Five big takeaways from F1’s Bahrain testing bash

TDT | Manama

Email : hussianm@newsofbahrain.com

Formula 1’s pre-season test in Bahrain wrapped up last Friday, leaving teams poring over data from three hectic days at Sakhir. Reliability was the name of the game, battles tightened up, and a few eyebrows were raised.

McLaren: Top Dogs Already?

McLaren walked away from Bahrain looking sharp. They topped the qualifying simulations and owned the long runs, shaking off a slightly lively rear end with ease. Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri kept things smooth, ticking boxes and piling on laps. After last year’s sluggish start derailed their drivers’ title hopes, the reigning champs have a car that’s got real bite from the off. They’re primed for a strong kick-off in Melbourne.

Ferrari’s Title Shout

Ferrari rolled into 2025 with a car that’s got real bite. Charles Leclerc was on it from the jump, tearing up the desert, while Lewis Hamilton—still finding his feet in red—showed flashes of what’s to come. A glitch cut Hamilton’s final run short, but the vibe’s upbeat. Team boss Fred Vasseur’s keeping it cool, but this Prancing Horse looks ready to gallop straight out of the gate.

Williams Step Up

Williams ditched the pre-season woes of old for a rock-solid showing. Carlos Sainz slotted in quickly, Alex Albon stayed steady as ever, and the team logged three clean days. They’re not chasing podiums yet, but they’ve got Alpine in their sights for that ‘best of the rest’ crown. Starting the year in the points looks well within reach—a massive leap forward.

Red Bull Hit Snags

Red Bull aren’t sweating, but they’ve got work to do. A water leak benched Liam Lawson on day two, and Max Verstappen skipped a full race sim to juggle setups. That stubborn understeer lingers, though Verstappen still nabbed second-fastest overall. Tech chief Pierre Wache admitted the car’s not quite there—data pegs them fourth behind Mercedes. It’s early days, but the champs need a tweak or two.

Mercedes Find Their Groove

Mercedes wrapped testing with a quiet buzz. The W16 ran like clockwork, handing rookie Kimi Antonelli a dream debut and George Russell a standout lap. They’re still fourth in line—trailing McLaren, Ferrari, and Red Bull—but the margins are tight, and the car’s predictable. Andrew Shovlin praised the winter overhaul, and while consistency’s the next hurdle, they’re firmly back in the mix.

Factories are lit up late this weekend, crunching numbers from Bahrain. It’s a taste of what’s coming—2025’s got all the makings of a proper scrap.