Liam Lawson Sets the Early Pace as F1 Pre-Season Testing Begins in Bahrain
Bahrain’s Formula 1 pre-season testing roared to life with Red Bull’s Liam Lawson setting the standard in the opening session. Despite being only halfway through the four-hour run, the young driver made an early statement, comfortably securing the top spot on the leaderboard.
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The session initially saw Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso take control, posting a strong lap on medium C3 tyres to edge ahead of Lawson by just four hundredths of a second. However, the Red Bull driver wasted no time in responding. Just past the two-hour mark, Lawson reclaimed the lead in dominant fashion, pulling three-tenths clear of the two-time world champion.
The spotlight was firmly on Red Bull’s RB21, a car already drawing attention for its striking resemblance to last year’s title-winning RB20. Under Lawson’s control, the RB21 delivered a commanding performance, setting the fastest lap on hard C2 tyres, while most of his rivals opted for the softer medium C3s. The impressive early pace further solidifies Red Bull’s position as the team to beat in 2025.
Elsewhere, Ferrari’s newest recruit, Lewis Hamilton, also made his presence felt. The seven-time world champion briefly led the session before finishing third, behind Lawson and Alonso. Yuki Tsunoda (Racing Bulls), Alex Albon (Williams), Jack Doohan (Alpine), and Nico Hulkenberg (Sauber) were among the other notable names inside the top 10.
At one point, the battle at the top was razor-thin, with the first four drivers separated by just half a second. However, Lawson’s late-session push created a clear gap, underlining both his talent and Red Bull’s early strength. Meanwhile, all 10 teams focused on reliability, each driver completing at least 20 laps to gather crucial data ahead of the new season.
Final Standings – Session 1
Liam Lawson (Red Bull)
Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin)
Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari)
Yuki Tsunoda (Racing Bulls)
Alex Albon (Williams)
Jack Doohan (Alpine)
Nico Hulkenberg (Sauber)
Andrea Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes)
Oscar Piastri (McLaren)
Oliver Bearman (Haas)
With pre-season testing now fully underway, the early signs suggest another highly competitive season ahead. Red Bull’s pace looks ominous, but with Ferrari, Aston Martin, and other contenders lurking, the stage is set for an intense battle as the teams fine-tune their machines before the first race of the year.
