The afternoon session of the first day of F1 testing is back on track in Bahrain: follow the live updates.
The 2025 season has officially begun. In the morning session that has just concluded, F1 teams had the opportunity to kick off the three-day Bahrain test and are now ready to return to the track for the afternoon session: follow the live updates.
This will be the chance to see drivers like Liam Lawson, George Russell, Esteban Ocon, and Carlos Sainz on track. For many, it will be their official debut with new teams and new cars. Joining them will be Charles Leclerc. After the filming day at Fiorano, the Ferrari driver will get back behind the wheel of the SF-25 presented a week ago.
Follow the afternoon test session live
As in the morning, the teams will have four hours to continue their work program in the afternoon session. The hope is to do so without any significant setbacks, as the limited time available makes any issues potentially critical.
Unlike in previous years, the test days are now only three instead of six. This forces teams and drivers to make the most of the available time, aiming to gather as much data as possible.
Live updates will start at 12:50.
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17.50 – Notable are the few laps completed today by Aston Martin: this morning 46 laps for Alonso and only 33 laps this afternoon for Stroll. They are the two drivers, out of all 20, who have completed the fewest laps.
17.46 – Constant laps of 32-33 for Russell and Verstappen, who have not done any more qualifying simulations.
17.42 – 18′ remaining in the session: Russell, Verstappen, Hadjar, and Ocon are on track.
17.40 – Here’s the analysis of Norris’ previous stint on C2 tires:
1:47.3
1:33.1
1:40.0
1:33.3
1:33.1
1:33.1
1:33.0
1:33.2
1:33.4
1:33.1
1:33.1
1:33.3
1:33.3
1:33.7
inlap
17.38 – Verstappen aborted his lap. Leclerc is in the pits with mechanics working on the front end.
17.36 – Possible qualifying simulation coming up for Verstappen and Russell: new C3 tires for both.
17.35 – Among the ongoing stints, Norris’ is very long, reaching 15 consecutive laps on hard tires.
17.30 – Speaking of completed laps, the afternoon’s record holder is Ocon with 69 laps.
17.27 – Leclerc continues his stint with constant 36.5 laps. 60 total laps for the Monegasque driver, matching Verstappen in this regard.
17.24 – Carlos Sainz surpasses the 50-lap mark.
17.20 – Verstappen resumes completing laps: 32.9. Norris 33.1, Russell 33.5. Leclerc, meanwhile, starts with consistent 36s. Evidently a different kind of work for the Ferrari driver, with used C3 tires.
17.19 – Slow lap for Verstappen this time. Russell passes in 33.6, while Norris returns to 33.1.
17.17 – Good lap for Sainz, remains in fifth but improves to 1:30.955. Leclerc is back on track.
17.16 – Still 33.6 for Russell; Max is a metronome: 32.7. Slow lap for Norris in 40.0. On track are also Sainz, Gasly, Hadjar, and Stroll.
17.15 – With Leclerc in the pits, the three-way time battle continues between Norris, Russell, and Verstappen. The Dutchman remains very consistent with two consecutive 32.6 laps on C3. Norris is at 33.1 with C2, Russell is at 33.3 and 33.4 with C3.
16:10 – Green flag! Finally, after an hour, the session resumes. 50 minutes remain for the drivers. For now, there are no indications of any time being added at the end of the session.
16:08 – Light drizzle in Bahrain. A ‘crazy’ weather day. There could be some showers tomorrow as well. Meanwhile, an entire hour has passed without any on-track action—not exactly the best advertisement for the Sakhir circuit. Some drivers, like Sainz and Norris, have put their helmets back on and seem ready to get back in the car.
16:05 – Official FIA statement: “The power supply, electronic systems, and circuit lights are gradually returning to normal. We expect to resume the session shortly.”
16:00 – The final hour of track action begins as we wait to see whether the session will be extended. Here are some lap counts from the afternoon session:
Leclerc – 32 laps
Russell – 20 laps
Norris – 12 laps
Gasly – 26 laps
Verstappen – 31 laps
Sainz – 25 laps
Stroll – 21 laps
Hadjar – 34 laps
Ocon – 36 laps
Bortoleto – 17 laps
15:08 – The Red Bull garage is in the dark, but the same situation applies to all the garages and the entire circuit.
15:05 – An unusual issue caused the red flag: the power essentially went out across the entire circuit.
15:04 – Red flag!
15:02 – Here is Leclerc’s last run on C3 tires:
1:30.8
2:32.1
1:31.4
in-lap
out-lap
1:33.3
1:33.7
1:34.4
15:01 – Leclerc returns to the pits after several interesting laps in the 1:33 range. Verstappen has stepped out of the car, with mechanics working extensively on it. The world champion is explaining his impressions to Lambiase.
15:00 – The second hour of the afternoon stint comes to an end:
Leclerc 1:30.8
Russell +0.2
Norris +0.3
Gasly +0.4
Verstappen +0.5
Sainz +1.0
Stroll +1.4
Hadjar +1.5
Ocon +3.4
Bortoleto n.t.
14:56 – Leclerc is back on track with a 1:33.3 opening lap for this stint, along with Norris, who finally completes more than just an installation lap and jumps to P3 with a 1:31.251.
14:55 – Verstappen ends his run with a 1:33.1. A very consistent seven to eight-lap stint, all in the low 1:33s.
14:53 – Here is the “real-time” analysis from our Federico Albano on Leclerc’s 1:30.8 lap, which currently puts him at the top of the standings.
14:51 – Leclerc returns to the pits. Verstappen continues lapping with identical times: two more consecutive 1:33.5s.
14:49 – Verstappen clocks a 1:33.3, maintaining consistency in this stint. After his fast 1:30.8 lap, Leclerc followed with a slow lap and then another fast one in 1:31.4.
14:47 – Verstappen is on a long run, with his last lap at 1:33.6. Meanwhile, Norris has returned to the pits again. The McLaren driver has not completed more than two consecutive laps in these first two hours, not exactly an encouraging sign.
14:45 – Leclerc takes the lead! 1:30.878, two-tenths ahead of Russell, with the Ferrari driver on C3 tires.
14:43 – Norris is back on track. Let’s see if the Brit can find some consistency. So far this afternoon, McLaren has logged only four laps.
14:41 – Verstappen and Leclerc return to the track, along with Stroll. Let’s see if we can compare the reigning champion with the Ferrari driver.
14:38 – Russell completes a 12-lap stint on C3 tires. The Mercedes driver is now back in the pits.
14:30 – Long stint simulation in progress for Russell on C3 tires: 34.6 and 33.7 were his last two lap times.
14:28 – Good lap from Gasly, who improves again and drops to 1:31.353. The lap was set on medium tires, placing the Alpine #10 in P2.
14:24 – Norris completed two more laps but then returned to the garage. Sainz (14 laps in total), Hadjar (20), and Ocon (22) have been much more active.
14:20 – Updated top-5 times of the day:
1st Russell 1:31.082 (C3)
2nd Antonelli +0.346 (C3-morning)
3rd Gasly +0.361 (C3)
4th Verstappen +0.362 (C2)
5th Leclerc +0.386 (C3)
14:18 – Here you can find the analysis of Lewis Hamilton’s morning session on track with the SF-25.
14:16 – There’s a change at the top of the timesheets: Russell beats the lap set this morning by Antonelli. The British driver clocks a 1:31.082 in the W16.
14:13 – Here is the mini-stint Leclerc completed earlier on C2 tires. The Monegasque is now back on track with medium tires.
1:35.5
1:35.1
1:35.1
1:41.4
inlap
14:11 – Russell and Leclerc are now back on track.
14:09 – Sainz, Ocon, and Gasly are currently on track. Some concerns arise regarding McLaren, as Norris has only completed two laps in an hour and ten minutes, compared to Leclerc’s 12 and Verstappen’s 18.
14:07 – Norris’s lap was just an installation lap; the McLaren driver has returned to the pits. Currently, only Bortoleto and Hadjar are on track.
13:54 – The track starts to fill up: first laps for Russell. Leclerc and Bortoleto are back on track.
13:53 – Consistent laps for Verstappen: 34.4, 34.6 his last two laps.
13:51 – Gasly’s stint continues, and he seems comfortable with the new A525.
13:49 – Verstappen is putting in the laps: he’s already at 11. Leclerc is currently stopped in the pits. Norris, Sainz, and Russell are the three who have not yet gone out this afternoon.
13:47 – Great lap from Gasly: 1:31.443, one thousandth better than Verstappen. However, the Frenchman from Alpine is on C3 tires.
13:46 – Hadjar spins but manages to regain control of the car and continues without any damage.
13:45 – Ocon crosses the line: 1:38.4 for the French Haas driver. A slow lap for him.
13:42 – First attempt at Verstappen’s time! 1:31.444 is the Dutchman’s time with C2 hard tires, just 16 thousandths slower than Antonelli’s morning time with the Mercedes.
13:40 – Verstappen is already back out with another set of hard tires. Stroll also makes his seasonal debut with Aston Martin.
13:39 – Leclerc returns to the pits. Gasly’s mini stint is also complete: three timed laps for the Frenchman from Alpine in 34.5, 34.2, 34.1.
13:37 – Leclerc improves, dropping to 36.8 and then 35.6. Hard tires for the Monegasque.
13:35 – Leclerc’s first timed lap is 1:40.2. Obviously a very slow time: his car is loaded with many rear-end attachments. Gasly is now back in the pits.
13:54 – The track starts to fill up: first laps for Russell. Leclerc and Bortoleto are back on track.
13:53 – Consistent laps for Verstappen: 34.4, 34.6 his last two laps.
13:51 – Gasly’s stint continues, and he seems comfortable with the new A525.
13:49 – Verstappen is putting in the laps: he’s already at 11. Leclerc is currently stopped in the pits. Norris, Sainz, and Russell are the three who have not yet gone out this afternoon.
13:47 – Great lap from Gasly: 1:31.443, one thousandth better than Verstappen. However, the Frenchman from Alpine is on C3 tires.
13:46 – Hadjar spins but manages to regain control of the car and continues without any damage.
13:45 – Ocon crosses the line: 1:38.4 for the French Haas driver. A slow lap for him.
13:42 – First attempt at Verstappen’s time! 1:31.444 is the Dutchman’s time with C2 hard tires, just 16 thousandths slower than Antonelli’s morning time with the Mercedes.
13:40 – Verstappen is already back out with another set of hard tires. Stroll also makes his seasonal debut with Aston Martin.
13:39 – Leclerc returns to the pits. Gasly’s mini stint is also complete: three timed laps for the Frenchman from Alpine in 34.5, 34.2, 34.1.
13:37 – Leclerc improves, dropping to 36.8 and then 35.6. Hard tires for the Monegasque.
13:35 – Leclerc’s first timed lap is 1:40.2. Obviously a very slow time: his car is loaded with many rear-end attachments. Gasly is now back in the pits.
On track Leclerc and Verstappen
13:27 – Hard tire for Verstappen, who starts his first timed lap.
13:25 – Verstappen goes out on track with the Red Bull #1. Meanwhile, Hadjar posts his first lap times, quite slow as expected: 1:36.8 is his time.
13:24 – Ocon returns to the pits after an installation lap. Hadjar continues to circulate. The first “big” drivers of the afternoon, Leclerc and Verstappen, are ready to go out.
13:21 – Ocon’s Haas is also on track. Medium tires for Hadjar, hard tires for the new Haas driver.
13:20 – First laps on track: Hadjar with the ‘white’ RB takes to the circuit.
13:16 – Black clouds in the sky over Bahrain. Rain is expected tomorrow. Today, however, the risk is reduced to 10%.
On track Leclerc and Verstappen
13:12 – Russell is wearing the picturesque Mercedes jacket, branded with Adidas, while waiting to get in the car. These images also hint at the unexpected cold in Sakhir.
13:10 – Let’s take advantage of this quiet moment on track for a small visual comparison between the Mercedes W16 and the Ferrari SF-25, using two shots of Antonelli and Hamilton on track this morning.
13:04 – Work in the pits for all the teams: mechanics are finishing preparations to allow the drivers for the afternoon session to get in the car.
13:01 – Cold temperatures in the Bahrain afternoon as well. The air is only 15°C, and the asphalt is 23°C. These conditions could favor faster lap times compared to 2024, as we already saw this morning.
13:00 – Green flag. The second session of the first day of testing has begun.
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