Everything that happened on day two of F1 2025 preseason testing in Bahrain, with Williams’ Sainz fastest (2025)

Carlos Sainz finished quickest after day two of preseason testing in Bahrain, ahead of the 2025 season.

The new Williams driver clocked a best of 1:29.348 in an apparent qualifying run, while Mercedes are now the lap leaders with 306 across two days, with just tomorrow’s two test sessions remaining.

Lewis Hamilton (1:29.379) went fastest in a rain-affected morning session. Aston Martin (190 laps) and Red Bull (223), who had Liam Lawson in the RB21 all day, both fell behind in testing mileage after reliability issues.

Testing is now over for Lawson and Sainz, with Max Verstappen and Alex Albon getting tomorrow’s sessions to themselves at Sakhir.

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It’s briefing time following the track running on day two of preseason testing in Bahrain. So what stuck out for our correspondents, Luke Smith and Madeline Coleman?

Lewis Hamilton was the quickest driver from the morning session, building on his solid start with Ferrari. But his best was topped within an hour of the second session, with Carlos Sainz’s lap beating the seven-time world champion’s best by 0.031 seconds.

Even though the fastest portion of preseason testing typically falls within the final hour of each day as the cooler conditions set in, the Williams driver ended the day at the top of the timesheets.

From McLaren’s performance to the midfield pecking order and explaining Max Verstappen’s stance on the boos at F1 75 Live…

We have you covered — just hop onto the link below as our writers analyze the day’s events at Sakhir.

This has been arguably news to rival anything from the Bahrain track.

Yesterday, the World Motor Sport Council (WMSC) approved a rule to make the iconic Monaco Grand Prix a minimum two-stop grand prix.

It’s all in a bid to improve the quality of racing around Monte Carlo — although I’ve heard mixed responses from some pretty clever minds on whether it will have the desired effect, or simply cause different issues.

I love Monaco and do feel F1 needs to adapt what it needs to keep the race on the calendar. But is this the way to go about it? You can read more from Alex Brodie, below.

Toto Wolff has shared his feelings on testing so far, and how Mercedes are faring.

Confidence and predictability are his aim for the new car this season, as they enter a new phase without Lewis Hamilton in their driver pairing. Team principal Wolff said:

💬 “Sometimes you take junctions that go in the wrong direction. Maybe yesterday afternoon we tried something that didn’t function —it wasn’t so good — and it’s about having a car that gives more confidence.

“That was the thing we were missing last year. It was unpredictable and so that seems to be a tiny step ahead. Like all of you said, we have no idea about fuel loads.

“Yesterday, Norris was on a different planet. Lewis this morning and Sainz on C2 (tires), so you have no idea. The conditions are not totally representative.”

The rules around drivers swearing or criticising the sport’s ruling body changed ahead of the new season, with the possibility of bans for those who breach the sporting code.

It has been a hot topic ever since the FIA announced the ruling, with plenty of people involved in F1 speaking out against it. Here’s the latest missive, from Mercedes chief Toto Wolff:

💬 “None of us — and I was vocal about it — likes to have these words expressed because we are role models. You may laugh about it but I think we are a gentleman’s sport. We are high tech, we represent that.

“It’s different to more mainstream sports. Rugby for me is sophisticated and nobody would say a word to an official. I don’t think we should be swearing about officials and that’s why the FIA needs to protect that, it’s clear.

“For me, it is about respect: to your competitors, the officials, not inciting anybody and it makes a big difference whether you used the f-word in the context of your own driving or out of emotion, because I’m using that if I am annoyed.

“But when it is directed in the car to another driver, to an official or to your team, this is what we need to prohibit. We don’t want to mute the drivers and their emotions.”

We’ve been hearing from the team principals this afternoon with F1 75 one of the topics on the agenda.

As an event, it was well received by the team bosses — but the booing of Red Bull team principal Christian Horner and four-times worlc champion Max Verstappen has been condemned by Williams’ chief James Vowles:

💬 “I was unsure how that event would go and I thought it was absolutely fantastic, and did the sport a justice. Well done to Formula One for organising it and for the teams for really leaning into it at the time.

“I don’t think there’s a place for booing. We were going into it to represent our sport that we are passionate about. We are trying to give back to the world. It’s not a hero or evil-type environment. There’s always going to be areas where we are fighting one another, be it in politics, the FIA or Formula One.

“That’s a fairly normal element.”

Williams boss James Vowles is not expecting anyone new to break into the top four teams this season, but he is encouraged the sport is becoming more competitive.

He spoke earlier today and says it will be hard to know if this period is reflective of where teams are really at until the first race in Melbourne:

💬 “It’s too early to say (if Williams can be top of the midfield). What you are seeing is the difference in fuel mass and power modes masking the difference between the teams. That’s a good thing. It means the sport is getting closer and closer together.

“But it’s not a cold, wet Bahrain where we’ll be able to determine the order. It’s only when we get to Melbourne we will be able to see it.

“My view is the top four will be the top four. There’s a large gap between them and the midfield, (but) in there I’m not sure. It’s going to be a scrap, race by race.”

All the usual caveats apply but here they are.

These are the fastest times for each driver in testing around Bahrain so far — with a reminder that Carlos Sainz and Liam Lawson are the only two who won’t get any track time on the final day of running tomorrow…

• 1: Carlos SAINZ (WIL) — 1:29.348*
• 2: Lewis Hamilton (FER) — 1:29.379
• 3: Charles Leclerc (FER) — 1:29.431*
• 4: George Russell (MER) — 1:29.778
• 5: Andrea Kimi Antonelli (MER) — 1:29.784*
• 6: Lance Stroll (AST) — 1:30.229*
• 7: Liam Lawson (RBR) — 1:30.252*
• 8: Jack Doohan (ALP) — 1:30.368*
• 9: Pierre Gasly (ALP) — 1:30.430
• 10: Max Verstappen (RBR) — 1:30.674 (Wed)
• 11: Isack Hadjar (RB) — 1:30.675*
• 12: Fernando Alonso (AST) — 1:30.700
• 13: Yuki Tsunoda (RB) — 1:30.793
• 14: Oscar Piastri (MCL) — 1:30.821
• 15: Lando Norris (MCL) — 1:30.430 (Wed)
• 16: Gabriel Bortoleto (SAU) — 1:31.057*
• 17: Nico Hulkenberg (SAU) — 1:31.457
• 18: Alex Albon (WIL) — 1:31.573 (Wed)
• 19: Esteban Ocon (HAS) — 1:33.071
• 20: Oliver Bearman (HAS) — 1:34.372*

*fastest time in this afternoon’ session

Norris was the only runner this afternoon who did not go quicker than his best time from day one running yesterday.

Here is a look at the lap count — effectively mileage — for each team after two of the three days’ testing here in Bahrain…

• 1: MERCEDES — 306 laps
• 2: Haas — 295
• 3: Racing Bulls — 294
• 4: Ferrari — 269
• 5: Alpine — 260
• 6: Williams — 258
• 7: Sauber — 250
• 8: McLaren — 239
• 9: Red Bull — 223
• 10: Aston Martin — 190

Let’s bring you up to speed with how day two went for everyone. Here is how many laps each driver managed today (afternoon session drivers in bold):

• 127 laps — CARLOS SAINZ (WIL)*
• 94 — Isack Hadjar (RB)
• 91 — Liam Lawson (RBR)*
• 87 — Andrea Kimi Antonelli (MER)
• 83 — Charles Leclerc (FER)
• 80 — Jack Doohan (ALP), Gabriel Bortoleto (SAU)
• 77 — Lando Norris (MCL)
• 71 — George Russell (MER)
• 69 — Esteban Ocon (HAS)
• 66 — Ollie Bearman (HAS)
• 57 — Lance Stroll (AST)
• 56 — Nico Hulkenberg (SAU)
• 46 — Yuki Tsunoda (RB)
• 45 — Lewis Hamilton (FER), Fernando Alonso (AST)
• 44 — Oscar Piastri (MCL)
• 40 — Pierre Gasly (ALP)

*Running both morning and afternoon sessions today

It was noticeable how much this morning’s rain cut short the running in that session.

For Sainz and Lawson, that is the end of their test having driven in both sessions today. Their teammates, Alex Albon and Max Verstappen, will get the final day to themselves.

But to jump in with some early headlines, how about these…

• That Carlos Sainz headline lap time looked like a pure qualifying run from Williams, and therefore probably isn’t directly comparable to any of the others.
• There was a lengthy race run this afternoon from Lando Norris — and that appeared hugely encouraging for McLaren.
• On the flip side, Liam Lawson got the laps in — but did not complete a single stint of full race distance, despite having the Red Bull to himself in both sessions today.

I’m sure all three subjects will come up again before we have running tomorrow, and they may even be rumbling on when everyone arrives in Australia.

There we are. The chequered flag is out — well, in reality it’s red lights on the grid — to signal the end of the four-hour afternoon session on day two of preseason testing in Bahrain is over.

Lap counts and timings on the way shortly, as well as analysis and insight into what we’ve seen, heard and learned over the past nine hours.

Lando Norris looks like he’s trying to squeeze in a quick lap on the same tires Carlos Sainz did his test-leading time earlier this afternoon.

But that lap for Norris is cut short because — just like with the end of the morning session — there is a red flag, then a message that the safety car has been deployed.

All of this is planned testing of the systems for the drivers, rather than actual reactions to events on track.

The cars will now get the chance to take part in a rolling start. But in effect, the timed element of the afternoon session is over.

And my final stop is Turn 11, just in time for Lando Norris to come back out in his McLaren.

It’s a fast left-hand corner but he is able to turn in nice and early, still carrying lots of speed before getting back on the power quite early.

Our inbox remains open and thank you for your comments and questions so far. A reminder of the email address:

• livebloguk@theathletic.com

We also have a Discussion page up and running for the duration of preseason testing in Bahrain, so there is still plenty of time to discuss the track action, what you’re making of the 2025 cars, ask any questions and talk to other F1 fans.

The link is below. Go get stuck in.

Andrea Kimi Antonelli is going to have a good idea about the rear of that new Ferrari after this session.

He’s staying about three seconds back and tracking Charles Leclerc — all info for Mercedes is useful at this point!

I’m now overlooking Turns 1 to 3, and it is very windy up here!

Andrea Kimi Antonelli and Charles Leclerc have both been on long runs, a few seconds apart, which makes it good for comparisons.

The Ferrari seems that little bit smoother and quicker on exit of the left-hand kink, carrying a bit more speed earlier.

Both cars have been catching the Alpine of Jack Doohan, who has moved aside to let them through.

Now I’m also feeling a few spots of rain on my head, but nothing dramatic. Liam Lawson has been back out for Red Bull too.

I’m quite liking the look of the Mercedes at the moment; it seems pretty smooth through this part of the track.

I’ve come down to Turns 9 and 10 to watch the cars at one of the trickiest points of the track, being a downhill double left.

Carlos Sainz got a little bit out of shape in the Williams on exit a few minutes ago, but no harm done.

The McLaren really does look very nimble at each phase of the corner: entry, apex, exit.

The Ferrari is pretty stable too, even if it doesn’t seem quite as ‘pointy’ — it seemed to be struggling at the rear yesterday at times.

Red Bull had a setback earlier today with a water pressure issue on Liam Lawson’s car.

According to the team, it is racking up a little bit of mileage and does require some servicing between runs.

Lawson is up to 81 laps for the day, which is behind only Carlos Sainz (108) — and that is how it should be, given those are the two drivers to have taken part in both sessions today.