Formula 1’s final day of pre-season testing has conditions returned to dry. This was the final day teams could test different parts and setups before the season opener in Australia. It was also the final chance for drivers to acclimatise to their new cars.
Lewis Hamilton in his Ferrari and Carlos Sainz in the Williams topped the timing sheets during day two. However, Sainz and Liam Lawson couldn’t participate on the third day as they drove both sessions yesterday.
Lewis Hamilton and Carlos Sainz Lead the Board for the Second Day of Formula 1 Pre-Season Testing
With the third day of the test proving to have the best weather conditions in Bahrain, Max Verstappen and Alex Albon would drive the full day. How would they fare in the desert?
Charles Leclerc tops the timing sheets in the morning session
Ferrari look to have the speed in pre-season testing. Lewis Hamilton clocked the fastest time in yesterday’s morning session. This time, Charles Leclerc topped the timing sheets recording a 1:30.811, completing the most laps in the session. He edged out rookie Kimi Antonelli, who was less than a tenth slower. Rounding out the top three was Lando Norris, who posted a 1:30.943.
Max Verstappen followed in fourth but couldn’t break into the 1:30’s. Jack Doohan rounded out the top 5, just ahead of Alex Albon in sixth. Isack Hadjar and Fernando Alonso were P7 and P8 respectively with Gabriel Bortoleto finishing in P9.
F1 Testing Day 3
Morning Session ✅
Charles Leclerc ends the final morning session on top as a glass pane causes a short red flag!#F1 #F1Testing pic.twitter.com/B0WTkQ5Xn2
— Fastest Pitstop (@FastestPitStop) February 28, 2025
It was a difficult morning for rookie Oliver Bearmann. An hour-and-a-half into the session, the Brit saw bodywork fly off his engine cover, meaning the car needed repairs. Although Haas got him back out and he completed his program, but was the slowest in the morning.
An odd red flag hindered running time in the morning session. Glass shattered on the main straight from the start/finish line box. This was an issue for Bortoleto who only completed 35 laps in the session. The Brazilian was confined to the garage for a large chunk of the session with the screens up, meaning Sauber were unhappy with something on the car.
George Russell fastest in the afternoon session
The afternoon session began bizarrely after another strange red flag. This time, a bus was seen in the run-off area of the Sakhir track. This interruption didn’t hamper George Russell who set the fastest time of the day with a 1:29.545. He edged out Max Verstappen who was just 0.021 but did spin down at turn one. Alex Albon rounded out the top 3.
🔴Red Flag🔴
There’s a bus driving on the runoff area!#F1 #F1Testing pic.twitter.com/a42QUAHNRU
— Fastest Pitstop (@FastestPitStop) February 28, 2025
Oscar Piastri was the highest running McLaren in P4, with Pierre Gasly rounding out the top 5. Lewis Hamilton was sixth but ran into an issue. He couldn’t complete his run as the car was taken apart before the chequered flag fell.
Yuki Tsunoda slotted into seventh with a 1:30.496 ahead of Esteban Ocon, who completed the most laps of the drivers who only ran one session. Lance Stroll had sat out of the morning session after feeling unwell. The Canadian completed 34 laps before being replaced in the afternoon by teammate Alonso.
Alex Albon completed the most laps with 137 over both sessions in his Williams, with Esteban Ocon pumping in 103 laps to learn about his new Haas car.
What happens after pre-season testing?
Now the teams have completed pre-season testing, they have two weeks to tweak their cars for the season opener in Australia. They are allowed to upgrade their machinery and will test any new parts in the first practice session.
There is a chance the teams were sandbagging the times. This so their rivals don’t know the raw speed of the cars. Although the times are important, we won’t know the car’s pace until light out in Australia.
