2025 F1 Pre-Season Testing Starts Soon in Bahrain

SAKHIR, Bahrain — The excitement builds as Formula 1 teams prepare for the 2025 pre-season testing, scheduled to take place from February 26 to 28 at the Bahrain International Circuit. Following the F1 75 launch event in London, which celebrated 75 years of the sport, all ten teams will unveil their new car designs and liveries on track.

This pre-season event is crucial for teams as they refine their vehicles and test new components before the season kicks off with the Australian Grand Prix on March 16. Though lap times during these sessions will not be officially competitive, the testing will allow teams to gauge car performance and reliability.

“The pre-season test is an opportunity to see if all parts of the car work correctly, and it’s the first time the new engines, chassis, and Pirelli tires will work together on track,” said a team engineer familiar with pre-testing protocols.

The testing will run daily from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. local time, with a lunch break from 2 to 3 p.m. Each team will have limited time on track, divided amongst their drivers in staggered sessions. Coverage of the event will be available on ESPN+ in the United States and on Sky Sports F1 in the U.K.

Historically, pre-season testing in Bahrain has been common, having taken place on six previous occasions since 2009. Teams will focus on collecting valuable data to ensure the new cars perform reliably in a variety of scenarios expected during race weekends.

Among the drivers to watch are Charles Leclerc of Ferrari, who aims to capitalize on the new SF-25 car, and reigning champion Max Verstappen, who continues to push for Red Bull. Fans will also be eager to observe the performance of new rookie drivers like Kimi Antonelli and Oliver Bearman as they acclimate to the high-pressure environment of F1.

“I’m pleased to say that we seem to have maintained our development rate from previous years,” said McLaren team principal Andreas Stella, expressing optimism about their car’s potential in the upcoming season.

As the teams prepare for the challenges of 2025, pre-season testing will not only serve as a primer for the season but also as an opportunity to establish early benchmarks for performance and reliability ahead of the highly anticipated races.