Aren’t you excited? After all the excitement over F1 75 Live, we now have Pre-Season testing in Bahrain starting the 26th of February. The event spans three days and gives every team the chance to see their newly created race car in action. The Bahrain International Circuit is where they can gauge not only their own car’s pace, but that of their opponents as well. Pre-Season testing will give crucial data to drivers and their teams ahead of the first race in Australia. Here are five things to watch for during this year’s testing.
- Hamilton in a Ferrari
- Yes, we saw them at the F1 75 event, yes, they’ve been unveiled afterwards, but have you see them in a blur at the Bahrain International Circuit? Nope, and so that’s one thing to get excited for ahead of Pre-Season Testing. Fans all over the world get to witness the impeccable designs… if you can catch a glimpse that is! They might be flying around the track too fast to grab a look! All 10 teams and 20 drivers participate in testing in order to gain data and feedback on the car. It’s just lucky for us that we get to see the striking liveries at the same time, because we all know that we can’t get enough!
- An Abundance of Rookies
- Liam Lawson. Kimi Antonelli. Jack Doohan. Ollie Bearman. Isack Hadjar. Gabriel Bortoleto. All of these drivers are about to race in their first full Formula One season this year, and there’s no doubt that we’re all curious to see how they compare to the seniors they’re partnered with. Perhaps the rookie under the most pressure, Liam Lawson will definitely be looking to prove that there’s a reason he’s teammates to the reigning world champion Max Verstappen. And Antonelli has to deal with stepping in after Hamilton’s departure. Now those are some big shoes to fill! The rest of these newbies don’t have it easy either. Will they show off their talent in spectacular fashion? Or will they push the car beyond it’s limits?
- Is Mclaren still Dominant?
- The way that Mclaren ended their season last year was incredible; however, did they carry enough of that momentum over to 2025 in order to stay ahead of their close challengers? Ferrari was only 14 points behind them at the end of 2024, and Red Bull and Mercedes definitely weren’t far back either. With the advances made by all four teams over winter, how will each one stack up? Of course, the times clocked in during testing aren’t supposed to be taken too seriously. Not all times are an accurate representation of a car’s ultimate limits, and teams always introduce updates throughout the season. Even so, it’s still intriguing to see who’s looking strongest, even if that drastically changes…
- Other Drivers in Different Cars
- The silly season ahead of 2025 was exciting and overwhelming. So much so that only two teams have unchanged line-ups going into this season. Pre-Season Testing is a chance for us to see all the drivers in their cars, and some for the first time! Not only are we excited to see what the rookies do, but many other drivers took chances when they signed with a new team, and it’s intriguing to hear their feedback on the car. Is it comfortable? Easy to drive? Or are some just not fitting in? We’ll be able to start gaining some insight into these questions during testing.
- Liveries Racing Around the Track
- Yes, we saw them at the F1 75 event, yes, they’ve been unveiled afterwards, but have you see them in a blur at the Bahrain International Circuit? Nope, and so that’s one thing to get excited for ahead of Pre-Season Testing. Fans all over the world get to witness the impeccable designs… if you can catch a glimpse that is! They might be flying around the track too fast to grab a look! All 10 teams and 20 drivers participate in testing in order to gain data and feedback on the car. It’s just lucky for us that we get to see the striking liveries at the same time, because we all know that we can’t get enough!
