NEW DELHI: F1 Testing Day 1 kicked off in Bahrain, marking the first real track action before the new season. Teams focused on setup refinement, reliability checks, and performance evaluation. Young talents and veterans alike pushed their cars to the limit, offering key insights into the 2025 pecking order.
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Key Performances
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Andrea Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) – 1st (1:31.428, 78 laps)
Antonelli dominated the session. The Mercedes rookie impressed, showing confidence in his first F1 test. - Liam Lawson (Red Bull) – 2nd (1:31.560, 58 laps)
Red Bull’s reserve driver showed pace. The RB21 remains competitive, but more mileage is needed. - Alex Albon (Williams) – 3rd (1:31.573, 63 laps)
Williams continued its rise. Albon’s pace was strong, matching Red Bull closely. - Yuki Tsunoda (Racing Bulls) – 4th (1:31.610, 77 laps)
Tsunoda put in a consistent run. Racing Bulls showed strong midfield potential. - Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari) – 5th (1:31.843, 70 laps)
Hamilton had a solid test. He gathered valuable data with competitive lap times. - Jack Doohan (Alpine) – 6th (1:31.841, 68 laps)
Alpine’s young talent impressed. Steady laps suggest progress for the team. - Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin) – 7th (1:31.874, 46 laps)
Alonso had limited running, but Aston Martin’s new car looked competitive. - Oscar Piastri (McLaren) – 8th (1:32.084, 72 laps)
McLaren focused on race data. Long-run pace looked solid. - Nico Hulkenberg (Sauber) – 9th (1:32.169, 65 laps)
Sauber was off the pace. More work needed before the first race. - Oliver Bearman (Haas) – 10th (1:35.522, 72 laps)
Haas struggled for one-lap speed. Good mileage but pace needs improvement.
Driver Reactions from F1 Testing Day 1
- Andrea Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes): “Leading the timesheets on my first official F1 test is a surreal experience. The car felt balanced, and I’m eager to build on this momentum.”
- Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari): “Transitioning to Ferrari has been seamless. Today’s session was productive, and I’m optimistic about our potential this season.”
- Liam Lawson (Red Bull): “The car’s performance was impressive right out of the box. I’m looking forward to extracting more in the coming days.”
- Yuki Tsunoda (Racing Bulls): “Completing 77 laps without issues is a positive start. The team’s hard work over the winter is evident.”
- Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin): “Despite the limited laps, the car showed promise. We’ll analyze the data and aim for more mileage tomorrow.”
With two more days of F1 Testing Day 1 action, teams will refine setups for better performance ahead of the season.
