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A power cut at the Bahrain International Circuit stopped track action during day one of the Formula 1 preseason test.

A red flag was issued on Wednesday at around 5 p.m. local time during the first afternoon session after team garages and pitwall monitors turned to darkness.

The floodlights on the track also went out as dusk approached.

The session resumed at 6:10 p.m. local time and has been extended by an hour until 8 p.m. due to the disruption.

A spokesperson for the circuit said: “At approximately 5 p.m. today, a power outage caused by an external substation failure led to the afternoon session on track to be paused. Power has since been restored and the afternoon session has resumed. We appreciate everyone’s patience.”

The FIA said: “The FIA, Formula 1, and the teams have agreed to extend this afternoon’s session by one hour to compensate for the time lost under the red flag. The session will now conclude at 8 p.m. local time.”

George Russell told Sky Sports prior to the red flag: “I came to the pits and said ‘it’s dark out here, I need to change my visor!’ Then I realised there are no floodlights around.

“It would have been hectic if this was an hour later and the sun had already set.”

Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc was top of the times before the interruption with 32 laps completed and a time of 1:30.878.

Mercedes’ Andrea Kimi Antonelli topped the morning session.

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• 

  Laurence EdmondsonFeb 26, 2025, 11:26 AM ET

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  • Joined ESPN in 2009
  • An FIA accredited F1 journalist since 2011

In an attempt to make the Monaco Grand Prix more exciting, the FIA has approved plans to enforce two mandatory pit stops at the event this year.

Formula 1’s oldest street race has been criticised in recent years for a lack of overtaking and limited tyre strategy options.

Suggestions to change the layout of the historic circuit to improve overtaking have been deemed infeasible in recent years, leading F1 to look at changes to the regulations to improve the show.

F1’s sporting regulations already mandate the use of two different tyre compounds during a race, meaning at least one pit stop must take place unless tyres are changed under a red-flag race suspension (as was the case at last year’s Monaco Grand Prix).

By enforcing two mandatory pit stops, in both the wet and the dry, there is a hope this year’s Monaco Grand Prix will have an additional strategic element.

The idea was first raised during a Formula 1 Commission meeting earlier this month and signed off by the FIA’s World Motor Sport Council [WMSC] on Wednesday.

“The WMSC reviewed a proposal regarding the implementation of a mandatory 2-stop strategy (in both wet and dry conditions) for the Monaco GP, with the primary intent of improving the sporting spectacle of this race,” a statement said.

“Following recent discussions in the F1 Commission, a specific requirement for the Monaco GP has been approved mandating the use of at least three sets of tyres in the race, with a minimum of two different tyre compounds to be used if it’s a dry race.”

Asked about the proposal during F1’s launch event in London last week, four-time champion Max Verstappen said overtaking has been difficult at the circuit since wider cars were introduced in 2017.

“It’s just one of these tracks where it’s very hard to pass and of course the bigger we make the cars, the more difficult it is also to race,” Verstappen said.

“I felt like in 2016 there was still a little bit of an opportunity. Now that’s of course gone. If the two pit stops help, I don’t know, but I guess we’ll find out, right?”

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• 

  Laurence EdmondsonFeb 26, 2025, 12:20 PM ET

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  • Joined ESPN in 2009
  • An FIA accredited F1 journalist since 2011

McLaren’s Lando Norris set the fastest time on the opening day of Formula 1’s preseason test in Bahrain, which was extended by an hour due to a power cut at the circuit in the afternoon session.

All 20 drivers took part in the first of three days of preseason testing in Bahrain, giving each an opportunity to complete meaningful mileage in their 2025 car.

Lap times on the opening day of testing are rarely a reliable gauge of outright performance, but for what it’s worth Norris set a 1:30.430 around the Bahrain International Circuit and was 0.147 seconds clear of Mercedes’ George Russell in second place.

A failure at an external substation saw the circuit’s floodlights, which allow testing to continue after dark in Bahrain, extinguished just before the sunset. Power to the garages was also cut, meaning work on the cars had to continue under handheld flashlights.

The FIA had no choice but to red flag the test while power was restored, with lights in the garage returning after 30 minutes and the floodlights slowly flickering back on over the next 40 minutes. An extra hour was added to the afternoon session to make up for the lost time.

The fastest three lap times — set by Norris, Russell and reigning champion Max Verstappen — were all set after the power cut, despite occasional drops of rain around the desert circuit once the sun had set.

Testing in Bahrain often offers the best circuit conditions under the lights, although unseasonably low temperatures meant the ambient temperature dropped below 15C by the final half hour of the session.

The focus in the morning session had largely been on Lewis Hamilton, who made his official testing debut with Ferrari on Wednesday.

The seven-time champion has already driven various specifications of the team’s past F1 cars in preparation for his Ferrari debut, but Wednesday morning represented his first opportunity to complete meaningful mileage in the new car.

After completing 70 laps, Hamilton held the fifth fastest time at the lunch break, which had dropped to the 12th fastest by the end of the day. Teammate Charles Leclerc took over in the afternoon and set the fourth fastest time with a further 71 laps at the wheel.

Red Bull’s Liam Lawson and Racing Bull’s Isack Hadjar were the only two drivers to spin over the course of the day.

Lawson lost control of the rear of his Red Bull in Turn 2 but managed to stop the car just short of the gravel at Turn 3. Aside from ruining a set of tyres, no damage was done to the Red Bull and Lawson went on to set the second fastest time before lunch, 0.1 seconds off the best time of the morning set by Andrea Kimi Antonelli.

Racing Bull’s rookie Hadjar spun on the exit of Turn 4 but neatly corrected the slide after spinning through 360 degrees. He wasn’t alone in running wide at Turn 4, with Norris clipping the gravel trap on the exit of the corner later in the day, albeit without spinning.

Testing will continue in Bahrain for the next two days before teams travel to Australia for the first race of the season on March 16.

Day 1 – lap times, lap counts and tyre compound

Lando Norris – McLaren – 1:30.430 – 52 laps – C3
George Russell – Mercedes – 1:30.587 – 70 laps – C3
Max Verstappen – Red Bull – 1:30.674 – 74 laps – C3
Charles Leclerc – Ferrari – 1:30.878 – 71 laps – C3
Carlos Sainz – Williams – 1:30.955 – 68 laps – C3
Pierre Gasly – Alpine – 1:31.353 – 72 laps – C3
Kimi Antonelli – Mercedes – 1:31.428 – 78 laps – C3
Liam Lawson – Red Bull – 1:31.560 – 58 laps – C3
Alex Albon – Williams – 1:31.573 – 63 laps – C3
Yuki Tsunoda – Racing Bulls – 1:31.610 – 79 laps – C3
Isack Hadjar – Racing Bulls – 1:31.631 – 76 laps – C3
Garbiel Bortoleto – Sauber – 1:31.690 – 59 laps – C2
Lewis Hamilton – Ferrari – 1:31.834 – 70 laps – C3
Jack Doohan – Alpine – 1:31.841 – 68 laps – C3
Fernando Alonso – Aston Martin – 1:31.874 – 46 laps – C3
Lance Stroll – Aston Martin – 1:31.949 – 41 laps – C3
Oscar Piastri – McLaren – 1:32.084 – 67 laps – C3
Nico Hulkenberg – Sauber – 1:32.169 – 55 laps – C3
Esteban Ocon – Haas – 1:33.600 – 88 laps – C3
Oliver Bearman – Haas – 1:35.522 – 72 laps – C2

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• 

  Laurence EdmondsonFeb 27, 2025, 06:10 AM ET

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  • Joined ESPN in 2009
  • An FIA accredited F1 journalist since 2011

Lewis Hamilton topped the timesheets on the second morning of preseason testing in Bahrain as he continued to get to grips with his new Ferrari Formula 1 car.

For the second day in a row, Hamilton was in the Ferrari during the morning session and, despite a couple of rain showers curtailing running, set the fastest time of the test with a 1:29.379 on a dry track.

Although lap times in testing can be influenced by numerous variables and are very rarely an indicator of ultimate performance, Hamilton’s lap would have been good enough to secure second on the grid at the 2024 Bahrain Grand Prix and was 0.331 seconds faster than his qualifying lap for Mercedes last year.

Improvements on 2024 are to be expected, but the lap — set on the C3 compound that will be the softest tyre on offer at this year’s Bahrain Grand Prix – looked clean on what has been a solid test so far for the seven-time world champion.

Hamilton finished the morning 0.399 seconds faster than former teammate George Russell in the Mercedes in second place, also using the C3 compound. Carlos Sainz was third fastest for Williams, setting a time 0.711 seconds off Hamilton but using the harder C2 compound.

Sainz, along with Liam Lawson in the Red Bull, is planning to run a full day of testing whereas all other drivers are scheduled to swap with their teammates over the hour-long lunchbreak. It means the end of Thursday’s running will likely be Sainz’s and Lawson’s last laps in their respective cars before the opening practice session in Australia on March 14.

Lawson only completed 28 laps in the morning due to a loss of water pressure on the Red Bull’s Honda engine, but the team is hoping to be back on track as early as possible in the afternoon session.

Aside from the brief period of rain, which saw Esteban Ocon venture out on a set of intermediate tyres, the morning session finished without major incident.

A rare but minor on-track collision occurred when Oscar Piastri’s McLaren tapped the rear of Nico Hulkenberg’s Sauber in Turn 7. Hulkenberg had attempted to move out the way of the McLaren in the corner, but seemingly put off by the Sauber’s presence, Piastri ran wide of the apex and nudged Hulkenberg’s right rear mid corner. There was no significant damage to either car.

Morning session lap times

Lewis Hamilton – Ferrari – 1:29.379 – 45 laps
George Russell – Mercedes – 1:29.778 – 71 laps
Carlos Sainz – Williams – 1:30.090 – 44 laps
Pierre Gasly – Alpine – 1:30.430 – 40 laps
Fernando Alonso – Aston Martin – 1:30.700 – 45 laps
Yuki Tsunoda – Racing Bulls – 1:30.793 – 46 laps
Oscar Piastri – McLaren – 1:30.821 – 44 laps
Liam Lawson – Red Bull – 1:31.233 – 28 laps
Nico Hulkenberg – Sauber – 1:31.457 – 56 laps
Esteban Ocon – Haas – 1:33.071 – 69 laps.

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BAHRAIN – Old friends Max Verstappen and Lando Norris made light of a question of how their relationship might suffer if they fight for the title again in 2025.

Verstappen and Norris clashed on track in Austria last year, before having flashpoints in Austin and Mexico City.

The pair have often raced together online and have always spoken about having a good relationship, though the 2024 flashpoints did lead to criticism from Norris towards Verstappen’s race craft.

During a press conference on the second day of preseason testing, they were asked about their relationship going into the new campaign and how they approach racing each other this season. Reigning four-time world champion Verstappen, who also sarcastically brushed off questions about how he had enjoyed the F1 75 Launch event earlier in the session, smirked as he responded.

“Yeah, it’s a terrible relationship,” he said. “We don’t get on any more. It’s taken it’s toll. Yeah. Big drama.”

McLaren driver Norris, the early bookies’ favourite for the new season, was sat alongside Verstappen and quickly joined in the fun.

“We had a fight the other day in a local pub,” Norris joked.

Verstappen then laughed and replied: “We had to get escorted [out]. I always say, you should see the other guy… but he still looks good, so, whatever!”

Norris then gave a serious answer on the topic.

“I think we both look forward to more of last year, more battles. I don’t think it’s just going to be us,” Norris said. “I think there’s going to be others involved, which will make it more exciting for everyone. But yeah, I know they’re going to be tough battles and I’m sure some of them are not always going to end the way I want or hopefully Max wants, but we’re racing drivers.

“We get along. We’ve always said those kind of things. I know everyone tries to make their own points and say what’s correct and what’s not correct, but we respect each other a lot and we look forward to more racing on track.”

Verstappen was then asked if he had any more to add, replying with a smirk: “No, that’s beautifully said.”

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• 

  Laurence EdmondsonFeb 27, 2025, 09:45 AM ET

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  • Joined ESPN in 2009
  • An FIA accredited F1 journalist since 2011

The organisers of the Las Vegas Grand Prix will open a series of Formula 1-themed attraction in the circuit’s pit building from March 29 this year.

The 39-acre Grand Prix Plaza, which is home to F1’s paddock over the weekend of the Las Vegas Grand Prix, will open to the public and offer interactive experiences, go-karting and race sims.

The main attraction, F1X, will exhibit cars and artifacts from the sport’s 75-year history, as well as an experience in which visitors will be invited to design their own car before overseeing its progress from a pit wall in a virtual race.

A go-karting experience on level one of the pit building will feature a 31-corner circuit, including a neon-lit straight, and karts that mimic an F1 car’s DRS and ERS.

F1 sims, an F1 store and food offerings will also be part of the complex.

Prices for F1X start at $79, although a lower price of $59 is on offer to locals. Go-karting is priced at £37 with a rate of $30 for locals.

“Grand Prix Plaza represents a significant investment in the future of Formula 1 in Las Vegas,” Emily Prazer, CEO of the Las Vegas Grand Prix, said.

“These new attractions will offer unprecedented access to F1, giving many fans their first up-close look at a Formula 1 car before stepping into a racing simulator or even karting on a portion of the Las Vegas Strip Circuit.

“As part of our steadfast commitment to Las Vegas, we are thrilled to offer significantly discounted pricing to locals so that Grand Prix Plaza is an easily accessible community asset all year long. Grand Prix Plaza is one of the jewels of F1 in North America, and we know it will provide access and experiences that will grow the sport’s fan base.”

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Ferrari’s newest recruit Lewis Hamilton has looked to allay any fears about his age ahead of the 2025 Formula 1 season, insisting he will “never be an old man.”

The seven-time world champion joined Italy’s famous team from Mercedes after the 2024 campaign as he looks to surpass Michael Schumacher record of drivers’ titles, and while the move has been heralded, there has been criticism that Hamilton may no longer be in the elite echelon of the grid.

He won twice last year — the first at Silverstone ending a 945-day drought for a grand prix triumph — but has largely watched rival Max Verstappen romp to four straight championships from distance after the controversial culmination of the 2021 season.

Verstappen, 27, is searching for history against a field of highly motivated stars from the sport’s new generation, including Lando Norris (25), George Russell (27) and Hamilton’s new teammate Charles Leclerc (27).

The 40-year-old Hamilton, however, is unbothered by the age gap between himself and the competition.

“The old man is a state of mind,” Hamilton told Time Magazine. “Of course your body ages. But I’m never going to be an old man.”

The quest to remain youthful played a significant role in the Brit’s decision to leave Mercedes for Ferrari after a hugely successful 12-season stint.

“You can’t stand still for too long,” Hamilton said. “I needed to throw myself into something uncomfortable again. Honestly, I thought all my firsts were done.

“Your first car, your first crash, your first date, first day of school. The excitement I got by the idea of: ‘This is my first time in the red suit, the first time in the Ferrari.’

“Wow. Honestly, I’ve never been so excited.”

Hamilton and the rest of the 2025 grid have been testing their cars for the new season at preseason testing in Bahrain this week.

He seemed to have little trouble getting to grips with his new setup, topping the lap-time charts in the morning session on Thursday — though times in testing can be influenced by numerous variables and are very rarely an indicator of ultimate performance.

F1’s season opens with the Australian Grand Prix weekend, running from March 14 to 16.

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