2025 F1 pre-season testing in Bahrain: schedule, times and how to watch

Following a glamorous launch at F1 75 Live, the 2025 F1 season is now officially underway and pre-season testing in Bahrain — which will run from February 26-28 — will provide the first indication of which outfit could end up on top.

Over three days, all ten F1 constructors will extensively test their latest and greatest machinery: checking that different operating systems work correctly, trialling different set-ups and working through run plans to test tyre wear and fuel consumption. It’s also the teams’ first chance identify any issues and iron them out ahead of the first race of the season on March 16.

The 2025 campaign is tipped to be one of the most closely-fought seasons in the world championship’s 75-year history, with as many as four constructors possibly in the hunt for regular race victories.

McLaren is arguably the favourite to lead the field after showing impressive and improving pace throughout 2024. After installing a pivotal upgrade at the sixth round of the season in Miami, the Woking outfit won six races, scored 13 podium finishes and captured the constructors’ title — its first since 1998 — at the season finale in Abu Dhabi.

It could face fierce opposition from Ferrari, which not only added Lewis Hamilton to its star-studded driver line-up over the winter break, but has also overhauled its car design with improved front suspension, a new rear wing design and reconfigured radiator inlets.

Many eyes will also be on Max Verstappen, who will be aiming to secure a fifth consecutive drivers’ title in 2025, as well as Mercedes, which will be eyeing a return to the front on a more consistent basis after showing signs of progress in 2024.

Further back, the midfield fight is expected to be just as close, with Aston Martin, Alpine, Haas and Williams sharing a similar level of performance throughout 2024.

But until the new crop of grand prix contenders first creep out onto the asphalt in Bahrain, we’ll just have to keep guessing at what the 2025 season may have in store.

Find all the details about pre-season testing for the 2025 F1 season below, including dates, times, where to watch and what to expect.

Dates and times for 2025 F1 pre-season testing

How to watch 2025 F1 testing

Sky Sports holds the exclusive rights to F1 broadcasting in the UK, and will provide coverage throughout the 2025 pre-season test. Sky Sports customers can also livestream the event through the Sky Go app, and you can also subscribe via Now TV.

The channel treats the testing as the prelude to the season itself, and you can expect similar treatment to a grand prix weekend, with full commentary teams, trackside analysis, diaries and paddock punditry for all three days.

The Sky Sports F1 channel is available through NowTV.

Who’s driving and when?

Each team brings a single car to testing, with each driver usually splitting their time in the car evenly. Some teams alternate drivers between the morning and evening sessions, while others give each one a full day, followed by half a morning or afternoon each for the final day.

What will happen in 2025 F1 pre-season testing?

Over three days of testing in Bahrain, teams will be looking to ensure that their cars run reliably and as expected in the various scenarios expected throughout a race weekend. They use aero rakes and flo-vis paint to ensure that the airflow over the car on track is similar to the predictions from its computer models, and make set-up changes to check that the car responds predictably, and as expected.

They will also monitor the performance of rivals to see whether there are any elements worth copying, and to get an uncertain indication of where their performance lies among the 2025 grid.

Each team’s testing programme will be different, resulting in cars running with varying fuel loads and different levels of tyre wear, not to mention the almost-infinite number of set-up possibilities. As a result, no matter who comes out on top at the end of each day, we won’t get a true indication of the running order until the field lines up for the first qualifying session of the year. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t keep an eye on some of the most intriguing storylines in the meantime.

Can Hamilton help Ferrari end title drought? 

The Scuderia enjoyed a semi-successful campaign in 2024, as it scored victories in Australia, Monaco, Monza, the US and Mexico City and secured 17 further podium finishes. But a brief mid-season slump ultimately meant that the team fell agonisingly short in both world championships — extending Maranello’s wait for a true return to the top of F1.

However, 2025 may just be Ferrari’s best chance yet of ending its title drought, with the addition of seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton and the development of the SF-25, which team boss Fred Vasseur has called “completely new”.

Maranello’s latest F1 creation made its on-track debut at Fiorano during the team’s own launch on February 19, where it showed off a new pull rod suspension layout (as favoured by McLaren and Red Bull) as well as changes to the wheelbase, sidepods, radiator inlets and the rear wing.

So far, the package has seemingly been well received by both Hamilton and team-mate Charles Leclerc. But Ferrari will likely be waiting until it reaches Bahrain for a chance to truly put the SF-25 through its paces.

Can McLaren defend its constructors’ crown? 

McLaren finally found a winning formula for its grand prix car in 2024 and as a result secured its first constructors’ championship since 1998. But it could have some trouble in retaining that title — especially if its 2025 season gets off to a slow start.

In recent years, the Woking outfit has initially struggled in the early stages of its F1 campaign before introducing a major mid-season upgrade that sees it quickly leap to the front of the field. With performance between the front-runners expected to be closer than ever in 2025, McLaren will likely be hoping to start the upcoming season on the front foot by setting the tone and forcing everyone else to play catch-up.

The MCL39 — McLaren’s latest F1 car — has benefitted from an “aggressive” approach to its evolution, with changes to the suspension, the geometry of the chassis monocoque, radiator inlets, airbox and how the car interacts with the tyres. And while it has already appeared on track for a shakedown at Silverstone, pre-season testing in Bahrain will be the first place where Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri can begin pushing their new car to the max.

“I’m pleased to say that it appears we have maintained the rate of development we’ve had in the last two years,” said team principal Andreas Stella. “This car appears to be on a linear trend with the other upgrades since 2023.”

Which F1 rookie will impress? 

There will be a total of six fresh faced rookies on the 2025 F1 grid, and pre-season testing will provide the first indication of just how prepared they are to race in motor sport’s top echelon.

While Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes), Gabriel Bortoleto (Sauber), Isack Hadjar (Racing Bulls) and Jack Doohan (Alpine) all have limited F1 experience, each has completed extensive testing programmes in older F1 machinery and logged significant time on a simulator. Antonelli in particular has impressed his Brackley team bosses thoroughly, while Bortoleto — fresh off an F2 title — could be set to impress.

Liam Lawson (Red Bull) and Oliver Bearman (Haas) have already made names for themselves during stints as reserve drivers and could therefore be expected to get off to faster starts with their respective teams.

That said, pre-season testing could give all six rookies the chance to turn heads, while they acclimatise to life in a full-time F1 seat.