2025 Bahrain F1 check schedule: Who's driving and when

Taking on from Barcelona, Bahrain has change into F1’s go-to spot for winter testing because of its extra benign, dependable climate and its central location within the Center East, with vehicles then shipped off to the opening spherical of the season. In earlier years groups would simply keep in Bahrain for the season opener the next week, however as a result of Ramadan the 2025 calendar has a rejigged opening leg of the season, with Melbourne’s Australian Grand Prix now elevating the curtains on 16 March.

This week all 10 groups obtain three days on the Bahrain Worldwide Circuit – from Wednesday to Friday- to dial of their new gear and iron out any kinks, working one automotive per check day. Meaning drivers are set to run simply in the future and a half every, with monitor time particularly scarce for 2025’s big rookie class.

Day by day the morning session runs from 07:00 till 11:00 GMT. Following a one-hour lunch break the motion continues for an additional 4 hours from 12:00 till 16:00 GMT.

Line-up for 2025 F1 Bahrain check

Tyres chosen per group

Group
C1
C2
C3
C4
C5
C6
Inter
Moist

McLaren
5
9
20
1

Ferrari
3
4
21
5
1
1

Pink Bull
2
11
20
2

Mercedes
2
2
27
4

Aston Martin
8
4
20

3

Alpine
6
6
23

Haas
5
6
18
4

1
1

Racing Bulls
4
4
23
4

Williams
4
12
15
2
1
1

Sauber
4
8
20
3

Tyre colours | C1: white (no brackets) — C2: white — C3: yellow (no brackets) — C4: yellow — C5: pink (no brackets) — C6: pink — Intermediate: inexperienced — Moist: blue

5 issues to look out for on Day 1 (Wednesday)

Rookies get one other style of F1

Among the many six drivers set for his or her first full season in F1, three have already got grand prix racing expertise: Lawson (11 begins), Bearman (3 begins) and Doohan (1 begin).

Then again, Antonelli, Hadjar and Bortoleto are debutants within the purest that means of the time period, and their first half-day of testing on Wednesday will likely be essential for them to begin racking up precious mileage. Mercedes is working its Italian protege within the morning, whereas the Frenchman and the Brazilian will likely be on monitor within the afternoon for Racing Bulls and Sauber respectively.

Hamilton and Ferrari emerge underneath the highlight

It has been a winter of firsts for Lewis Hamilton – first time in Maranello, first time on the wheel of a Ferrari F1 automotive, first time driving the brand new SF-25. The seven-time world champion’s preparation is ramping up, and his first televised outing with the Scuderia will likely be one other scrutinized step in the direction of his maiden grand prix in pink.

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

Photograph by: Ferrari

After the 40-year-old struggled to get probably the most out of the Mercedes W15 final yr, this Bahrain testing – the one significant working earlier than the Australian Grand Prix – will likely be all of the extra necessary to him.

Extra drivers are seen with their new groups

The 2025 switch market was eventful, and as there hasn’t been any televised testing because the finish of final season, this will even be the primary time viewers witness some new driver-and-team mixtures.

Hulkenberg will likely be again on the wheel of a Sauber within the morning after he raced for the group in 2013, whereas within the afternoon, Lawson, Ocon and Sainz will drive for Pink Bull, Haas and Williams respectively.

A primary trace about efficiency and reliability

Testing occasions ought to at all times be taken with a pinch of salt, to say the least, however hardcore followers will likely be eager to analyse each single lap and probably discover trigger to imagine their favorite driver or group is doing properly.

In the meantime, reliability points aren’t to be anticipated within the final yr of the present technical rules, however surprises can at all times occur. Williams had struggled quite a bit on this space final yr, however this was partly all the way down to the automotive being finalised so late, and the group’s profitable Silverstone shakedown factors to a more healthy package deal this time round.

Learn Additionally:

Pirelli’s full vary of tyres will get examined… or will it?

The check is a chance for Pirelli to check all of its 2025 compounds, whereas the Italian producer takes solely three of them to every grand prix. There are six totally different compounds this yr, with new extra-soft C6 rubber, and even the intermediate and moist is perhaps drawn on as there is a slight however non-negligible likelihood of rain on Wednesday (and Thursday) – at the moment rated at 10% all through Day 1 and as much as 45% at occasions on Day 2 by Google Climate.

Nevertheless, solely Ferrari and Williams have chosen C5 and C6 tyres, whereas Aston Martin and Haas have the one wet-weather rubber.

On this article

Filip Cleeren

Formulation 1

Fernando Alonso

Lewis Hamilton

Nico Hulkenberg

Carlos Sainz

Max Verstappen

Esteban Ocon

Pierre Gasly

Lance Stroll