Bahrain 2025 F1 Pre-Season Test: Leclerc Sets the Pace on Day 3 Morning
The final morning of Formula 1 2025 pre-season testing in Bahrain saw Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc emerge as the fastest driver, edging out rookie Andrea Kimi Antonelli by a mere 0.077 seconds. As the session kicked off, the Monegasque driver engaged in a thrilling battle with a Mercedes driver, with both drivers jostling for the top spot in the timing charts. Antonelli briefly took the lead before Leclerc unleashed a blistering lap time of 1m30.861s. Despite Antonelli’s valiant effort with a time of 1m30.888s, Leclerc extended his dominance with a quick lap of 1m30.811s on C3 tires, setting a benchmark that remained unchallenged for the rest of the morning session.
A minor interruption occurred towards the end of the session when a pane of glass broke loose from the race directors’ box, shattering in the pitlane. This unexpected incident prompted a brief red flag period, halting the action for 15 minutes. However, once the session resumed, drivers faced a new challenge as the wind picked up, causing difficulties for several drivers navigating the corners. McLaren’s Lando Norris, in particular, struggled to control his car in the crosswinds, spinning off at Turn 4 and experiencing a wide moment at Turn 13. Despite these setbacks, Norris managed to secure the third fastest time, trailing Leclerc by 0.132 seconds.
Max Verstappen, behind the wheel of the Red Bull RB21, tested a new nose cone design and claimed the fourth spot on the timing sheet, four tenths adrift of the leading time. Jack Doohan closely followed in fifth place, encountering some struggles with the Alpine’s performance in the windy conditions. Alex Albon, setting his fastest time on C2 tires, secured the sixth position, while rookie Isack Hadjar impressed with the most laps completed – a total of 73 – during the session.
Due to Lance Stroll’s health concerns, Fernando Alonso took over the morning session and finished eighth overall in the standings. Alonso’s protege, Gabriel Bortoleto, faced technical issues that limited his track time, completing only 35 laps. Bringing up the rear of the field was Oliver Bearman, who appeared to hold back on revealing Haas’ full potential during his runs, compounded by bodywork shedding incidents that disrupted his session.
As teams and drivers wrapped up their final preparations ahead of the 2025 season, the pre-season testing in Bahrain provided valuable insights into the competitive landscape of Formula 1. With Leclerc’s impressive pace setting the tone for the day, anticipation continues to build for the upcoming races as teams fine-tune their machinery for the challenges that lie ahead.
