Bahrain F1 Testing: Let the games begin!

Tuesday, 25 February 2025 at 07:30

Following the unveiling of all ten 2025 Formula 1 car liveries at the collective F1 75 LIVE launch event in London, teams now turn their attention to pre-season testing at the Bahrain International Circuit from 26-28 February. And there will be games!

As the 2025 Formula 1 season approaches, all ten teams have confirmed their driver line-ups, featuring a mix of seasoned F1 champions and promising newcomers. Here's an overview of the teams and their driver who will drive during Bahrain F1 Testings:

At Red Bull Racing Liam Lawson steps in to replace Sergio Pérez, partnering with the four-time consecutive World Champion, Max Verstappen.
McLaren Formula 1 Team have no changes; both Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri continue their partnership, aiming to build on their success from the previous season.
Lewis Hamilton joins Ferrari after twelve seasons with Mercedes, replacing Carlos Sainz Jr. and partnering Charles Leclerc.
Rookie Andrea Kimi Antonelli replaces Lewis Hamilton, marking a new era for Mercedes with George Russell in the team leader role.
Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll remain with Aston Martin
Pierre Gasly becomes the Alpine F1 Team's lead driver while Jack Doohan replaces Esteban Ocon, stepping up from his role as reserve driver.
Haas F1 Team seats see new occupants, with Esteban Ocon joining from Alpine and rookie Oliver Bearman promoted from Formula 2.
Racing Bulls retain Yuki Tsunoda and welcome rookie Isack Hadjar who will make his Formula 1 debut.
Alex Albon at Williams is joined by Carlos Sainz, aiming to bring his experience to the team.
Stake F1 Team also have two new drivers, Nico Hülkenberg returns to Sauber, and rookie Gabriel Bortoleto joins after clinching the Formula 2 championship.

Beating your teammate is the first order of business in Formula 1

These line-ups set the stage for an intriguing inner-team battle this season, blending veteran talent with fresh faces eager to make their mark in Formula 1. A sport where beating your teammate is the first order of business for a driver. The bigger the beating the better.

The three-day test provides Formula 1 teams with a crucial opportunity to evaluate their new challengers, fine-tune car setups, analyse tyre degradation and fuel consumption, and resolve any early reliability issues before the season officially begins on 16 March with the Bahrain Grand Prix.

Each team has the option to run one driver for a full day or split driving duties between both drivers. Barring any incidents, each driver is expected to log at least 12 hours of track time over the course of the test.

Expect sand-bagging. smokescreens. decoys, low-fuel runs and all the shenanigans that add to what will be an intriguing three days.

F1 2025 pre-season testing session times and how to watch

Testing will run daily from 10:00 to 19:00 local time in Bahrain, aligning with the following global time zones: GMT (UK time): 07:00 - 16:00; EST (Eastern Time, USA): 02:00 - 11:00.

For those in the Pacific Time Zone, the first session begins at 23:00 PST on 25 February, concluding at 08:00 PST on 26 February. The same pattern applies for the following two days of testing.

Broadcast coverage of the pre-season test will be available in multiple regions, with F1 TV Pro offering live streaming and on-demand replays in select countries.

In the United States, ESPN+ will provide full live coverage. Sky Sports holds the exclusive rights in the United Kingdom and Ireland, with Sky Go and Now TV offering online streaming options.

F1 TV Pro subscribers in eligible regions can watch every session live across their devices, while daily highlights will be made available on F1’s official YouTube channel.

With the 2025 F1 season expected to be one of the most competitive in recent history, teams will be looking to make the most of their limited testing time ahead of the season opener in Bahrain.