The third and final day of F1 pre-season testing is complete. The lights went out in Bahrain, with Charles Leclerc and George Russell leading the timesheets.
What Happened on Day 3 of F1 Pre-Season Testing
Formula 1 returned to Sakhir for the final day of pre-season testing.
After two days of challenging weather conditions, temperatures were finally pleasant, and the track remained dry. This allowed teams to gather valuable data ahead of the new season.
Charles Leclerc drove for Ferrari in the morning and set the fastest lap in the first three hours, clocking a 1:30.811. The Monegasque finished the session 0.077 seconds ahead of Andrea Kimi Antonelli. Behind them were Lando Norris and Max Verstappen.
In the afternoon, Ferrari put Lewis Hamilton behind the wheel. However, the seven-time world champion had to cut his session short and returned to the garage early.
Not all drivers took part in Day 3 testing. Williams’ new driver, Carlos Sainz, and Red Bull’s Liam Lawson had completed their laps the previous day. Both were on track during the morning and evening sessions before handing over to their teammates for the final day.
Meanwhile, Verstappen and Alexander Albon remained in their cars for the full day.
Aston Martin were forced to adjust their schedule after Lance Stroll fell ill, leaving Fernando Alonso to run both sessions.
Fernando Alonso will take over the Aston Martin from Lance Stroll as we head towards the final hour of the day#F1Testing #F1 pic.twitter.com/manwtNrxPr
— Formula 1 (@F1) February 28, 2025
Overall, it was a quiet session with few notable incidents. A red flag was briefly brought out for debris on the track, and Oliver Bearman lost his engine cover within the first few laps of the morning.
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: F1 Pre-Season Testing Day 1: Antonelli and Norris Lead the Way
A Look at the Rookies
With several newcomers on the grid, all eyes were on them during pre-season testing. On Day 3, it was Antonelli who impressed the most. The Mercedes driver was the second-fastest in the morning, completing 63 laps.
The Italian stayed close to Leclerc in the final laps of the session and even pulled off an overtake on the Ferrari down the straight.
It was also a positive morning for Alpine’s Jack Doohan, who finished fifth. Gabriel Bortoleto and Isack Hadjar had productive sessions as well, with the RB driver being the only one to complete 78 laps.
Meanwhile, Bortoleto focused on a race simulation for the Bahrain Grand Prix. The Brazilian encountered some issues and spent time in the garage but eventually managed to complete his program.
Despite his early issues with the engine cover, Ollie Bearman wrapped up his pre-season testing and preparations for the Australian Grand Prix. He finished tenth with a best lap time of 1:32.361.
More shots of that Haas engine cover that’s been torn off – part of it is on the grass 👀#F1Testing #F1 pic.twitter.com/hxMnnezahe
— Formula 1 (@F1) February 28, 2025
MORE FOR YOU: F1 Pre-Season Testing Day 2: Carlos Sainz and Lewis Hamilton Top the Charts
A Closer Look at the Top Teams
Mercedes can be pleased with their pre-season testing performance. Both Kimi Antonelli and George Russell showed that the W16 is competitive over a single lap. Russell set the fastest time just six minutes before the session ended, clocking a 1:29.545. However, the team still have work to do when it comes to race pace.
Just behind Mercedes was Verstappen. The reigning world champion led the session until Russell’s late flyer, finishing just 0.021 seconds behind.
While testing times aren’t always representative, there’s a chance we could see them go wheel-to-wheel this season.
Day 3 ✅
The final day of #F1Testing is done and dusted and the classification is in… 👇#F1 pic.twitter.com/GI83UpRC8F
— Formula 1 (@F1) February 28, 2025
McLaren remain the team to watch. Despite Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri finishing fourth and 11th, the MCL38 showed strong race pace, looking significantly better than the rest of the grid.
Ferrari had a strong morning with Leclerc, but the afternoon was a different story. Hamilton’s pace was inconsistent and not as competitive as Piastri’s.
However, ending his session early may have been a sign that Ferrari had completed their planned program. That said, Leclerc expressed concerns about the car’s balance.
With pre-season testing now complete, the Australian Grand Prix is fast approaching, and the 2025 season is about to begin.
F1 Pre-Season Testing Day 3 Results
| 1 | G. Russell | Mercedes | 1:29.545 (C3) | – | 90 |
| 2 | M. Verstappen | Red Bull | 1:29.566 (C3) | +0.021 | 81 |
| 3 | A. Albon | Williams | 1:29.650 (C4) | +0.105 | 136 |
| 4 | O. Piastri | McLaren | 1:29.940 (C3) | +0.395 | 84 |
| 5 | P. Gasly | Alpine | 1:30.040 (C3) | +0.495 | 83 |
| 6 | L. Hamilton | Ferrari | 1:30.345 (C4) | +0.800 | 47 |
| 7 | Y. Tsunoda | RB | 1:30.497 (C3) | +0.952 | 86 |
| 8 | E. Ocon | Haas | 1:30.728 (C4) | +1.183 | 102 |
| 9 | C. Leclerc | Ferrari | 1:30.811 (C3) | +1.266 | 66 |
| 10 | A.K. Antonelli | Mercedes | 1:30.888 (C3) | +1.343 | 61 |
| 11 | L. Norris | McLaren | 1:30.943 (C3) | +1.398 | 57 |
| 12 | J. Doohan | Alpine | 1:31.239 (C3) | +1.694 | 61 |
| 13 | L. Stroll | Aston Martin | 1:31.699 | +2.154 | 34 |
| 14 | N. Hülkenberg | Kick Sauber | 1:31.726 (C3) | +2.181 | 68 |
| 15 | I. Hadjar | RB | 1:31.761 (C3) | +2.216 | 73 |
| 16 | F. Alonso | Aston Martin | 1:32.084 (C3) | +2.539 | 82 |
| 17 | G. Bortoleto | Kick Sauber | 1:32.147 (C3) | +2.602 | 35 |
| 18 | O. Bearman | Haas | 1:32.361 (C3) | +2.816 | 59 |
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Main Photo
CreditIMAGO / MAXPPP
Recording Date
