SAKHIR, Bahrain — In the latest Formula 1 preseason testing, Lando Norris showcased his speed by setting the fastest time on the track, while seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton found himself in 13th place. The testing session, held on Wednesday, faced an unforeseen obstacle when a power outage disrupted operations, causing a temporary suspension in the activities. Despite this, the McLaren driver’s impressive performance saw him emerge .157 seconds ahead of Mercedes driver George Russell. Following closely behind was reigning champion Max Verstappen, with Hamilton’s Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc in fourth place.
During the afternoon session, testing was put on hold for over an hour due to an electrical failure that not only darkened the pit lane garages but also left the floodlights around the circuit non-functional. Organizers managed to compensate for lost time by extending the day’s end. The testing day was structured into two separate sessions, with each allowing ten drivers to hit the track. Notably, Hamilton secured the fifth-fastest time during the morning session, characterized by slower lap times overall. In a surprising turn, Andrea Kimi Antonelli, the young Italian and newcomer to F1, logged the fastest lap for that session and ranked seventh overall at the end of the day.
It is worth noting that testing times might not be a true reflection of a car or driver’s actual pace since teams often test under varied strategies during such events. This preseason testing witnessed a significant team switch for Hamilton, who left Mercedes after 12 successful years, including six of his seven world championships, to join Ferrari. In what is expected to be an exciting partnership, Hamilton looks forward to the 2025 season sharing the grid with Leclerc, who has been with Ferrari since 2019.
The restrictions allow only one car per team on track during these test sessions. In the morning roster alongside Hamilton were Liam Lawson, now Verstappen’s partner at Red Bull, Oscar Piastri from McLaren, and two-time world champion Fernando Alonso representing Aston Martin.
Two unique factors might affect this year’s preseason testing’s reliability in judging the teams’ competitive edge. Firstly, the testing took place amidst unusually cool and breezy weather for Bahrain, quite different from the usual climate expected during a standard race weekend. Moreover, unlike last year when Bahrain opened the racing season, this year’s inaugural race is set to unfold at the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne on March 16.
