Lewis Hamilton marked a significant milestone in his new partnership with Ferrari, completing an impressive 70 laps during the opening morning of pre-season testing in Bahrain. This was the Briton’s first opportunity to fully experience Ferrari’s 2025 car after briefly testing the SF-25 at Fiorano alongside teammate Charles Leclerc.
A busy morning for Lewis Hamilton
Hamilton, who is moving to Ferrari from Mercedes, kicked off the three-day test in Bahrain, taking the wheel of the SF-25 for his first full session with the team. Under cool, unseasonably chilly conditions, Hamilton covered more than the equivalent of a full Bahrain race distance of 57 laps, demonstrating solid performance across various stints.
Despite a few minor off-track moments, including running wide and kicking up gravel at Turn Four, Hamilton’s session remained incident-free, showing a smooth start to his new chapter with Ferrari. He will hand over the car to teammate Charles Leclerc for the afternoon session.
A strong start for Mercedes Rookie Andrea Kimi Antonelli
While Hamilton’s performance was notable, the standout of the morning session was Mercedes’ teenage rookie, Andrea Kimi Antonelli. The 18-year-old Italian impressed by completing 78 laps and setting a fastest lap time of 1:31.428. Antonelli’s performance was remarkable, with the only hiccup being a late-session lock-up.
Despite the fact that lap times during testing are often misleading due to varying conditions and team strategies, Mercedes will be pleased with Antonelli’s consistency and speed. His performance was a strong indication of the young driver’s potential as he replaces Hamilton at Mercedes.
A competitive field in Bahrain
The opening day saw plenty of action with multiple drivers competing for top times. Red Bull's Liam Lawson finished second-fastest with a lap time of 1:31.560 after completing 58 laps. His teammate, Max Verstappen, was notably absent from the session, with Lawson stepping in to lead the team.
Williams’ Alex Albon was another notable contender, clocking in third with a 1:31.573 after 63 laps. Yuki Tsunoda of Racing Bulls and Hamilton rounded out the top five positions, with both completing 78 laps.
Fernando Alonso of Aston Martin had a quieter session, finishing the morning with only 46 laps after spending some time in the garage. Meanwhile, McLaren’s Oscar Piastri wrapped up his morning in eighth place, completing 66 laps.
Day one morning timesheet summary
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes – 1:31.428, 78 laps
Liam Lawson, Red Bull – 1:31.560, 58 laps
Alex Albon, Williams – 1:31.573, 63 laps
Yuki Tsunoda, Racing Bulls – 1:31.610, 78 laps
Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari – 1:31.834, 70 laps
Jack Doohan, Alpine – 1:31.841, 68 laps
Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin – 1:31.874, 46 laps
Oscar Piastri, McLaren – 1:32.084, 66 laps
Nico Hulkenberg, Sauber – 1:32.169, 55 laps
Oliver Bearman, Haas – 1:35.522, 72 laps