The 2025 Formula 1 season officially got underway with the first day of winter testing in Bahrain. In unusually cool conditions for Sakhir—temperatures ranging between 18°C and 27°C—and with typically gusty winds, all 10 teams showcased remarkably reliable cars. However, as this phase is primarily about experimentation, it remains far too early to draw definitive conclusions.
While this opening day confirmed the field remains highly competitive, some early insights have emerged, notably McLaren’s strong showing, Red Bull and Mercedes’ cautious approach, and signs of progress among several midfield teams.
McLaren Sets the Pace Despite a Slow Start
McLaren’s day began slowly, with the team taking several hours before setting a representative lap time. But once Lando Norris finally pushed, he quickly took control, posting a 1m30.430s, 0.4s clear of the field at that stage. Although the gap shrank to 0.157s by the end of the session, the MCL38 left a lasting impression.
McLaren CEO Zak Brown acknowledged the team was testing bold innovations:
“We’ve introduced some pretty daring concepts, so we need to validate that they work properly.”
Once that process was completed, the car proved formidable, demonstrating excellent stability and strong traction on corner exits—crucial for Bahrain. After Norris’ quick lap, McLaren shifted its focus to long runs, allowing Max Verstappen (Red Bull) and George Russell (Mercedes) to close in on the timesheets.
Red Bull: Uncertainty but Clear Potential
The RB21 appeared unsettled, particularly in the hands of Liam Lawson, who suffered a spin, as did Isack Hadjar. Verstappen, while competitive, at times struggled to get the front of the car to respond, notably at the exit of Turn 10.
Red Bull technical director Pierre Wache confirmed the team was experimenting with setup changes:
“We tested different configurations—one with Liam in the morning and another with Max in the afternoon—to build a solid foundation for the next few days.”
On long runs with C3 tires, Verstappen’s average pace was 0.4s quicker than Norris’, though fuel loads remain unknown. Despite visible updates—**a reshaped air intake, halo-mounted winglets, revised engine cover, and tweaked beam wing—the RB21 is an evolution rather than a revolution of the RB20.
Christian Horner confirmed this approach:
“This is fundamentally the car we will run at the start of the season.”
Rather than overhauling its concept, Red Bull has opted for refinement, likely in anticipation of the major regulation changes coming in 2026.
Mercedes: Promising Yet Cautious
George Russell and Kimi Antonelli showed encouraging pace in the W16. The young Italian, though occasionally untidy—most notably with a major braking error at Turn 10—quickly gained confidence.
Russell ended the day with the second-fastest time, expressing a positive feeling about the car:
“This is the best a Mercedes has ever felt on this circuit. But we’re staying cautious—cooler conditions have always suited us in the past.”
Indeed, Mercedes has often thrived in lower temperatures, as seen in its dominant Las Vegas performance in 2024. More representative conditions will be needed to truly assess the W16‘s competitiveness.
Ferrari: A Day of Setup Work and Adaptation for Hamilton
At Ferrari, Charles Leclerc posted the fourth-fastest time, though his early afternoon lap was likely not representative of the SF-25’s potential. The Italian team appeared to be running heavier fuel loads than its rivals during long stints.
Lewis Hamilton, in his first official outing for Ferrari, finished further down the order. His adaptation wasn’t without challenges, with several mistakes and a car that initially understeered before becoming unstable when adjustments were made later in the day. Still, his commitment never wavered.
The former Mercedes driver acknowledged he still has much to learn about the SF-25 and Ferrari’s approach to setup. The team remains confident that the car’s potential will become clearer as testing progresses.
Alpine, Williams, and Aston Martin: A Tight Midfield Battle
The midfield remains highly competitive. Alpine made a strong impression, with Pierre Gasly setting a top-six time and reporting a positive feeling with the A524. The team introduced notable updates, including a reworked floor and minor aerodynamic refinements.
Williams also showed promise, though its car appeared more nervous than its direct rivals, particularly under braking.
Aston Martin, meanwhile, completed fewer laps than planned, but feedback from Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll was encouraging. The car appears significantly more stable than its 2024 predecessor, particularly in Sector 2’s high-speed sections.
Haas and Sauber Struggling but Hard to Judge
Haas ended the day slowest on the timesheets, though the team focused primarily on high-fuel long runs. Ollie Bearman faced challenging conditions, while Esteban Ocon continued the program in the afternoon.
Sauber, soon to be Audi F1 Team, failed to impress. The car struggled on corner entry and exit, potentially hindering traction and stability. It remains to be seen whether these issues persist over the coming days or if they were simply the result of specific setup choices.
A Drama-Free First Day, Despite a Power Outage
Unusually, the session ran smoothly with no major incidents—except for an unexpected power outage late in the afternoon. For nearly an hour, the entire paddock was plunged into darkness after nightfall, temporarily halting the session. While an uncommon occurrence, it had no significant impact on the teams’ programs.
Conclusion: McLaren Impresses, but the Hierarchy Remains Unclear
If there were to be a symbolic “winner” of day one, it would be McLaren, with a package that appeared both fast and well-balanced. Red Bull remains in contention but will need to address the RB21’s stability, while Mercedes left a strong impression, albeit in conditions that historically suit the team.
Ferrari seems to have a solid foundation but still requires refinements, while Alpine and Williams showed encouraging signs in the midfield battle.
The upcoming test days will provide a clearer picture of the competitive order, but one thing is certain: the 2025 season is shaping up to be more competitive than ever.
| 1 | McLaren | Strongest initial impression; best traction and consistency. |
| 2 | Mercedes | Very balanced; drivers confident; conditions favorable. |
| 3 | Red Bull | Fast but a bit unstable on the limit; needs refinement. |
| 4 | Ferrari | Good start, but setup adjustments required. |
| 5 | Williams | Best of the rest; lively but still some instability. |
| 6 | Alpine | Consistent and competitive; tight midfield battle. |
| 7 | Aston Martin | Promising glimpses but lacked extensive running. |
| 8 | Racing Bulls | Struggled with consistency; not fully sorted. |
| 9 | Sauber | Showed limitations in corner entry and traction. |
| 10 | Haas | Slowest but focused on long-run data collection. |
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