Last Updated on February 28 2025, 5:09 am
Of course testing is just testing and teams run different levels of fuel together with different power unit settings, yet there are aspects of the various kinds of runs the teams choose to make which give a much firmer kind of data.
Red Bull were handicapped by a water pressure problem which saw Liam Lawson miss out on some of the track time on day 2. Further, the team did not perform any long run race simulations which may be left to Max Verstappen tomorrow.
Yet in the afternoon McLaren (Lando Norris), Ferrari (Charles Leclerc) and Mercedes (Kimi Antonelli) all performed a number of race simulation long runs.
Norris over 32 seconds quicker than Ferrari and Mercedes
The headline from the data is that across a 57 lap Grand Prix in Bahrain, Lando Norris was an enormous 32.3 seconds ahead of Leclerc, with Antonelli a further 2.4 seconds behind.
The first thing to remember when considering Mercedes is that Kimi Antonelli being a rookie would probably be slower than George Russell and so the numbers from the Mercedes runs may well be understated.
Each of the drivers used the C3, C2 and C1 compounds in their three long runs, though not necessarily in the same order. It was in the final stint where the McLaren eclipsed its rivals with Lando Norris averaging 1:32.9, Leclerc 1:34.2 and Antonelli with 1:34.0
The McLaren tyre in this stint was on the medium tyre, whilst his rivals were on the more durable but slower hard tyre. Even so in the colder conditions the time difference between the hard and the medium tyre would not account completely for Norris extra pace.
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Mercedes faster than Ferrari
Allowing an extra half a second a lap to count for the tyre difference Norris would remain on average 0.6 seconds quicker than Antonelli and 0.8 faster than Charles Leclerc over 28 laps.
There is some evidence from the speed trap that Norris was using a faster engine mode on his final run as he was a full 10kph quicker through the speed trap on the start/finish straight. In the second speed trap approaching turn four, Norris was also much quicker than previously clocking up 291 kph compared to his previous 286.
Again catching the eye is the inexperienced Antonelli was 0.2 seconds quicker than the Ferrari in stint three, something which will amuse Toto Wolff although it was Leclerc not Hamilton driving the Ferrari.
If we write off stint three due to suspicions the McLaren had turned up the power unit Norris remains quicker than the Ferrari and the Mercedes in both stints one (0.4s) and two (0.2s). The drivers were all on the same tyre in stint 1 but Norris was on a harder compound in the second outing.
Red Bull absent from race simulations
This would mean even without adjusting the tyre for the different compounds the McLaren in Lando’s hands gives the McLaren and advantage in a Grand Prix run this day in Bahrain of 22.8 seconds over the Mercedes in his first run and 11.4 seconds on his second. Add in half a second tyre difference for the second stint and Lando is taking the fantom chequered flag almost 40 seconds ahead of both his rivals.
Without Red Bull joining the race simulations today, there are yet more variables to consider after the final days running at the Sakhir International Circuit.
McLaren did not chase the clock once on day 2 of the pre-season test, instead spending their time working through a number of set up experiments which would point to a certain amount of confidence within the team. As an aside in between practicing two consecutive pit stops, Lando set the quickest middle sector of the test to date with nonchalance.
The early signs are that Whilst Ferrari closed down McLaren by 61 points over the last six races of 2024, the work the team have put in over the winter has re-established their superiority over the Scuderia. When asked after the days running Norris revealed the team haven’t made significant changes to the car which won them their first constructors’ title in 26 years last season.
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Norris complains over rear end stability
“Nothing’s been majorly addressed. Let’s say it’s not like that much has changed from what we’ve tried to do,” Lando told assembled media. “Just try to do just try to make the car quick all around and add more load.
“That’s the most simple way of looking at it, honestly. We still want to try and focus on some areas more than, more than others, and we’ve struggled a bit more in the rear than we would have liked, over yesterday and today.”
This is bad news for the competition given the race simulations McLaren were able to deliver on day 2 or pre-season testing. Veteran pit lane reporter Ted Kravitz confirmed Norris assertions over their 2025 F1 challenger.
“This McLaren looks a very, very tidy package I’ve got to say,” he told Sky F1. “While we have a look at all the of the teams and I’ll talk about them in a second, McLaren, it’s a sensible car, it’s an aggressive car and this looks more of an aggressive version of last year’s car.
“It looks like they’ve made progress and it looks like they’re making what was the best car certainly in terms of the constructors’ championship before, even better,” Ted added.
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McLaren’s gold heat shield
Kravitz disclosed the team have focused on improving the car in both slow and high speed corners together with improving the efficiency of the DRS which was controversial at times last year.
“As far as the front of the car, it doesn’t actually look dramatically different, but the rear is nicely packaged and certainly Oscar Piastri as he’s getting out of the car now, he’s handing over to Lando Norris has looked happy enough.
“So, from the front of it, while other teams are doing different things on their design, I think McLaren are looking…oh that’s an interesting heat shield! A gold heat shield on the front bulkhead, I’ve never seen that before!
“Wow, you’ve got to keep something cool in there. McLaren look like they’re making what was the best package, certainly won the last race in Abu Dhabi towards the end of 2024, made it even better,” concluded the Sky F1 reporter.
Hamilton contradicts his old boss, Toto Wolff
Day two of Formula One pre-season testing and Lewis Hamilton has a bigger smile on his face. Having ended day 1 in thirteenth place a long way off the pace of his team mate, the former F1 champion looked at one with his Ferrari half way through the sessions in Bahrain.
Lewis was quickest in the morning session and ahead of his ex-Mercedes team mate by 0.4 seconds, though only Pierre Gasly and Oscar Piastri completed less mileage than Hamilton’s 45 laps. Meanwhile Carlos Sainz did a marathon 127 laps – which is more than the distance of two Grand Prix at the Sakhir circuit – but Williams along with Haas were one the only teams prepared with wet weather tyres when the rain fell for an extended period during the afternoon.
Hamilton was clearly ‘on it’ late in his time own the SF-25 as he tussled the car around the track whilst others looked sedentary. Some reports have made much of the fact Lewis set his time which beat team mate Charles Leclerc when the conditions meant the track was slower, yet the Monegasque driver in fact had worse conditions in which to complete his mileage… READ MORE
With over 30 years of experience in Formula 1 as an insider journalist, I have built trusted connections across the paddock, from race engineers and mechanics to senior team figures. At The Judge 13, I and a handful of trusted colleagues share exclusive Formula 1 news, expert analysis and behind-the-scenes stories you will not find in mainstream motorsport media.
