The countdown to cars getting back on track is almost over as pre-season testing gets underway at the Bahrain International Circuit tomorrow. This test gives the drivers and teams an opportunity to get to grips with their new machinery and gather some vital data ahead of the first race in Melbourne. So what time is testing on, who will be driving in each session, what tyres can they use and how can you watch? Find out below!
What time will testing happen in Bahrain?
Each testing day is split into two parts: the morning session and the afternoon session, with an hour break in between. Testing will run over three days, starting on Wednesday 26th February and finishing on Friday 28th February.
Wednesday 26th February:
Morning Session – 10am-2pm [7am-11am UK]
1 HOUR BREAK
Afternoon Session – 3pm-7pm [12pm-4pm UK]
Thursday 27th February:
Morning Session – 10am-2pm [7am-11am UK]
1 HOUR BREAK
Afternoon Session – 3pm-7pm [12pm-4pm UK]
Friday 28th February:
Morning Session – 10am-2pm [7am-11am UK]
1 HOUR BREAK
Afternoon Session – 3pm-7pm [12pm-4pm UK]
Who will be driving and in which sessions?:
McLaren
| Morning Session | Afternoon Session | |
| Wednesday (26th) | Oscar Piastri | Lando Norris |
| Thursday (27th) | Oscar Piastri | Lando Norris |
| Friday (28th) | Lando Norris | Oscar Piastri |
Ferrari
| Morning Session | Afternoon Session | |
| Wednesday (26th) | Lewis Hamilton | Charles Leclerc |
| Thursday (27th) | TBC | TBC |
| Friday (28th) | TBC | TBC |
Red Bull
| Morning Session | Afternoon Session | |
| Wednesday (26th) | Liam Lawson | Max Verstappen |
| Thursday (27th) | Liam Lawson | Liam Lawson |
| Friday (28th) | Max Verstappen | Max Verstappen |
Mercedes
| Morning Session | Afternoon Session | |
| Wednesday (26th) | Kimi Antonelli | George Russell |
| Thursday (27th) | George Russell | Kimi Antonelli |
| Friday (28th) | Kimi Antonelli | George Russell |
Aston Martin
| Morning Session | Afternoon Session | |
| Wednesday (26th) | Fernando Alonso | Lance Stroll |
| Thursday (27th) | Fernando Alonso | Lance Stroll |
| Friday (28th) | Lance Stroll | Fernando Alonso |
Alpine
| Morning Session | Afternoon Session | |
| Wednesday (26th) | Jack Doohan | Pierre Gasly |
| Thursday (27th) | Pierre Gasly | Jack Doohan |
| Friday (28th) | Jack Doohan | Pierre Gasly |
Haas
| Morning Session | Afternoon Session | |
| Wednesday (26th) | Ollie Bearman | Esteban Ocon |
| Thursday (27th) | Esteban Ocon | Ollie Bearman |
| Friday (28th) | Ollie Bearman | Esteban Ocon |
Visa Cash App RB
| Morning Session | Afternoon Session | |
| Wednesday (26th) | Yuki Tsunoda | Isack Hadjar |
| Thursday (27th) | Yuki Tsunoda | Isack Hadjar |
| Friday (28th) | Isack Hadjar | Yuki Tsunoda |
Williams
| Morning Session | Afternoon Session | |
| Wednesday (26th) | Alex Albon | Carlos Sainz |
| Thursday (27th) | Carlos Sainz | Carlos Sainz |
| Friday (28th) | Alex Albon | Alex Albon |
Kick Sauber
| Morning Session | Afternoon Session | |
| Wednesday (26th) | Nico Hulkenberg | Gabriel Bortoleto |
| Thursday (27th) | Nico Hulkenberg | Gabriel Bortoleto |
| Friday (28th) | Gabriel Bortoleto | Nico Hulkenberg |
What tyres will the teams use?
Pirelli are bringing their new range of tyres for the 2025 season, which feature better construction in comparison to the 2024 tyres to account for the increased aerodynamic loads that these new cars will bring.
Teams have been able to choose between tyre compounds C1-C6 as well as the intermediate and wet weather tyres to create their own selection for the 3 days. This can include the new C6 compound, introduced for this season as the now softest tyre available. It’s unlikely to fare well in Bahrain however as the circuit is tough on tyres, but expect teams to run it for a few laps to gather some baseline data.
For this test, each team can select up to 35 sets of tyres, which they can use 30 sets of over the three days. Pirelli have helpfully provided a chart to show which tyres teams have selected to use in testing:
To distinguish between these different compounds over testing, Pirelli will mark some with their usual brackets and some without, over the usual white, yellow and red colour range plus the green and blue for the inter/wet tyres.
Where can I watch?
The entirety of testing will be broadcast live on your usual F1 broadcaster including F1TV, so you can tune in to the eight hours of running each day.
As always, we’ll be analysing all the key developments over the three days on our social channels @MotorsportbyApex, as well as here on our website too – so stay tuned for everything you need to know as 2025 gets underway…
