McLaren’s pace in Bahrain testing hints at early dominance, while Ferrari and Mercedes chase. Red Bull’s struggles leave questions unanswered ahead of 2025.
The second day of 2025 Formula 1 pre-season testing in Bahrain provided a clearer picture of the emerging competitive order. While some teams remain in an exploratory phase, others have already revealed glimpses of their true performance—particularly McLaren, Ferrari, and Mercedes, all of whom completed full race simulations.
F1 2025 Pre-Season Testing – Day Two in Bahrain: McLaren Impresses, Ferrari and Mercedes Observe
The second day of 2025 Formula 1 pre-season testing in Bahrain provided a clearer picture of the emerging competitive order. While some teams remain in an exploratory phase, others have already revealed glimpses of their true performance—particularly McLaren, Ferrari, and Mercedes, all of whom completed full race simulations.
McLaren Appears to Have the Edge
Lando Norris once again impressed, delivering a race simulation that was both faster and more consistent than those of Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) and Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes).
While Norris’s advantage in the final stint may partially stem from tire selection—running C2s while Ferrari and Mercedes opted for C1s—his pace over the first two stints suggests the MCL38 holds an intrinsic advantage. On average, Norris was:
- 0.4s faster than Ferrari and Mercedes in the first stint, when all three were on C3s.
- 0.2s quicker in the second stint, despite using a harder compound (C1 compared to C2 for his rivals).
- Over 1s ahead in the final stint—an impressive margin, though possibly amplified by a more aggressive engine mode.
Telemetry data showed Norris was significantly quicker on the straights in his final stint, reaching 291 km/h into Turn 4 compared to 286 km/h in the previous stint, suggesting McLaren was experimenting with different engine and aero configurations.
Although Red Bull was unable to provide a direct comparison due to Liam Lawson’s hydraulic issues, early indications suggest McLaren is in a very strong position.
Ferrari and Mercedes Holding Back but Keeping Close
At Ferrari, Leclerc and Hamilton continued their work on understanding the SF-25. Hamilton, in particular, showed good progress, ending the day with a very positive feeling about the car.
- Leclerc completed his race simulation, staying close to Norris’s pace in the first two stints but dropping significant time toward the end.
- Hamilton set the second-fastest time of the day, 0.050s quicker than Leclerc, with his adaptation to the Ferrari appearing seamless.
On the Mercedes side, Kimi Antonelli impressed in his first full race simulation on competitive tires. His pace was on par with Leclerc’s and even faster than Liam Lawson’s earlier Red Bull runs. While he made some errors and still needs to refine his tire management, Mercedes has reason to be optimistic about both its young driver and the potential of the W16.
Williams Impresses but Remains an Unknown
Carlos Sainz set the fastest time of the day with an impressive lap, even outpacing the Ferraris. However, this performance should be viewed with caution:
- Williams appears to have run a lighter fuel load, according to Alex Albon.
- The team avoided full race simulations, instead focusing on 8 to 10-lap runs.
- Nevertheless, Williams looks far better prepared than last year and could emerge as an early-season disruptor.
- The improved aerodynamic package and integration of the new Mercedes rear suspension have given the car greater stability and performance compared to 2024.
Red Bull on the Backfoot for Now
Max Verstappen did not drive today, while Liam Lawson suffered a water pressure issue, disrupting Red Bull’s program. This prevented any direct comparison with McLaren, Ferrari, and Mercedes.
It remains unclear whether Red Bull is genuinely on the backfoot or simply keeping its cards close to its chest—something the team has often done during pre-season testing in recent years.
The Midfield Pack: A Work in Progress
- Alpine remains in an observational phase, with Jack Doohan performing well but under pressure following Franco Colapinto’s arrival as a reserve driver.
- Sauber continues to struggle. Gabriel Bortoleto had difficulty stabilizing the car, which appears to lack consistency and balance.
- Aston Martin & Haas have provided little to analyze so far, with no strong signs of competitiveness.
McLaren Looks Like the Team to Beat
McLaren appears to have found something special this winter. Not only was Norris the fastest in race pace, but the team also seems confident, showing no interest in chasing outright lap times.
Ferrari and Mercedes remain in contention and are working to close the gap, while Williams could emerge as a surprise if its qualifying pace holds up.
Red Bull remains the biggest unknown of testing, and the final day will be crucial to see whether the reigning champions can respond to McLaren.
The battle for 2025 is well and truly underway!
| Team | Key Takeaways |
|---|---|
| McLaren | Strongest team so far; Norris dominated race simulation. Significant straight-line speed advantage in final stint. |
| Ferrari | Close to McLaren in first two stints; Hamilton adapting well. Leclerc’s pace dropped in final stint. |
| Mercedes | Antonelli impressed in race simulation, matching Leclerc. Needs refinement in tire management. |
| Williams | Sainz set fastest lap, but likely with lower fuel. No full race simulation yet. Improved aero and stability. |
| Red Bull | Lawson suffered a water pressure issue. No direct performance comparison available. Unclear status. |
| Alpine | Still in an observation phase. Doohan under pressure after Colapinto’s arrival as reserve driver. |
| Sauber | Struggling with balance and consistency. Bortoleto had trouble stabilizing the car. |
| Aston Martin & Haas | Limited data available. No strong signs of competitiveness so far. |
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