Pre-Season Testing: Lap Times, Gaps, and Mileage Breakdown

Formula 1 pre-season testing revealed crucial insights into team performance, reliability, and one-lap pace. Here’s a detailed look at the key numbers.

Fastest Lap Times by Driver

Pos	Driver	Team	Time	Day
1	Carlos Sainz	Williams	1m29.348s	Day 2
2	Lewis Hamilton	Ferrari	1m29.379s	Day 2
3	Charles Leclerc	Ferrari	1m29.431s	Day 2
4	George Russell	Mercedes	1m29.545s	Day 3
5	Max Verstappen	Red Bull	1m29.566s	Day 3
6	Alex Albon	Williams	1m29.650s	Day 3*
7	Kimi Antonelli	Mercedes	1m29.784s	Day 2
8	Oscar Piastri	McLaren	1m29.940s	Day 3
9	Pierre Gasly	Alpine	1m30.040s	Day 3
10	Lance Stroll	Aston	1m30.229s	Day 2
11	Liam Lawson	Red Bull	1m30.252s	Day 2
12	Jack Doohan	Alpine	1m30.368s	Day 2
13	Yuki Tsunoda	Racing Bulls	1m30.497s	Day 3
14	Isack Hadjar	Racing Bulls	1m30.675s	Day 2*
15	Fernando Alonso	Aston	1m30.700s	Day 2
16	Esteban Ocon	Haas	1m30.728s	Day 3*
17	Lando Norris	McLaren	1m30.882s	Day 2
18	Gabriel Bortoleto	Sauber	1m31.057s	Day 2
19	Nico Hulkenberg	Sauber	1m31.457s	Day 2
20	Ollie Bearman	Haas	1m32.361s	Day 3

Best time on C3 tyres, except Albon, Hadjar, and Ocon, who used C4.

Fastest Lap Times by Driver (Gap to Leader)

Pos	Driver	Dif
1	Carlos Sainz	Leader
2	Lewis Hamilton	+0.031s
3	Charles Leclerc	+0.083s
4	George Russell	+0.197s
5	Max Verstappen	+0.218s
6	Alex Albon	+0.302s
7	Kimi Antonelli	+0.436s
8	Oscar Piastri	+0.592s
9	Pierre Gasly	+0.692s
10	Lance Stroll	+0.881s
11	Liam Lawson	+0.904s
12	Jack Doohan	+1.020s
13	Yuki Tsunoda	+1.149s
14	Isack Hadjar	+1.327s
15	Fernando Alonso	+1.352s
16	Esteban Ocon	+1.380s
17	Lando Norris	+1.534s
18	Gabriel Bortoleto	+1.709s
19	Nico Hulkenberg	+2.109s
20	Ollie Bearman	+3.013s

Fastest Lap Times by Team

Pos	Team	Time
1	Williams	1m29.348s
2	Ferrari	1m29.379s
3	Mercedes	1m29.545s
4	Red Bull	1m29.566s
5	McLaren	1m29.940s
6	Alpine	1m30.040s
7	Aston Martin	1m30.229s
8	Racing Bulls	1m30.497s
9	Haas	1m30.728s

Total Distance Covered by Team

Pos	Team	Toltal Laps
1	Mercedes	458
2	Haas	457
3	Racing Bulls	454
4	Alpine	405
5	Williams	395
6	Ferrari	382
7	McLaren	381
8	Sauber	354
9	Aston Martin	306
10	Red Bull	304

Total Distance Covered by Driver

Pos	Driver	Total Laps
1	Esteban Ocon	260
2	Isack Hadjar	243
3	George Russell	232
4	Kimi Antonelli	226
5	Charles Leclerc	220
6	Yuki Tsunoda	211
7	Jack Doohan	209
8	Alex Albon	200
9	Ollie Bearman	197
10	Pierre Gasly	196
11	Carlos Sainz	195
12	Oscar Piastri	195
13	Lando Norris	186
14	Nico Hulkenberg	180
15	Gabriel Bortoleto	174
16	Fernando Alonso	173
17	Lewis Hamilton	162
18	Max Verstappen	155
19	Liam Lawson	149
20	Lance Stroll	133

Testing Analysis

With pre-season testing now complete, the data from lap times and mileage offers valuable insights into team performance and potential trends heading into the new Formula 1 season. While raw lap times should always be taken with caution, they provide a glimpse into the pecking order, along with reliability and consistency indicators.

Williams and Ferrari Show Promising Pace in One-Lap Performance

The fastest lap times suggest a competitive field at the front, with Carlos Sainz setting the overall quickest time for Williams. Ferrari closely followed, with Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc also near the top of the timesheets.

While Red Bull and Mercedes were not the outright fastest, their lap times remained competitive. The top six drivers were separated by just 0.3 seconds, indicating a tight battle at the front. However, beyond that margin, the gaps began to widen, suggesting a more defined midfield and backmarker split.

Teams’ One-Lap Pace Reflects a Closer Grid Than Expected

Williams’ strong performance on the timesheets is an early talking point, as their outright pace puts them in contention with established frontrunners. Ferrari also looks in good shape, with their drivers consistently at the top.

Red Bull’s relative position suggests they have not yet shown their full hand, opting for longer runs and conservative performance runs. Meanwhile, McLaren and Alpine seem slightly behind on pure one-lap pace, though their full race pace remains to be seen.

Mileage and Reliability: Mercedes, Haas, and Racing Bulls Lead the Way

Mercedes, Haas, and Racing Bulls completed the most laps across testing, indicating strong reliability and well-executed programs. These teams will benefit from the extensive data gathered, which is crucial for refining car setups and tyre management ahead of the season opener.

Conversely, Red Bull and Aston Martin completed the fewest laps, which could suggest either a more cautious testing approach or underlying reliability concerns. While Red Bull is known for keeping its cards close to its chest, a lower lap count compared to its rivals could be a talking point going into the first race.

Driver Workload: Ocon and Young Drivers Maximise Track Time

Esteban Ocon covered the most mileage of any driver, with 260 laps completed. This extensive track time could prove beneficial for Alpine as they fine-tune their setup.

Rookies and younger drivers such as Isack Hadjar, Kimi Antonelli, and Jack Doohan also logged significant laps, highlighting their teams’ focus on development and familiarisation. In contrast, seasoned contenders such as Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton completed fewer laps, likely due to structured testing programs rather than reliability issues.

Key Takeaways Heading into the New Season

• Williams’ unexpected one-lap pace raises questions about their potential competitiveness this season.
• Ferrari appears well-prepared, with consistently strong lap times.
• Red Bull and Mercedes have not yet shown their full potential but remain within range.
• Mileage suggests that Mercedes, Haas, and Racing Bulls have had the smoothest testing periods.
• Lower lap counts for Red Bull and Aston Martin could indicate a different testing approach or possible reliability concerns.
• Several young drivers have gained valuable mileage, which could accelerate their learning curve if called upon during the season.

As always, testing results do not tell the full story. Fuel loads, engine modes, and differing run plans make direct comparisons difficult. However, based on available data, the early indications suggest a competitive start to the season, with a potentially closer fight at the front than initially expected. The opening races will provide a clearer picture of the true pecking order.

• Discover More>F1 2025: Testing Reveals Contenders, Pretenders, and the Battle Lines for Bahrain
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