Last Updated on February 28 2025, 6:57 pm
Williams surprise again as Russell steals the show in Bahrain test – George Russell put in a late flyer to top the timesheets on the final day of Formula One pre-season testing in Bahrain, surprising the paddock with a blistering lap to displace reigning world champion Max Verstappen. Williams once again showed unexpected strength as they continued their impressive pre-season form.
Russell denies Verstappen at the last moment: Three days of testing at the Bahrain International Circuit ended with Mercedes’ George Russell setting the fastest time on the final day. His lap, clocked in the closing stages of Friday afternoon’s session, was enough to see off Verstappen, who had led for most of the day. While Russell’s time was eye-catching, it still fell short of the fastest lap set during testing, which was recorded by Williams driver Carlos Sainz on Thursday.
Williams’ strong showing has raised eyebrows in the paddock, with many now considering the once dominant team as a potential contender in the midfield battle. The team have struggled for years, but appear to have made significant progress in the off-season.
McLaren and Ferrari impress despite test inconsistencies
Throughout the three-day test, Ferrari and McLaren appeared to have the most consistent and competitive packages. Both teams looked strong in both long runs and short stints, suggesting that they could be the main contenders at the start of the season.
However, it is important to note that test times do not always translate into race performance. Teams often run different fuel loads, aerodynamic setups and tyre strategies, making direct comparisons difficult. While McLaren and Ferrari have caught the eye with their strong performances, their true potential will only be revealed when the race starts.
McLaren, in particular, have built on their momentum from last season, when they battled Ferrari hard for the Constructors’ Championship. The British outfit eventually claimed the title, their first since 1998. Ferrari, meanwhile, are determined to regain their place at the top and with Lewis Hamilton now in their ranks, expectations are high.
Albon the workhorse for Williams
One of the standout performers of the test was Alexander Albon. The Thai driver completed a remarkable 137 laps on Friday, the highest of any driver on the final day. His mileage reflects the reliability of the Williams package and underlines the team’s confidence heading into the new season.
The resurgence of Williams has been one of the most unexpected storylines of the pre-season. Having struggled at the back of the grid for much of the last decade, the team now appear to have a car capable of consistently competing in the midfield.
Red Bull and Mercedes look steady but not dominant
While Red Bull and Mercedes both showed glimpses of their potential, neither team dominated the timesheets in Bahrain. Red Bull, in particular, seemed content to run long stints and gather data rather than chase direct lap times. Despite his strong performance, Verstappen leaves Bahrain without having set the fastest time in any session.
Mercedes, meanwhile, appear to have made progress compared to last year, but there are still questions about their overall pace. Russell’s fastest lap was impressive, but it remains unclear whether Mercedes have really closed the gap on Red Bull and Ferrari over race distances.
McLaren’s bold statement: “That confidence seems justified”
Difficult start for Hülkenberg and Sauber
For Nico Hülkenberg, pre-season testing was a reminder of the challenges ahead. The German, his country’s only representative on the 2025 grid, struggled to keep pace with the front runners in his Sauber. He finished the final day of testing in 14th place, more than two seconds off Russell’s best time.
Sauber’s struggles were evident throughout the test, with the team failing to make a significant step forward. If the test is anything to go by, Hülkenberg could be in for a difficult season as he struggles at the back of the grid.
Hamilton speaks openly about Cullen
Hamilton adapting quickly to Ferrari
Lewis Hamilton’s long-awaited move to Ferrari has been one of the biggest stories of the off-season. The seven-time world champion made a solid impression in his first official outings for the Scuderia, finishing the final day of testing in sixth place.
Although still behind team-mate Charles Leclerc in terms of raw pace, Hamilton looked comfortable in his new surroundings. His experience and feedback will be vital for Ferrari as they look to mount a serious title challenge in 2025.
McLaren’s bold statement: “That confidence seems justified”
Key takeaways from Formula 1 pre-season testing
With pre-season testing now complete, the focus shifts to the first race of the season, the Australian Grand Prix on 16 March. While test results should always be taken with a pinch of salt, some clear trends have emerged:
- McLaren and Verstappen appear to be evenly matched over a single lap.
- Over race distances, McLaren appear to have the most balanced package.
- Ferrari and Mercedes are slightly behind McLaren and Verstappen, probably by two to four tenths per lap.
- Hamilton is still finding his feet at Ferrari, but has shown promising signs.
- Williams have made a huge leap forward and could be the fifth best team on the grid.
- Alpine has improved compared to last year, while Aston Martin seems to be struggling.
- Sauber remain at the back of the pack, meaning Hülkenberg is likely to have a tough season.
Excitement building for the new season
With testing now complete, all eyes are on Melbourne for the season-opening race. The big question remains: will Red Bull and Verstappen continue their dominance, or will Ferrari, McLaren and Mercedes be able to challenge for race wins?
The resurgence of Williams has added another layer of intrigue, and if the team’s performance in testing translates into race pace, it could shake up the midfield battle. Meanwhile, the rivalry between Leclerc and Hamilton at Ferrari will be one of the key storylines to follow in 2025.
As the engines roar to life in Australia, fans eagerly await the answers that only race day can provide.
READ MORE – Verstappen & Norris ‘Spat’
MORE F1 NEWS – Testing data deep dive: The F1 pecking order is emerging
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.
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…READ MORE ON THIS STORY
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.
