LIVE – Everything is set for the teams to return to the track in Bahrain. As the three-day test nears its conclusion, teams tend to reveal more of their true performance. While it remains difficult to get a complete picture of the competitive order, some key indications will certainly emerge. For Ferrari, Charles Leclerc will be at the wheel of the SF-25.
Activity at Sakhir is intensifying. After a first day of adaptation, during which the track had to clean up and rubber in, today presents an opportunity to push from the start. The morning rain slowed the teams’ work, but by sunset, only clouds are expected in the Bahraini sky.
LIVE: Day 2, Afternoon Line-up in Bahrain
Here is the full list of drivers taking to the track in the afternoon session:
McLaren: Lando Norris
Ferrari: Charles Leclerc
Red Bull: Liam Lawson
Mercedes: Andrea Kimi Antonelli
Aston Martin: Lance Stroll
Alpine: Jack Doohan
Haas: Oliver Bearman
Racing Bulls: Isack Hadjar
Williams: Carlos Sainz
Sauber: Gabriel Bortoleto
Bahrain Test LIVE: Initial Insights on Race Pace
While it is impossible to know the exact fuel loads, setup choices, and test programs, the first day provided an initial glimpse of the race pace of the new cars. Based on early, cautious observations, Max Verstappen appeared to be the fastest, even ahead of Lando Norris. George Russell’s Mercedes seemed to struggle, at least on the surface.
Ferrari’s approach has been more challenging to analyze. The Maranello team followed a separate program, running with a high fuel load. However, the numerous laps completed on C3 tires—the same compound used by direct rivals—showed encouraging consistency.
Live Commentary – Bahrain F1 Test – Afternoon Session
14.00 – As the first hour of testing concludes, interesting lap times emerge: Sainz improves again, setting a benchmark of 1:29.348. Leclerc moves up to P3, just behind Hamilton and 83 milliseconds off Sainz’s time.
13.57 – Bearman returns to the pits. Meanwhile, Lawson has completed 20 consecutive laps on the C2 tire. Norris is now on track, effectively beginning his session. Yesterday, the McLaren driver also spent almost the entire first hour in the pits.
13.55 – Stroll takes to the track. Aston Martin needs to rack up some laps after being the least active team yesterday.
13.54 – Lawson’s race simulation pace is around 1:35.
13.52 – Lawson and Bearman continue their long stints on hard tires, having completed 16 and 14 laps, respectively. Both appear to be running race simulations.
13.50 – Doohan also improves with the Alpine, moving up to P6, exactly one second behind Sainz. The Australian set his time on yellow-marked tires.
13.48 – Antonelli returns to the track on C3 tires and moves up to P5, just one millisecond behind Leclerc.
13.44 – Red Bull deserves some attention: Lawson is running a long stint and has completed 10 laps on hard C2 tires. His lap times are slow, but it’s crucial to cover mileage after the difficulties he faced in the morning.
13.42 – Another fast lap from Leclerc: after a slow lap, the Monegasque driver pushes again, shaving off a few more hundredths and reaching 1:29.783.
13.05 – A rare sight in Bahrain: the probability of rain during this afternoon session is 60%.
13.00 – Green flag! The session begins. All drivers are still in the pits.
12.55 – Air temperature is 16°C, while track temperature is 19°C.
12.50 – Technical analysis of the Mercedes W16.
12.45 – In the morning, Hamilton was the fastest in T1 and T2, while Russell led in T3.
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