Report from Day 2 of Bahrain F1 test: Lewis Hamilton leads morning session with Ferrari. Hamilton set the fastest time of the morning session on the second day of 2025 pre-season F1 testing in Sakhir.

For the first time in these 2025 pre-season Formula 1 tests in Sakhir, Ferrari topped the timesheets. It was Lewis Hamilton’s SF-25 that set the fastest lap in the morning session, which concluded just minutes ago.

The British driver posted a best time of 1’29”379, breaking the 1’30” barrier for the first time in this test. His lap was nearly six-tenths quicker than the fastest time recorded on the second day of 2024 testing (Sainz’s 1’29”921) and only two-tenths slower than the lap that secured pole position for last year’s Bahrain Grand Prix.

Although the track remained slippery for most of the session due to light but persistent rain, drivers were still able to consistently run on slick tires. Most teams worked exclusively with C3 compounds, while Carlos Sainz and Oscar Piastri also tested C2s. Notably, Esteban Ocon completed three laps on intermediate tires, with Haas being one of only two teams to opt for grooved tires, gathering useful data from his runs in the VF-25.

At Ferrari, Hamilton continued the work started the previous day, including a brief simulation on C3 tires that resembled the first stint of a Grand Prix. While his final lap time may not hold much significance, it likely provided a morale boost for the seven-time world champion as he prepares for his first full season with Ferrari.

Behind Hamilton was another British driver, George Russell, in the Mercedes W16, trailing the Ferrari by four-tenths. His program appeared similar to Hamilton’s, and the lap time difference might reflect a genuine gap between the two teams.

Russell was also the most active driver of the morning, completing 71 laps. Only Esteban Ocon, who finished last in the session while running high-fuel stints, came close with 69 laps.

Carlos Sainz secured third place in a Williams that, at least visually, seemed to suit the Spaniard. He was seven-tenths off Hamilton’s time, but notably, his best lap was set on C2 tires, unlike the C3s used by those ahead of and behind him, including Pierre Gasly in the Alpine.

Fernando Alonso rounded out the top five. He had spent most of the session at the back of the field until he fitted a fresh set of C3s, bringing his AMR25 to within three-tenths of Pierre Gasly’s Alpine. It remains difficult to determine Aston Martin’s true ambitions for 2025 or the specific objectives of their test program.

Yuki Tsunoda’s Racing Bulls secured sixth place, finishing just 28 milliseconds ahead of Oscar Piastri’s McLaren. The Woking-based team focused not on outright pace but on race pace, which already appeared consistent and competitive. While the MCL39 did not feature at the top of the timesheets, McLaren remained highly confident, especially after their strong 2024 campaign.

The only notable incident of the session occurred at the hairpin, where Piastri collided with Nico Hulkenberg. The Australian overshot the braking zone and struck the right rear wheel of Hulkenberg’s Sauber. Piastri was visibly frustrated with his colleague, though Hulkenberg had left the door wide open. The Sauber escaped unscathed, but McLaren suffered minor front-wing damage.

Red Bull also faced difficulties, with Liam Lawson completing only 28 laps due to a cooling system failure in the Honda power unit of the RB21. Meanwhile, Hulkenberg covered 56 laps for Sauber. The top ten was completed by Haas, which, as in 2024 winter testing, prioritized high-fuel runs to replicate race conditions.