Replacing Barcelona, Bahrain has emerged as the premier location for F1 winter testing, thanks to its favorable and dependable climate and strategic position in the Middle East. After testing, teams will ship their cars out for the season’s opening event. In previous seasons, many teams remained in Bahrain for the initial race; however, due to Ramadan, the 2025 racing calendar has been adjusted, with the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne kicking off the season on March 16.

This week, all ten teams will utilize three days at the Bahrain International Circuit—from Wednesday to Friday—to fine-tune their new vehicles and resolve any issues, conducting tests with one car each day. As a result, drivers will be limited to about a day and a half of track time, which is particularly challenging for the large class of rookies in 2025.

Each testing day will feature a morning session from 07:00 to 11:00 GMT, followed by a lunch break, after which action will resume from 12:00 to 16:00 GMT.

2025 F1 Bahrain Test Line-up

Selected Tyres by Team

Tyre Colors: C1: white (no brackets) — C2: white — C3: yellow (no brackets) — C4: yellow — C5: red (no brackets) — C6: red — Intermediate: green — Wet: blue

Key Highlights of Day 1 (Wednesday)

Rookies Experience F1 Again

Among the six new drivers gearing up for their inaugural full F1 season, three possess prior grand prix experience: Lawson (11 races), Bearman (3 races) and Doohan (1 race). The other trio—Antonelli, Hadjar, and Bortoleto—are true newcomers and will have their first half-day of testing on Wednesday, which is vital for accumulating crucial track mileage. Mercedes will have their Italian talent in the morning, while the Frenchman and the Brazilian are scheduled for the afternoon for Racing Bulls and Sauber, respectively.

Hamilton and Ferrari Steal the Spotlight

It’s been a season of firsts for Lewis Hamilton, as he embarks on his maiden drive with Ferrari, including his debut behind the wheel of the new SF-25. The seven-time world champion’s preparations intensify, and his televised outing with Scuderia will be closely watched as he approaches his first race in red.

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

Photo by: Ferrari

For Hamilton, who faced challenges unlocking the potential of the Mercedes W15 last year, this Bahrain test—being the only significant opportunity for preparation ahead of the Australian Grand Prix—is crucial.

First Glimpses of New Team Dynamics

The 2025 driver market was quite intriguing, and since there has not been any televised testing since the end of last season, fans will see fresh driver-team pairings for the first time. Hulkenberg rejoins Sauber in the morning session for the first time since 2013, while Lawson, Ocon, and Sainz will test for Red Bull, Haas, and Williams in the afternoon.

Initial Insights on Performance and Reliability

While testing times should be viewed with caution, ardent fans will eagerly analyze each lap to gauge the performance of their favorite drivers or teams. Although reliability is not anticipated to be a significant issue this final year of the current technical regulations, surprises can always occur. Williams faced challenges in this area last season due to the late completion of their cars, but recent successful tests, like the Silverstone shakedown, indicate improvements this time around.

Pirelli’s Comprehensive Tyre Evaluation Awaits… Will it Happen?

This test serves as an opportunity for Pirelli to assess its full range of 2025 tyre compounds, even though the manufacturer typically brings only three to each race weekend. This season features six unique compounds, including a new extra-soft C6 rubber. With a minor possibility of rain on Wednesday—currently projected at 10% during Day 1 and peaking at 45% on Day 2—intermediate and wet tyres may be tested as well.

However, only Ferrari and Williams have opted for C5 and C6 tyres, while Aston Martin and Haas are the only teams with wet weather rubber available.