2025 F1 Team Rankings: Who Came Out on Top After Pre-Season Testing?

Three days and nearly 4,000 laps at pre-season testing in Bahrain provide only a glimpse of how Formula 1 teams might perform. Everyone is eager for clearer insights, but they often lean on familiar phrases, saying that qualifying for the Australian Grand Prix is when the real picture will start to emerge.

Even with limited data, teams work hard to gauge where they stand against one another. Our team at The Race enjoys sifting through all the information to get a sense of each team’s performance. We combine data from the Bahrain tests, including both short and long-run pace, observations from the track, chats with drivers, and insights from team members.

While this information is useful, it’s still built on educated guesses. Factors like fuel loads and track conditions can create imbalances, leaving us with a rough assessment based on performances observed in Bahrain—not predictions for Australia. Here’s what we found during testing.

10. Sauber

Sauber struggled as the slowest car, with poor long-run pace and a tricky driving experience. Nico Hulkenberg noted that the car wasn’t easy to handle and admitted they had significant challenges. If qualifying took place today, it’s likely Sauber would face elimination in Q1. However, they are not far off the bottom, and improvements are possible.

9. Aston Martin

Aston Martin showed some signs of progress, particularly in driveability, according to team principal Andy Cowell. But there are still areas needing attention. The team had a disrupted test session, completing only 306 laps, which might have hidden the car’s true potential. Fernando Alonso shared his concerns, hinting that they may struggle as they did last season.

8. Haas

Haas favored longer runs, which made it tough to gauge their single-lap speed. While they finished ninth in raw lap times, they may still be competitive in the midfield. Team principal Ayao Komatsu stated they feel they are in the mix but aren’t sure exactly where. A bodywork issue affected them, but overall, the day ran smoothly, giving them solid groundwork.

7. Racing Bulls

The Racing Bulls are in the midfield but show promise, being just a few tenths off the leaders. They dealt with an understeer issue during the tests, but the car seems reliable, especially in the hands of Yuki Tsunoda, who gathered valuable data.

6. Alpine

Alpine is looking much stronger this year after last season’s struggles. Both Pierre Gasly and Jack Doohan are pleased with how the car drives. They seem to be battling it out in the midfield alongside Williams, with both teams showing similar pace.

5. Williams

Williams set the fastest lap during the test, creating a buzz about their performance. However, Carlos Sainz tempered expectations, suggesting they might not be ready to compete with the top teams. Still, they’ve made significant strides forward and appear to be a leader in the midfield.

4. Red Bull

Red Bull’s car is quick, but it has some issues to iron out. Max Verstappen hinted there is still work needed for improvement. While there were encouraging signs, the car’s balance at high speeds raised concerns. The team needs to make adjustments before the race in Australia.

3. Ferrari

Ferrari showed flashes of speed but also struggled with some balancing issues. While they could match Mercedes in some areas, they didn’t stand out in the way they hoped. The potential is there, but with the competition tightening, they have some catching up to do.

2. Mercedes

Mercedes had a solid test, appearing consistent and confident on track. Although they faced some challenges, their balance was commendable. Still, McLaren seems to have a noticeable edge, which will make the fight for supremacy interesting moving forward.

1. McLaren

McLaren may have finished fifth in raw lap times, but their race pace was impressive. Lando Norris pointed out that while there were some rear-end handling issues, the car is generally strong. It’s expected to be a fierce competitor as the season kicks off.