F1 2025 pre-season testing: Lando Norris quickest for McLaren on day one

On the first day of F1 pre-season testing at the Bahrain International Circuit, McLaren's Lando Norris topped the timesheets ahead of Mercedes' George Russell, becoming the focus of the day. This result continued McLaren's excellent performance on the first day of testing last season, foreshadowing their competitiveness in the new season. Their early pace suggests a promising start to the year.

Norris's lap time was 0.157 seconds faster than Russell's, with Red Bull's Max Verstappen in third and Ferrari's Charles Leclerc in fourth. The top six drivers all set their best times during the afternoon and evening sessions. Leclerc's new teammate, Lewis Hamilton, participated in the morning test, ultimately finishing in 13th place. The varied running schedules provided a comprehensive assessment for each team.

It is important to note that pre-season testing lap times are not a reliable indicator of actual competitiveness. Teams typically do not disclose key performance-affecting factors such as fuel load and engine power modes. Furthermore, the weather during this test was unusually cool for the Gulf region, with temperatures only around 15 degrees Celsius. These factors should be considered when interpreting the results.

Russell said he was encouraged by the performance of the Mercedes car, after the previous three seasons' tests had indicated that the team was facing serious challenges. He said: "The car is performing well, but we need to be cautious because the temperature in Bahrain is usually 20 degrees higher. This is the best I've felt in Bahrain, and I believe all testers feel the same way. I enjoyed this test and I am confident in the long-distance performance. We won't get carried away, but so far so good. We've had some bad tests here, but this one has been very smooth." He acknowledged the need for continued improvement despite the positive signs.

Norris's teammate, Oscar Piastri, participated in the morning test and ultimately finished in 16th place. He said: "The car feels very good, and we are working hard to fine-tune it to a better state. I think we are in good shape, and some teams look good too. It's still early days, but we are satisfied. We are focusing on ourselves and getting useful information. Currently, the competition is very fierce, and I believe this year's F1 season will be very exciting." The team is optimistic but aware of the challenges ahead.

McLaren won their first constructors' championship since 1998 last year, and Norris finished second only to Verstappen in the drivers' standings. McLaren and Norris aim to maintain their competitiveness from the start of the new season and mount a sustained challenge for the championship, avoiding Verstappen building an insurmountable lead early in the 2024 season. Verstappen's new teammate, Liam Lawson, was the only driver to completely lose control, with the New Zealander spinning at Turn 2 during the morning test. The afternoon session was interrupted for an hour due to an electrical fault, and the test time was extended by one hour as a result. The incident highlighted the potential for unexpected issues during testing.