The Formula 1 Bahrain Grand Prix is officially underway, with teams eager to establish their footing in what promises to be a thrilling weekend. On Friday, April 11, 2025, Ferrari kicked off their campaign with a strong showing during practice sessions, featuring drivers Charles Leclerc, Lewis Hamilton, and rookie Dino Beganovic. The team focused on evaluating their new seasonal updates, particularly the updated floor of the SF-25, and the results were promising.
During the first practice session, held under sweltering conditions, Beganovic took the wheel in place of Leclerc, while Hamilton joined him in working through their setups. Both drivers began on hard tires, but the lack of grip on the asphalt made the times less indicative of their potential. Hamilton finished with a commendable third-fastest time of 1:33.800 on soft tires, while Beganovic recorded 1:35.055, placing him 14th. Together, they completed a total of 43 laps, with Hamilton logging 23 and Beganovic 20.
As the sun set and temperatures cooled, the evening session provided a more representative picture of the cars' performance. Leclerc returned to the SF-25 and quickly set a time of 1:32.755 on medium tires. Hamilton matched his teammate's pace with a time of 1:32.157. However, Leclerc managed to lower his benchmark to an impressive 1:31.045 on soft tires, finishing fourth overall, while Hamilton concluded with 1:31.652. Despite still trailing behind the top teams, Ferrari's updates seem to have positioned them well to challenge Mercedes and Red Bull for a competitive spot.
"To make my first official appearance in Formula 1 at the wheel of a Ferrari is a real privilege: this in Bahrain is a day I will always remember," said Beganovic, reflecting on his debut. He expressed gratitude to the Ferrari team and emphasized his focus on the upcoming Formula 2 season, hoping to apply the lessons learned during this experience.
Meanwhile, McLaren's Lando Norris set the pace in the opening session with a time of 1:33.204, while his teammate Oscar Piastri struggled initially but rebounded with a stunning lap in the evening session, clocking in at 1:30.505 to claim the top spot. Norris's FP2 time was 1:30.659, indicating the team's strong performance as they prepare for qualifying.
"A reasonable day for the team. Some tricky conditions, very different to the test, so it’s about understanding the car in the heat," Norris stated, highlighting the challenges posed by the Bahrain track.
On the other hand, Mercedes faced a mixed day, with George Russell managing to secure a solid third place in FP2 with a time of 1:31.032, while rookie Kimi Antonelli struggled with water pressure issues in FP1. Antonelli's FP1 time was 1:38.051, but he rebounded in FP2 with a time of 1:31.227, showing promise for the remainder of the weekend.
"We expected McLaren to be a step ahead here and we saw that today. They were strongest in the middle sector where the tires are overheating, so we know we’ve got a bit of work to do if we want to challenge them," Russell remarked, acknowledging the competitive landscape.
Red Bull's Max Verstappen, who was absent from FP1 due to Ayumu Iwasa taking his place, faced grip issues in FP2, finishing seventh with a time of 1:31.330. Tsunoda, who also had a challenging day, finished 18th with a time of 1:32.024.
"It was a more difficult session today although it was a shorter day for me, I had limiting running time as Ayumu was in the car for FP1. The gap is quite big at the moment. We have quite a bit of work to do also in the long run and we're hoping that tomorrow is more fun," Verstappen commented, hinting at the work ahead for the Red Bull team.
Among the midfield teams, Racing Bulls had a solid day, with Isack Hadjar finishing sixth in FP2 with a time of 1:31.238, while teammate Liam Lawson placed 12th with 1:31.706. Both drivers expressed optimism about their car's performance as they look forward to qualifying.
Williams had a challenging day as well, with Alex Albon involved in incidents during FP1, including an unsafe release in the pit lane. Despite this, he managed to finish 11th in FP2 with a time of 1:31.696, indicating potential for improvement.
Alpine's Pierre Gasly had a strong showing in FP1, finishing second with a time of 1:33.442, but struggled in the evening session, ending up 17th. His teammate Jack Doohan performed better in FP2, finishing 14th with a time of 1:31.788.
Haas saw Oliver Bearman make a notable impact, finishing ninth in FP2 with a time of 1:31.584, while Esteban Ocon faced difficulties, concluding the session in 16th place.
Aston Martin's Fernando Alonso experienced a steering malfunction during FP2, which hindered his performance, finishing 15th with a time of 1:31.825. His teammate Lance Stroll also had a tough day, ending up 19th.
As teams prepare for qualifying on Saturday, April 12, 2025, at 17:00 BST, the competition is heating up. With the temperatures expected to be high once again, teams must find the optimal setup to secure their positions for the race on Sunday. The excitement is palpable, and fans are eager to see how the teams will perform in the crucial qualifying sessions.
