Lando Norris and McLaren looked the class of the field in Bahrain (Image: Getty)
The countdown to one of the most anticipated seasons in history can officially begin following the conclusion of testing. All 10 teams and 20 drivers have been on track in Bahrain this week, honing their new cars ahead of the season opener in Melbourne.
While it’s advisable to not to read too much into testing, the three days provided insights into how the season could pan out, at least in the early going. Bahrain confirmed the confidence of some teams but for some, the test was a stark reminder that they hadn’t made the progress they wanted since 2024. Meanwhile, others, worryingly, appear to have gone backwards. Here’s a wrap-up of some of the key talking points from F1 testing 2025.
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Norris’ ‘winning car’
Ahead of testing, championship favourite predicted that midfield teams could upset the established ‘big four’ of and However, Bahrain suggested there would again be a gap between that quartet and the rest.
Fernando Alonso, whose Aston Martin team had a troubled test, doesn’t agree with Norris. Speaking after the test, the Spanish legend described the Briton’s words as a “normal, confident speech”.
“I don’t know. Now that he has the winning car he says that! When he was the fifth or sixth team, he was saying that only one team will win all the races,” said the two-time world champion.
The numbers would suggest Norris’s prediction is indeed misguided. ’s long-run pace was impressive, hinting that their small but clear advantage over the field in the second half of last season remains.
Lewis Hamilton was notably all in red (Image: Getty)
Hamilton’s Ferrari ‘ban’
Much of the focus in testing week was naturally on first meaningful running in a . The seven-time champion enjoyed a solid test, even if his new team appear to be just behind in the pecking order.
Off-track, it didn’t go unnoticed that Hamilton was wearing team gear as he arrived at the track, instead of an extravagant outfit from a luxury fashion brand, which has become the norm in recent times. That was highlighted by veteran F1 photographer and YouTuber Kym Illman, who speculated that Hamilton might have been ordered to stick to attire to give the team’s numerous sponsors maximum exposure.
“To be honest, I thought he’d come into wearing fashionable gear, but I’m sure have other ideas,” he said on his “And certainly, is a peculiar team when it comes to rules and regulations.
Illman added: “Their sponsors know that they are strict and the sponsors are giving them the money but they come under all sorts of rules and regulations.
“Now Lews is being paid a lot of money if we believe what the reports say and I have no doubt to disbelieve that. I think have said for this sort of money, you need to wear our sponsors’ logos, they’re paying a lot of money to you.
“I did ask a couple of people whether or not we would see Lewis in fashionable gear later this year. And the responses I got led me to believe no.”
George Russell could be in hot water with the FIA (Image: Viaplay)
Russell set for fine
could become the first F1 driver of 2025 to be punished amid FIA’s swearing clampdown. The governing body’s sporting code has been updated to outline the harsher penalties, meaning that should a driver commit three offences, they will now risk a one-month suspension and deduction of championship points.
Last November, the Grand Prix Drivers’ Association – of which Russell is a director – wrote an open letter asking the FIA to treat them like adults amid the sport’s swearing row. And it was the driver who inadvertently dropped a four-letter expletive during an interview with Viaplay, which broadcasts F1 in the Netherlands among other European countries.
Pointing to a building above the pitlane, he said: “Oh s**t, there’s no lights on.” That could land him a fine of £33,800 should he be deemed to have ’caused moral injury or loss to the FIA, its bodies, its members or its executive officers, and more generally on the interest of motorsport and on the values defended by the FIA’.
It was a tough test for Max Verstappen and Red Bull (Image: Getty)
Red Bull and Aston on the backfoot
ended last season with the third-fastest car at best. Bahrain has done little to suggest team have fixed the handling issues that blighted the car over the second half of 2024.
It’s early days, of course, but the world champion may need to outperform his car again to cling to his crown. Looking further down the grid, big-spending Aston Martin endured a worryingly poor test.
’s running on the final day was restricted by illness, meaning a few extra laps for Alonso. However, the Silverstone-based squad – now the home of design genius Adrian Newey – looks to have the second slowest car, with only Sauder behind them.
Williams on the up
Like a number of midfield teams, Williams have made it clear they are prioritising getting a head start on 2026, which will see a mass regulation change. However, with one of the strongest line-ups on the grid following the arrival of to partner , the Grove team appears to have a handy 2025 car.
The decent long run pace and table-topping time from Sainz on day two suggest they are contenders, along with Alpine, to be the ‘best of the rest’ behind the top four.