5 Things We Learned From Formula 1 Pre-Season Testing

• The drivers enjoyed the first Formula 1 Pre-season testing in Bahrain.
• Lando Norris posted the fastest time of the day.
• Liam Lawson looked confident at Red Bull but suffered a wobble.

Formula 1 is back for another year. While the drivers have enjoyed a brief off-season to recharge, motorsport fans have been eagerly counting down the days until the season opener in Melbourne next month.

Overnight, pre-season testing got underway in Bahrain, with all 20 drivers hitting the track in temperate conditions. The teams used the session to gather crucial data, fine-tune their setups, and clock in valuable laps before the real action begins.

Here are five key takeaways from the opening day of testing:

Lewis Hamilton: 8th WDC Incoming?

Talking about 2025, it’s hard to look beyond Lewis Hamilton in the iconic red Ferrari. The 7-time champion would have relished the opportunity further to familiarise himself with his car for this year, and the Ferrari team as he guns for his record-breaking 8th world title.

Hamilton and Charles Leclerc combined for 141 laps, with Leclerc posting the faster time of the two on the day. While testing times aren’t always indicative of race pace, Ferrari’s reliability and consistency will be a promising sign for the Scuderia faithful.

McLaren Have Two Strong Drivers

Over in the orange camp, McLaren will no doubt benefit from an unchanged line-up heading into 2025, buoyed by the team’s first Constructors’ Championship since 1998.

Australian driver Oscar Piastri managed to notch up 66 laps around the circuit, but Norris and his team spent considerable time inside the garage making some timely tweaks to the car, sacrificing crucial testing time to experiment before putting in 1:30.430 – the fastest time of the day out of any of the drivers. McLaren’s willingness to sacrifice early track time for setup tweaks could pay off when the real racing begins.

Liam Lawson Spins Out

Liam Lawson looked confident in his new colours, though his session wasn’t without drama—he spun out on track with an hour of testing still to go.

It’s been a whirlwind 12 months for the young Kiwi, who started last season in Formula 2 before filling in for Daniel Ricciardo at VCARB – first temporarily, then permanently. His promotion alongside four-time world champion Max Verstappen raised eyebrows, especially with many expecting Yuki Tsunoda to be next in line. Lawson has already proven he’s quick; now, Red Bull will be hoping he can deliver consistently as they look to reclaim the Constructors’ Championship in 2025.

Lewis Who?

Kimi Antonelli was the hero of the morning session in Bahrain, clocking the fastest time of 1:31.428 after 78 laps.

There’s a lot of excitement about the young Italian stepping into the most decorated shoes in the history of the sport. But the 18-year-old, who only passed his driver’s test this year, duly delivered and his performance on day one suggests Mercedes may have found something special. Team boss Toto Wolff will no doubt be feeling optimistic about his new-look lineup ahead of the season opener in Melbourne.

Jack Doohan Impresses on Day One

Formula 1’s latest Australian star Jack Doohan started the next stage of his burgeoning career, completing a full day of testing in Bahrain with Alpine. The young Aussie managed 68 laps and finished the morning session with the 6th fastest time, beating Alonso, Piastri, Hulkenberg and Bearman in the Top 10.

Despite early speculation about his long-term future – with Argentina’s Franco Colapinto reportedly in contention for his seat—Doohan’s performance on day one will have silenced his critics, at least for now.