F1 2025 pre-season testing is fast approaching and will take place at the Sakhir circuitin Bahrain, from February 26 to 28. This is a crucial time for all teams, as drivers and engineers prepare for an exciting new season.
Winter testing 2025
Pre-season testing is always highly anticipated, and this year the excitement is at an all-time high with Lewis Hamilton's very first lap in Ferrari colors. Indeed, the seven-time world champion will make his debut with Scuderia Ferrari after an announcement that shook the world of F1. The Maranello team will present their new car on February 19, before traveling to Bahrain for the pre-season test the following week.
These tests are particularly important for the teams, because they only have one opportunity to test their new cars before the start of the season. The Sakhir circuit, offering favorable climatic conditions, was chosen for its reliability in terms of weather, unlike Barcelona, which is often subject to climatic hazards. In addition, its demanding track in terms of tires makes it an excellent test location to evaluate new car configurations.
The test program in Bahrain
Testing will begin on Wednesday February 26 and continue until Friday February 28. Each day will be divided into two four-hour sessions: one in the morning from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. (Italian time) and one in the afternoon from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. During these three days, each team will have a single car on track and a maximum of ten drivers will be able to drive at the same time, thus offering 12 hours of testing for each driver.
Here is the detailed program for the 2025 pre-season tests:
- Wednesday February 26:
- 08:00 – 12:00: Morning session
- 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.: Afternoon session
- Thursday February 27:
- 08:00 – 12:00: Morning session
- 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.: Afternoon session
- Friday February 28:
- 08:00 – 12:00: Morning session
- 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.: Afternoon session
Why Bahrain?
Bahrain has become a hot spot for pre-season testing due to its ideal conditions. The Sakhir circuit offers an excellent combination of warm temperatures and varied landscapes, allowing teams to maximize their preparation before the start of the season. In addition to its favorable climate, the circuit is renowned for testing tire management, a key factor in the performance of modern cars.
Although the F1 season begins this year in Australia on March 14, 2025, a return to the traditional Australian Grand Prix after several years of alternation, it is in Bahrain that the first important tests of the season will take place.
The wait around Ferrari and Hamilton
This test will take on a particular magnitude for Ferrari, since all eyes will be on Lewis Hamilton, who will make its first public appearance under the Scuderia banner with the new F1 2025. After years at Mercedes, the British driver begins a new chapter in his career with the Italian team, and these first tests will be crucial to assess his ability to adapt to the Ferrari.
