Curtain falls on Bahrain F1 testing: what can we expect for Australian GP in Melbourne?. We briefly analyze what these three days on track in Bahrain.

The checkered flag waves on pre-season testing in Bahrain: the three days dedicated to teams for testing the new 2025 single-seaters have come to an end, shifting the focus to new horizons, such as the first race of the season in Melbourne. We decided to briefly analyze what these three days on track have shown us and speculate on what might happen in Australia.

McLaren favorite, but will it be absolute dominance?
Although the British team played a bit of hide-and-seek (especially with qualifying runs), the strong performance of the MCL39 was evident to everyone. The race pace simulation times set by both Papaya drivers were significantly better than the closest competitors (Red Bull, Ferrari, Mercedes). What stood out the most were two key aspects: the car’s exceptional consistency and its high grip levels despite the unusual weather conditions seen in Sakhir.

This latter aspect alone suggests that the car possesses a crucial strength: the ability to perform well even in difficult conditions, which could make the difference in certain races against its main rivals. McLaren will debut in Melbourne as world champions and will be among the favorites for the upcoming championship—but will they dominate the season? It will all depend on how much the main challengers have been hiding.

Ferrari inconsistent, or is it all part of the plan?
Expectations were high for the SF-25’s debut, especially with Lewis Hamilton now driving for the Scuderia. However, what we saw over these three days has raised some doubts about the new car’s performance. Between race pace stints that were lackluster compared to McLaren and noticeable instability at the front end—forcing Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc into frequent micro-corrections—there are many uncertainties about Ferrari’s true position in the pecking order.

While Lewis Hamilton admitted he feels comfortable driving the SF-25, Leclerc acknowledged that the team still needs to find a setup that satisfies him. It has been revealed that the Italian team conducted various on-track tests with different fuel loads compared to its rivals. This suggests that Ferrari has taken a diversified approach—could we be in for a pleasant surprise at the start of the season?

Red Bull: the goal is to return to victory
Will the RB21 be the key to success for the Austrian team? After the issues Liam Lawson encountered on Thursday—which forced the New Zealander to lose valuable track time—even Max Verstappen experienced difficulties, particularly with the car’s balance, requiring several corrections at the limit. However, on Friday afternoon, the four-time world champion delivered a consistent race simulation stint, allowing him to end the test on a positive note. Will he be able to stay in the fight for victory throughout the season?

Watch out for Mercedes
The Brackley team put together solid sessions with both George Russell and Kimi Antonelli, who displayed great stability behind the wheel of the new Silver Arrow. Already last year, Mercedes showed performance improvements, securing three wins in total—will 2025 bring even better results?

Surprising Williams, unusual approach at Aston Martin
Carlos Sainz’s fastest time on Thursday afternoon may have raised some eyebrows. While testing times shouldn’t be taken at face value, the British team’s performances did not go unnoticed. Many believe Williams could be one of the surprises of this season—will Alex Albon and Carlos Sainz consistently finish in the top 10 during the championship?

Meanwhile, Aston Martin’s work remains difficult to decipher. It is well known that the team’s ambitions are set on 2026, but Alonso and Stroll will surely want to fight for more in the upcoming season.

What will happen in Melbourne?
In exactly two weeks, Formula 1 engines will roar back to life in Australia, the first stop of the championship. The Albert Park circuit has very different characteristics compared to Bahrain, which could lead to results quite different from what we’ve seen in testing.

Temperatures will also play a crucial role, ranging from 28 to 33°C—significantly higher than those recorded in Sakhir.

McLaren will arrive as the favorite, but the real question is what will happen behind them. Will it be a four-team battle? Or will Ferrari, the winner of the last two editions, reveal previously unseen performance? Testing will give way to race weekends, where hiding strategies and waiting games are no longer an option.