yesterday — as we'd expert. Once again, Haas were going for high fuel race runs — as were Williams after a few performance stints earlier in the session.
As per yesterday, the comparisons come the teammates and this afternoon's chequered flag will still be interesting.
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As we should all know by now, testing is all about data and track running. In other words, laps.
Here is how the lap counts looked from that latest morning session: 71 laps — GEORGE RUSSELL (MER)
— 69 — Esteban Ocon (HAS)
— Esteban Ocon (HAS) 56 — Nico Hulkenberg (SAU)
— Nico Hulkenberg (SAU) 46 — Yuki Tsunoda (RB)
— Yuki Tsunoda (RB) 45 — Lewis Hamilton (FER), Fernando Alonso (AST)
— Lewis Hamilton (FER), Fernando Alonso (AST) 44 — Carlos Sainz (WIL), Oscar Piastri (MCL)
— Carlos Sainz (WIL), Oscar Piastri (MCL) 40 — Pierre Gasly (ALP)
— Pierre Gasly (ALP) 28 — Liam Lawson (RBR)
That number at the bottom isn't great news for Red Bull or Lawson, who won't get a go in the RB21 tomorrow.
The barriers went up outside the garage, which usually means a floor issue as a minimum. Lawson will be hoping for some catch-up running come the afternoon session.
It is done. The running and test starts are finished — and so ends a cold, windy, rain-interrupted morning session on day two of preseason testing in Bahrain.
He are halfway through the three days of running.
Time for talking and lunch, before the afternoon's four-hour session begins in 60 minutes' time.
We'll also have those morning lap counts and times on the way for you next.
A little bit of a switch-up in the final minutes of the morning session here, with a planned red flag to end the current timed laps.
That allows for the drivers (those who wish to participate) to line up in the pit lane, before heading out onto the grid for some practice starts.
But for all intents and purposes, this session is over in terms of timed laps.
Once the drivers are done, it is the turn of the team principals from 2:30pm (local time). Here is who has the day two slot: Andy Cowell (Aston Martin)
(Aston Martin) Ayao Komatsu (Haas)
(Haas) Fred Vasseur (Ferrari)
(Ferrari) James Vowles (Williams)
(Williams) Toto Wolff (Mercedes)
Although I've given you the times in Bahrain there, these pressers are basically coming up in the next 15 minutes.
Our correspondent in Bahrain, Luke Smith , will be in situ for both — and we will bring you all the key lines here during the coming hours.
Each day's test running in Bahrain is going to be split into two four-hour sessions — one a.m. and one p.m.
We are now into the final minutes of this morning's slot, before the afternoon begins in an hour's time. And the bit in the middle? That is saved for press conferences. There will be two, with five drivers followed by five team principals.
Here is who we will get today — starting with the drivers at 2:05pm (local time): Alex Albon (Williams)
(Williams) Jack Doohan (Alpine)
(Alpine) Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)
(Ferrari) Lando Norris (McLaren)
(McLaren) Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
None of those five drivers will have driven this morning. In fact, Albon and Verstappen will not be back in their respective cars until the final day of testing in Sakhir tomorrow.
The start of preseason testing in Bahrain yesterday was a major landmark in the lead-up to the new Formula One season, giving all 10 teams a first opportunity to complete extended running with their new cars.
With the season opener in Australia just weeks away, every lap at Bahrain International Circuit across all three days is precious. All eyes were on Lewis Hamilton during the first session as he embarked on the next step following his big move to Ferrari.
He completed 70 laps and finished the morning fifth, 0.406 seconds off the session's pace-setter (and his successor at Mercedes), Andrea Kimi Antonelli.
A circuit-wide power outage suspended the second session with two hours left in the day, creating an unusual and frustrating setback. Once the power returned, teams were given an extra hour of running to make up for the lost time.
Lando Norris ended the day fastest for McLaren, followed by Mercedes' George Russell and Red Bull's Max Verstappen.
Our experts — Luke Smith in Bahrain and Madeline Coleman watching on — analyze the day in full below.
GO FURTHER
F1 preseason testing: What we learned from Day 1 as Lewis Hamilton adapts to Ferrari red
Testing in warm and dry Bahrain means teams are typically guaranteed perfect conditions — although this test, as well as Formula Two's Bahrain test last year, have now been hit by rain.
The forecast for this week had shown temperatures around the mid 60s (Fahrenheit, around 18 degrees Celsius). Yesterday was overcast as expected and there was always a chance of rain in Sakhir this morning. However, tomorrow should be sunny.
Typically teams set their fastest times towards the end of each session, particularly on the final day when conditions cool slightly compared to the warmest points.
As for the track, Bahrain International Circuit's diverse layout tests nearly every part of the car. It features long straights and a mix of high and low-speed turns, but it can also be demanding on the tires due to the abrasive track surface.
GO FURTHER
F1 preseason testing 101: Where teams showcase (and conceal) their 2025 pace
As usual, the inbox is always open for your comments and questions. Simply send them into [e-mail] and I'll make sure they all get a read.
We also have a Discussion page up and running for the duration of preseason testing in Bahrain.
You can head in there to discuss the track action, what you're making of the new cars and drivers, ask us questions on day two and talk to other F1 fans.
The link is below. Go and enjoy!
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F1 preseason testing: Chat, ask questions as cars run in Bahrain
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Given we are more than halfway through this four-hour morning session, let's bring you up to speed with the current lap counts: 42 laps — GEORGE RUSSELL (MER)
— 33 — Esteban Ocon (HAS)
— Esteban Ocon (HAS) 31 — Nico Hulkenberg (SAU)
— Nico Hulkenberg (SAU) 26 — Liam Lawson (RBR)
— Liam Lawson (RBR) 25 — Lewis Hamilton (FER)
— Lewis Hamilton (FER) 24 — Yuki Tsunoda (RB), Fernando Alonso (AST)
— Yuki Tsunoda (RB), Fernando Alonso (AST) 22 — Pierre Gasly (ALP)
— Pierre Gasly (ALP) 20 — Carlos Sainz (WIL), Oscar Piastri (MCL)
McLaren being at the bottom of the lap counts today would not be ideal, given the team's curtailed running on day one. But at least most are running similar numbers.
There are currently seven cars out on track.
It's a slippery track in patches now, but the rain has eased and we've got cars heading out on track in slicks.
Which I think we can all agree is progress.
Alpine team principal Oliver Oakes spent a chunk of yesterday standing up for his team's new driver and F1 rookie, Jack Doohan. This was in the lunchtime press conference, and then in a paddock chat with Sky Sports shortly afterwards.
Doohan has been under significant scrutiny already — primarily because of Franco Colapinto also being signed by the team as its reserve driver, his key sponsor joining the team, and a background narrative that the Argentine driver will be back on the grid at the first available opportunity.
Still, here's what Oakes had to say:
💬 'You lot have quizzed Jack quite hard about that, so credit to him. He's kept his head down and got on with his winter and doing his job.
'This morning, he did a brilliant job for the team out there… All these stories about Franco and all of that, Jack's got his chance, and I look forward to seeing him race this season.'
Oakes shook his head at that question afterwards, before quibbling with Christian Horner who was sat next to him. He then added this in his interview with Sky Sports moments later:
💬 'I mean, I feel for Jack (Doohan) quite a lot at the moment. He's getting a bit of flak and it's not fair. At the end of the day, he's getting his (full) debut in F1.
'It's been a quiet winter, so obviously that's been a news story. And Franco (Colapinto) is a popular kid as well. So people want to see him in the car. From my side, it's really good to have Jack with us. He's come through our academy.
'He did a good job in Abu Dhabi and even this morning. Credit to him because he's just shutting all that noise out and getting on with it, which is really good.'
The rain has been growing slightly heavier in the last hour or so, spitting a bit more consistently.
It's not quite 'shoot, where's my umbrella?' weather yet but you can definitely feel it in the paddock.
While the 2025 calendar doesn't look a whole lot different to last year bar switching the order of the opening few races, the driver lineup does.
Here is a reminder of who will be driving what in Formula One over all 24 races of the coming year (or at least, that will be the plan right now — sorry Jack): Red Bull: Max VERSTAPPEN / Liam LAWSON*
Max VERSTAPPEN / Liam LAWSON* Ferrari: Charles LECLERC / Lewis HAMILTON
Charles LECLERC / Lewis HAMILTON McLaren: Lando NORRIS / Oscar PIASTRI
Lando NORRIS / Oscar PIASTRI Mercedes: George RUSSELL / Andrea Kimi ANTONELLI*
George RUSSELL / Andrea Kimi ANTONELLI* Aston Martin: Fernando ALONSO / Lance STROLL
Fernando ALONSO / Lance STROLL Racing Bulls: Yuki TSUNODA / Isack HADJAR*
Yuki TSUNODA / Isack HADJAR* Haas: Oliver BEARMAN* / Esteban OCON
Oliver BEARMAN* / Esteban OCON Alpine: Pierre GASLY / Jack DOOHAN*
Pierre GASLY / Jack DOOHAN* Williams: Alex ALBON / Carlos SAINZ
Alex ALBON / Carlos SAINZ Sauber: Nico HULKENBERG / Gabriel BORTOLETO*
* full-season rookie driver
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We have had a good bit of running so far, with Carlos Sainz's Williams showing some nice pace as George Russell and Esteban Ocon rack up the laps for Mercedes and Haas.
But you're not missing much out there in Sakhir right now. Not only is there rain, but actually a fair bit of it.
Enough to leave all of this morning's 10 cars field parked in the garages.
Australia was always due to take over hosting duties for the 2025 F1 season opener, due to the timing of Ramadan through March next year that meant Bahrain and Saudi Arabia's races had to take place later than usual.
It will be the first time Australia has hosted the opening grand prix of the F1 season since 2019. The Melbourne race was once the traditional curtain-raiser for F1, only for that role to be taken over by Bahrain in recent years.
Besides the reshuffle of the early-season races, the calendar is largely unchanged from 2024, which at 24 races will be the longest in the sport's history.
The next new race to join the calendar will be Madrid in 2026, when it becomes the host of the Spanish Grand Prix.
GO FURTHER
Formula 1 2025 schedule: 24-race calendar revealed with Australia to stage opener
Let's remind you of the calendar for the 2025 F1 season looks like — especially given there is a disrupted early order.
Get your diary out and make sure you've got these dates in it: 1: Australia (Melbourne) — Mar 14-16
(Melbourne) — Mar 14-16 2: China (Shanghai) — Mar 21-23
(Shanghai) — Mar 21-23 3: Japan (Suzuka) — Apr 4-6
(Suzuka) — Apr 4-6 4: Bahrain (Sakhir) — Apr 11-13
(Sakhir) — Apr 11-13 5: Saudi Arabia (Jeddah) — Apr 18-20
(Jeddah) — Apr 18-20 6: Miami (Florida) — May 2-4
(Florida) — May 2-4 7: Emilia-Romagna (Imola) — May 16-18
(Imola) — May 16-18 8: Monaco (Monte Carlo) — May 23-25
(Monte Carlo) — May 23-25 9: Spain (Barcelona) — May 30-Jun 1
(Barcelona) — May 30-Jun 1 10: Canada (Montreal) — Jun 13-15
(Montreal) — Jun 13-15 11: Austria (Spielberg) — Jun 27-29
(Spielberg) — Jun 27-29 12: Britain (Silverstone) — Jul 4-6
(Silverstone) — Jul 4-6 13: Belgium (Spa) — Jul 25-27
(Spa) — Jul 25-27 14: Hungary (Hungaroring) — Aug 1-3
(Hungaroring) — Aug 1-3 15: Netherlands (Zandvoort) — Aug 29-31
(Zandvoort) — Aug 29-31 16: Italy (Monza) — Sep 5-7
(Monza) — Sep 5-7 17: Azerbaijan (Baku) — Sep 19-21
(Baku) — Sep 19-21 18: Singapore (Marina Bay) — Oct 3-5
(Marina Bay) — Oct 3-5 19: United States (Austin) — Oct 17-19
(Austin) — Oct 17-19 20: Mexico (Mexico City) — Oct 24-26
(Mexico City) — Oct 24-26 21: Brazil (Sao Paulo) — Nov 7-9
(Sao Paulo) — Nov 7-9 22: Las Vegas (Nevada) — Nov 20-22
(Nevada) — Nov 20-22 23: Qatar (Lusail) — Nov 28-30
(Lusail) — Nov 28-30 24: Abu Dhabi (Yas Marina) — Dec 5-7
As you can tell, it's going to be a long year — and hopefully a captivating one too.
Take these with the pinch of salt they deserve. The afternoon session was much quicker due to a greater level of rubber and grip on the track.
There is also no telling how fueled each car was for each fastest lap — while we know Haas were running high-fuel race simulations. Still, here they are! And well done Lando Norris… 1: NORRIS (MCL) — 1:30.430*
2: Russell (MER) — 1:30.587*
3: Verstappen (RBR) — 1:30.674*
4: Leclerc (FER) — 1:30.878*
5: Sainz (WIL) — 1:30.955*
6: Gasly (ALP) — 1:31.353*
7: Antonelli (MER) — 1:31.428
8: Lawson (RBR) — 1:31.560
9: Albon (WIL) — 1:31.573
10: Tsunoda (RB) — 1:31.610
11: Hadjar (RB) — 1:31.631*
12: Bortoleto (SAU) — 1:31.690*
13: Hamilton (FER) — 1:31.834
14: Doohan (ALP) — 1:31.841
15: Alonso (AST) — 1:31.874
16: Stroll (AST) — 1:31.949*
17: Piastri (MCL) — 1:32.084
18: Hulkenberg (SAU) — 1:32.169
19: Ocon (HAS) — 1:33.600*
20: Bearman (HAS) — 1:35.522
* Afternoon session
The comparisons today at the end of the two sessions will be interesting. Especially as any driver finishing today will want to do a quicker run of some sort.
The lap count is king in testing. More laps means more running, more data and more knowledge ahead of the new season and that opening grand prix in Melbourne.
Here's how the 10 teams stacked up the laps on day one across both sessions and with both drivers (a.m.-p.m.): HAAS — 160 laps: BEA 72-88 OCO
— Racing Bulls — 154 : TSU 78-76 HAD
— : TSU 78-76 HAD Mercedes — 148 : ANT 78-70 RUS
— : ANT 78-70 RUS Ferrari — 141 : HAM 70-71 LEC
— : HAM 70-71 LEC Alpine — 140 : DOO 68-72 GAS
— : DOO 68-72 GAS Red Bull — 132 : LAW 58-74 VER
— : LAW 58-74 VER Williams — 131 : ALB 63-68 SAI
— : ALB 63-68 SAI McLaren — 118 : PIA 66-52 NOR
— : PIA 66-52 NOR Sauber — 114 : HUL 55-59 BOR
— : HUL 55-59 BOR Aston Martin — 88: ALO 46-42 STR
Haas were running high-fuel race simulations for both drivers in yesterday's sessions, so it would be expected that they would top this. You would imagine it will be fewer today.
As for Aston Martin, they will be set on catching up after disappointing productivity on day one.