Lando Norris went fastest in the afternoon’s running of the 2025 Formula 1 pre-season testing at the Bahrain International Circuit, in a session briefly halted by a power cut.
At around the halfway mark in the second session of the first day, the lights quite literally went out at the circuit, as darkness began to descend.
After around 30 minutes of delay, the issue was resolved and cars could retake to the track, with Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc top of the timing sheets at the point the delay began.
Norris, one of the favourites for the 2025 title, ended the day fastest with a 1:30.430s after 52 laps.
Mercedes’ George Russell was second, 0.157s adrift of the McLaren man’s lap time, with 18 laps more.
World Champion Max Verstappen was third with a 1:30.674s after 74 laps, with Charles Leclerc fourth, having run three laps less, with a 1:30.878s.
Carlos Sainz, in his first public F1 display for Williams, ran 68 laps and set a 1:30.955s, to place him in fifth.
Pierre Gasly was sixth with a 1:31.353s after 68 laps, with Andrea Kimi Antonelli’s morning session time placing him seventh overall.
Liam Lawson, second in the AM session, was eighth overall, with Alex Albon’s morning time placing him ninth.
Yuki Tsunoda’s early time put him at the very foot of the top 10, with team-mate Isack Hadjar 11th with a 1:31.631s after 76 laps, the rookie recovering well after a 360 spin at Turn 4.
Gabriel Bortoleto, making his first appearance for Sauber, was 12th with a 1:31.690s after 59 laps, with Lewis Hamilton’s morning time placing him in 13th.
Jack Doohan was 14th overall as per his AM laps, followed by Fernando Alonso.
The Spaniard’s team-mate Lance Stroll was 16th with a 1:31.949s after just 42 laps, with Oscar Piastri and Nico Hulkenberg’s earlier times placing them 15th and 16th overall respectively.
Esteban Ocon’s first public outing for Haas saw him set a 1:33.600 after 88 laps, with team-mate Oliver Bearman’s morning time placing him last.
READ MORE – F1 2025 Pre-Season Testing Results – Wednesday PM
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