Bahrain has stepped up as the new hub for F1 winter testing. With its pleasant weather and central location in the Middle East, it’s a great spot for teams to prepare before sending their cars off for the season opener. This year is different, though. Due to Ramadan, the season kicks off in Melbourne on March 16 instead of Bahrain.
This week, all ten teams will test their cars at the Bahrain International Circuit for three days, from Wednesday to Friday. Each team will bring one car each day for testing. This means drivers will only get about one and a half days on track, which is crucial for the new rookies in 2025.
Testing kicks off daily at 07:00 GMT and runs until 11:00 GMT. After a one-hour break, teams continue testing from 12:00 to 16:00 GMT.
Teams and Tyres for the 2025 Bahrain Test
Here’s a quick overview of which tyres each team has selected:
- McLaren: C1, C2, C3, C4
- Ferrari: C1, C2, C3, C4, C5, C6
- Red Bull: C1, C2, C3, C4
- Mercedes: C1, C2, C3, C4
- Aston Martin: C1, C2, C4, Wet
- Alpine: C1, C2, C3
- Haas: C1, C2, C3, C4, Inter, Wet
- Racing Bulls: C1, C2, C3, C4
- Williams: C1, C2, C3, Wet
- Sauber: C1, C2, C3, C4
Tyre colors: C1: white, C2: white, C3: yellow, C4: yellow, C5: red, C6: red, Intermediate: green, Wet: blue.
Key Highlights for Day 1
On Day 1, several exciting events are set to unfold:
Rookies on Track: This will be the first full F1 season for several rookie drivers, including Lawson, Bearman, and Doohan, who all have some race experience. Meanwhile, Antonelli, Hadjar, and Bortoleto are brand new to the sport. Their performance on Wednesday will be crucial as they gain valuable track time.
Hamilton Clicks into Gear: Lewis Hamilton is set to debut with Ferrari, driving the new SF-25. His performance will be closely watched as he transitions from Mercedes to Ferrari.
New Driver Combinations: With recent changes in teams, fans will see fresh faces in different cars. Hulkenberg returns to Sauber, while Lawson, Ocon, and Sainz will test with Red Bull, Haas, and Williams respectively.
Performance Insights: While test times should be taken lightly, fans will eagerly analyze laps for hints of speed and reliability. Last year’s troubles for Williams may improve, especially after a successful car shakedown.
Pirelli’s Tyres Under Scrutiny: The test gives Pirelli a chance to evaluate all its 2025 compounds. Notably, only Ferrari and Williams have selected the new C6 compound, and Aston Martin and Haas are the only teams with wet-weather tyres available.
Check out this related article: Shad Khan Remains Unfazed by Inexperienced Jaguars Leadership: What This Means for the Team’s Future
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