Lando Norris made a strong statement on the opening day of Formula 1 pre-season testing at the Bahrain International Circuit. The McLaren driver clocked the fastest time during the session that was extended by an extra hour following a red flag, ending the day on top of the timesheets.
Early testing highlights: Mercedes and McLaren show strength
The first session of the day saw each team fielding one driver, and it was Mercedes' Kimi Antonelli who posted the quickest time. The rookie also completed the highest lap count of 78, setting a strong foundation for his team. Following this, the second session began at 3:00 PM local time, where the remaining drivers took over.
Racing Bulls' rookie Isack Hadjar was first out, but his debut session was marked by a spin. Luckily, the French driver avoided damage and quickly got back on track. Max Verstappen, along with others, joined the action soon after, including Norris, who ventured onto the circuit a bit later.
Red flags and extended session
The session took a brief pause when the red flags were waved due to a power cut at the circuit. When the action resumed with less than an hour to go, the sun had set, and light rain had begun to fall. The drivers adapted to these cooler conditions under the floodlights, simulating the environment they will encounter during the Bahrain Grand Prix in April.
With the extended track time, Norris pushed hard and set a fastest lap of 1m 30.430s, securing the top spot. He beat Mercedes' George Russell by 0.157 seconds, while Max Verstappen completed the top three. Ferrari's Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz followed in fourth and fifth, respectively.
Notable performances and the rest of the pack
Pierre Gasly rounded out the top six for Alpine, while Kimi Antonelli, Liam Lawson, Alex Albon, and Yuki Tsunoda completed the top 10. Rookies Isack Hadjar and Gabriel Bortoleto were placed 11th and 12th, respectively. Further down, Lewis Hamilton, Jack Doohan, and Fernando Alonso held positions 13 through 15, with Lance Stroll in 16th after completing fewer laps than others.
Day 2 ahead
The teams and drivers will return to action on Thursday for Day 2 of pre-season testing. The morning session is set to begin at 10:00 AM local time, with more lap times expected to drop as teams refine their setups for the 2025 season.