F1

NEWS : Williams lead Ferrari in Bahrain after day 2 testing

Carlos Sainz delivered a commanding performance on the second day of Formula 1 pre-season testing at the Bahrain International Circuit, setting the fastest lap.

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Admin
February 28, 2025

Carlos Sainz delivered a commanding performance on the second day of Formula 1 pre-season testing at the Bahrain International Circuit, setting the fastest lap.

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The Spaniard clocked a blistering 1:29.348 over 127 laps, edging out Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton by just 0.031 seconds and his former teammate Charles Leclerc by 0.083 seconds.

For Sainz, it was a triumphant day of redemption against the team that let him go, though not without a minor hiccup—he spun his FW47 at Turn 1 early in the afternoon while pushing the car’s limits.

As the session wore on, teams shifted their focus to long-run simulations. McLaren’s Lando Norris, who had dominated day one, slipped to 14th on the timesheet but showcased serious race pace. On the durable C2 compound, Norris posted mid-to-high 1:32s, roughly a second per lap faster than Ferrari’s efforts—a clear sign that McLaren are building on the momentum of their championship-winning MCL38.

Elsewhere, the late movers stole some spotlight. RB’s Liam Lawson overcame a rain-disrupted morning to leap from 13th to seventh, while Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll climbed from 10th to sixth in the AMR25. Both drivers capitalised on the final two hours, proving their teams are finding their rhythm.

Haas, meanwhile, stuck to their tried-and-true strategy of racking up mileage. After logging 160 laps on day one, they added another 135 on day two, with Oliver Bearman taking over from Esteban Ocon at midday to focus on heavy-fuel race stints. “This approach paid off last year when Haas jumped from dead last to seventh in the standings,” a team spokesperson said. “They’re clearly banking on reliability again.”

Rookies also made their mark. Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli joined George Russell under the 1:30 barrier, though the 18-year-old’s aggressive style saw him lock up multiple times, shredding at least one set of tyres.

Alpine’s Jack Doohan impressed too, outpacing teammate Pierre Gasly’s morning effort and finishing just a second off Sainz’s benchmark. Racing Bulls’ Isack Hadjar had a tidier day after two off-track excursions on day one, but the car still looked tricky to tame.

Testing wrapped up with a flurry of race control drills, including a red flag procedure, keeping teams on their toes. With one day left, Williams are setting the pace, McLaren are flexing their race-day muscle, and Ferrari are lurking close behind. The 2025 season is already shaping up to be a cracker.