Lewis Hamilton accomplished 70 laps on his first full morning in Ferrari’s 2025 automobile as teenage rookie Andrea Kimi Antonelli, the Briton’s Mercedes alternative, set the morning tempo after the primary 4 hours of pre-season operating in Bahrain.
Having briefly pushed the brand new SF-25 in a shakedown alongside Charles Leclerc at Fiorano final week, Hamilton was first up for Ferrari on the opening morning of the three-day take a look at to get his first true style of his new staff’s newest automobile.
On a busy morning of operating throughout the sector in unseasonably chilly Bahrain situations, Hamilton accomplished comfortably over a full Bahrain race distance of 57 laps throughout stints of assorted lengths.
Hamilton’s morning included a number of extensive, small off-track moments kicking up gravel at Flip 4, however the session in any other case appeared to run with out main incident. Leclerc takes over the automobile within the afternoon, which begins at 12pm UK time reside on Sky Sports activities F1 and free on the Sky Sports activities app.
Whereas lap occasions all through testing are at all times notoriously deceptive as a result of reality groups run completely different tyres, gas, engine settings and aerodynamic programmes, that’s notably the case on the opening day of operating as groups prioritise checks and early set-up changes relatively than chasing efficiency.
Nonetheless, Mercedes can be happy that its new 18-year-old rookie Antonelli racked up 78 laps and set a quickest time of 1:31.428. The Italian’s solely error of notice got here late within the session with a lock-up.
Liam Lawson was second-quickest within the new Crimson Bull after 58 laps however Max Verstappen’s newest team-mate blotted his copybook with the yr’s first spin after shedding management of the RB21 by means of Flip Three.
Alex Albon was third-quickest for Williams forward of Yuki Tsunoda within the new-look Racing Bulls automobile, with Hamilton fifth and Alpine’s Jack Doohan sixth.
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Ted Kravitz examines the burning questions because the vehicles make their manner onto the Bahrain Worldwide Circuit forward of three days of testing.
Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso was the one driver to not clear a half-century of laps, the Spaniard ending up on 46 after some mid-session time within the storage.
Oscar Piastri was eighth-quickest within the McLaren after racking up 65 laps.
Bahrain Take a look at Timesheet – Day One morning
1) Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes, 1:31.428, 78 laps
2) Liam Lawson, Crimson Bull, 1:31.560, 58 laps
3) Alex Albon, Williams 1:31.573, 63 laps
4) Yuki Tsunoda, Racing Bulls, 1:31.610, 78 laps
5) Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari, 1:31.834, 70 laps
6) Jack Doohan, Alpine 1:31.841, 68 laps
7) Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin, 1:31.874, 46 laps
8) Oscar Piastri, McLaren, 1:32.084, 66 laps
9) Nico Hulkenberg, Sauber, 1:32.169, 55 laps
10) Oliver Bearman, Haas, 1:35.522, 72 laps
Everybody set quickest occasions on medium tyres
Sky Sports activities F1’s reside pre-season testing schedule
Wednesday February 26 – Day One
- 11.55am-4.05pm: Afternoon Session
- 8pm: Testing Wrap
- 8.30pm: Ted’s Testing Pocket book
Thursday February 27 – Day Two
- 6.50am-11.05am: Morning Session
- 11.55am-4.05pm: Afternoon Session
- 8pm: Testing Wrap
- 8.30pm: Ted’s Testing Pocket book
Friday February 28 – Day Three
- 6.50am-11.05am: Morning Session
- 11.55am-4.05pm: Afternoon Session
- 8pm: Testing Wrap
- 8.30pm: Ted’s Testing Pocket book
- 9pm: Ted’s Improvement Nook
When is the primary F1 race?
For the primary time since 2019, the season-opener can be held in Melbourne on the Australian Grand Prix on March 14-16. The primary race has switched from Bahrain to Australia attributable to Ramadan happening all through March.
There are 24 occasions on the 2025 F1 calendar, the identical quantity as final yr, with the season ending on the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on December 5-7.
Watch all 24 race weekends from the 2025 Method 1 season reside on Sky Sports activities F1, beginning with the Australian GP on March 14-16. Stream Sky Sports activities with NOW – No contract, cancel anytime
