Ahead of the 2025 season, Carlos Sainz led the second day of F1 pre-season testing in Bahrain, narrowly edging out Lewis Hamilton by just 0.031s as Williams continued to turn heads with their strong pace. Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc secured third in the timesheets, ensuring both Ferraris finished in the top three, coming in less than a tenth behind Sainz. Meanwhile, Lando Norris went almost unnoticed while demonstrating McLaren’s true performance, adding further intrigue to the competitive order.
Day Two: Pre-season Testing Highlights
- Carlos Sainz grabbed the days’ headlines with the fastest time for Williams
- Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton sets the morning pace after a more promising run
- McLaren’s long-run pace in the hands of Lando Norris catches the eye of teams up and down the paddock
Hamilton’s best lap came in the morning session, when track conditions were slower, indicating the seven-time world champion is quickly settling into his new Ferrari and looking increasingly comfortable in the SF-25.
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Mercedes also had a solid showing, with George Russell finishing fourth and rookie Kimi Antonelli in fifth, despite the latter experiencing a scruffy afternoon with several lock-ups. The session also saw a rare testing collision, as Oscar Piastri and Nico Hülkenberg made contact at Turn 8 during the morning running.
‘Extraordinary’ Norris Highlights McLaren’s True Pace
Despite intermittent rain creating tricky conditions at the Bahrain International Circuit, Lando Norris delivered an eye-catching performance once the track dried in the final two hours of testing. While he only finished 14th on the timesheets, his race simulation in the afternoon drew significant attention.
Both Charles Leclerc and Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli also completed full race simulations, but their long-run pace lagged behind Norris—losing around one second per lap in the final stint. This suggests McLaren’s tyre management and long-run performance could be a major strength heading into the new season.
The long run pace of Lando Norris certainly caught the attention of Sky Sports F1 pundit Karun Chandhok, who said the McLaren is looking stronger than the Ferrari as things stand.
Comparing Charles Leclerc’s long run to Norris, Chandhok said: “His race run compared to Norris’ is not looking very good. He’s still in the 1:33s on this last stint.
“Even if you say they have a different engine mode, one second per lap [difference]!”
Why Race Simulations Provide the Best Indicator of the Pecking Order
Race simulations are the most reliable way to gauge a team’s true performance because they give a clearer like-for-like comparison between cars. When a driver completes over 50 consecutive laps without returning to the garage, it strongly suggests they started the run with a full or near-full fuel load—similar to real race conditions.
In contrast, a single-lap pace in testing can be misleading since fuel loads are unknown. A quick lap could be the result of a light fuel load, an aggressive engine mode, or a particular tyre compound, making it difficult to judge the car’s true competitiveness. With race simulations, however, teams run consistent fuel levels, providing a better benchmark for comparing long-run pace, tyre management, and overall performance heading into the season.
Red Bull Faces Setbacks as Lawson’s Running is Limited
Red Bull handed Liam Lawson a full day in the RB21, but his track time was compromised, completing just 89 laps over the eight-hour session. A water pressure failure in the morning and additional work in the afternoon restricted his mileage, limiting the team’s data collection.
Reigning world champion Max Verstappen stands to take over for the entire final day of testing on Friday, with Red Bull yet to complete a full race simulation, but with only one day of testing left, the Milton Keynes squad is expected to reveal more of its genuine pace before the season opener.
Day 2: 2025 Pre-Season Testing Bahrain Classification
Day 2 was held on 27 February 2025, between 10:00 am to 2:00 pm and 3:00 pm to 7:00 pm local time.
| Pos | Driver | Nat. | Team | Time | Laps |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Carlos Sainz | ESP | Atlassian Williams Racing | 1m29.348s | 127 |
| 2 | Lewis Hamilton | GBR | Scuderia Ferrari HP | 1m29.379s | 45 |
| 3 | Charles Leclerc | MON | Scuderia Ferrari HP | 1m29.431s | 83 |
| 4 | George Russell | GBR | Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team | 1m29.778s | 71 |
| 5 | Andrea Kimi Antonelli | ITA | Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team | 1m29.784s | 87 |
| 6 | Lance Stroll | CAN | Aston Martin Aramco F1 Team | 1m30.229s | 57 |
| 7 | Liam Lawson | NZL | Oracle Red Bull Racing | 1m30.252s | 91 |
| 8 | Jack Doohan | AUS | BWT Alpine F1 Team | 1m30.368s | 80 |
| 9 | Pierre Gasly | FRA | BWT Alpine F1 Team | 1m30.430s | 40 |
| 10 | Isack Hadjar | FRA | Visa Cash App Racing Bulls F1 Team | 1m30.675s | 94 |
| 11 | Fernando Alonso | ESP | Aston Martin Aramco F1 Team | 1m30.700s | 45 |
| 12 | Yuki Tsunoda | JPN | Visa Cash App Racing Bulls F1 Team | 1m30.793s | 46 |
| 13 | Oscar Piastri | AUS | McLaren F1 Team | 1m30.821s | 44 |
| 14 | Lando Norris | GBR | McLaren F1 Team | 1m30.882s | 77 |
| 15 | Gabriel Bortoleto | BRA | Stake F1 Team Kick Sauber | 1m31.057s | 80 |
| 16 | Nico Hulkenberg | GER | Stake F1 Team Kick Sauber | 1m31.457s | 56 |
| 17 | Esteban Ocon | FRA | MoneyGram Haas F1 Team | 1m33.071s | 69 |
| 18 | Oliver Bearman | GBR | MoneyGram Haas F1 Team | 1m34.372s | 66 |
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