2025 F1 Bahrain pre-season testing - Day One as it happened

It appears there has been a power cut at the circuit, according to respected F1 journalist Chris Medland. 

He adds "a lot of garages" are without power. Seems like this may be the reason for the current stoppage...

Verstappen has had a few wide moments today. Another has just occurred at Turn 11 as the reigning world champion continues to get to grips with the Red Bull.

Norris has barely featured so far this afternoon, completing just four laps since taking over behind the wheel of McLaren's MCL39 from teammate Piastri during the lunch break. 

The Briton took a while to emerge from the garage and hasn't been seen on track since that brief run. He is one of two drivers yet to set a lap time, along with Sauber's Bortoleto. 

According to the radar on one of the pit walls, some light rain is expected to arrive in the next 20 minutes or so! 

Hadjar has already reported some very light drops to his Racing Bulls team. 

F1 rookie Hadjar has had a fairly big spin coming out of Turn 4 and before the 'esses' part of the Sakhir track.

No major dramas for the Racing Bulls driver and he is able to recover from the spin and continue on his way. 

During the lunch break, Red Bull team principal Christian Horner gave his reaction to being booed at F1’s season launch event.

Horner and Red Bull’s four-time world champion Max Verstappen were greeted by a chorus of boos when they took to the stage in front of a packed-out O2 Arena in London last week.

Horner, who was speaking during a team principal press conference in Bahrain, said: "Of course launching your car is a bit like launching your away strip in a home fans’ stadium, so fans will always back the teams and drivers that they want to. 

"Of course we’ve been the protagonists over the years. The only disappointment I had with it was the reaction to Max as a four-time world champion, that was disappointing. But passion in sport is always going to be there.

“If the launch had been in Holland, no doubt the reception would have been somewhat different.”

Not much to report on so far this afternoon as teams continue to set-up their cars and complete seat swaps for the drivers taking over for this session. 

Hadjar is on the track in the striking all-white Racing Bull for his first laps of the day.

Ocon also just briefly emerged from his garage in his Haas VF-25. 

Several drivers have swapped around for the afternoon session. 

McLaren: Norris 
Ferrari: Leclerc 
Red Bull: Verstappen
Mercedes: Russell
Aston Martin: Stroll 
Alpine: Gasly 
Haas: Ocon 
Racing Bulls: Hadjar 
Williams: Sainz 
Sauber: Bortoleto

18-year-old Antonelli impressed on his first morning of F1 pre-season testing for Mercedes. 

Not only did the Italian set the fastest time, he also clocked the most laps of any driver on the opening morning of running with 78. 

Antonelli has of course replaced Hamilton following the seven-time world champion's switch to Ferrari. 

All of the teams will now have a 60-minute lunch break before the afternoon session. Verstappen, Leclerc, Norris and Russell will all be on track from 12pm UK time.

This morning, though, Antonelli set the pace for Mercedes, a tenth ahead of Lawson. 

And Antonelli runs wide after locking up... no damage done though. 

Antonelli is on top at the moment as we enter the final minutes of the morning session.

All cars are out on track except Lawson, Bearman and Hulkenberg. No notable sector times are coming up on the timing screens at the moment. 

Drivers are running on heavier fuel, on worn rubber. 

He's not the first driver to run wide today.