A vital disclaimer after each System 1 testing session – together with this week’s one – is that lap occasions say little.
Groups have no idea one another’s precise programmes and that is much more true for outsiders. Specifically, single-lap occasions say little or no, as no group is exhibiting its full hand but whereas each gasoline ranges and engine modes are a giant variable.
Nonetheless, the long-run tempo calculated by our knowledge companion PACETEQ says extra, particularly when mixed with GPS knowledge and prime speeds that may reveal a bit extra about engine modes and potential sandbagging.
It implies that the info does present a sample ultimately, in fact with all the same old reservations and the word that groups will develop their vehicles in the direction of the 2025 season opener in Melbourne on 14-16 March.
However as issues stand, which F1 group ranks the place after pre-season testing on the Bahrain Worldwide Circuit?
10. Sauber
Nico Hulkenberg, Kick Sauber C45
Picture by: Sauber F1 Crew
It’s a frequent perception throughout the F1 paddock that Sauber stays backside of the pecking order, having completed final within the 2024 championship.
The C45 appears to be like unstable and on the circuit’s double left, Turns 9 and 10, the Sauber drivers’ strains have been completely different every lap with the automotive unable to do what Nico Hulkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto needed it to do.
Sauber’s lengthy runs have been additionally unimpressive with a mean hole of 1.3 seconds per lap. However, this comes as little shock as a result of a lot of its focus is already on 2026, when Sauber will morph into the Audi F1 Crew to kickstart the following period of technical laws.
9. Racing Bulls
Yuki Tsunoda, RB F1 Crew
Picture by: Sam Bloxham / Motorsport Pictures
Though in a livery rating Racing Bulls could be close to the highest, the 2025 F1 marketing campaign is anticipated to be a tough one for the Italian outfit.
Its driver Yuki Tsunoda confirmed this perception, as he defined that the group is in a weaker place now than it was one yr in the past compared to its rivals. So, the Japanese driver expects the group to wrestle to attain factors within the opening rounds of 2025.
Racing Bulls’ future tempo was not too dangerous although, with a mean hole of round one second per lap to McLaren. Tsuonda continues to be enjoying it cautiously and he could have a rookie team-mate this yr in Isack Hadjar, who replaces now Purple Bull driver Liam Lawson.
8. Haas
Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Crew
Picture by: Sam Bloxham / Motorsport Pictures
The margins between the midfield groups stay extraordinarily small, which makes it tough to place mentioned squads in an actual rating.
The identical goes for Haas, who didn’t actually present a transparent image within the first two days of testing. It did produce some lengthy runs with new signing Esteban Ocon on the ultimate day, nevertheless it was not with a full tank or full race simulation.
Ocon was over a second slower than McLaren in Paceteq’s numbers, however confirmed comparatively little tyre degradation. It’s what characterised Haas in 2024 and the American outfit appears to be constructing on it.
7. Aston Martin
Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing
Picture by: Sam Bloxham / Motorsport Pictures
Aston Martin is firmly specializing in the regulation overhaul in 2026, because it has signed legendary F1 automotive designer Adrian Newey whereas Honda is about to reach as an influence unit provider.
However, a group that’s as formidable because the Silverstone-based outfit might be reluctant to see 2025 flip right into a torturous marketing campaign but pre-season testing was not spectacular.
After all, Lance Stroll’s bodily situation didn’t assist forcing Aston Martin to modify its strategy on the ultimate day, however at no level did the British group actually present a glimpse of pace or potential.
The automotive appeared secure when watching trackside at Turns 9 and 10, however each the quick and lengthy runs weren’t notably fast.
6. Williams
Carlos Sainz, Williams
Picture by: Steven Tee / Motorsport Pictures
Williams was a optimistic shock of the three-day check in Bahrain, regardless that the squad has made no secret of its focus primarily being on 2026.
However its new driver line-up of four-time grand prix winner Carlos Sainz and double podium sitter Alex Albon has little question helped issues. Sainz, who lately joined from Ferrari, has built-in himself into the group fairly properly and Williams boss James Vowles has been impressed by his suggestions and expertise.
Though Williams’ single-lap occasions provide little element, its long-run tempo in comparison with fellow midfield squads is comparatively good. The British outfit had a productive check with none important issues, so it appears to be like set to turn out to be a critical participant inside the midfield.
5. Alpine
Pierre Gasly, Alpine
Picture by: Alpine
F1 has 4 groups that are considerably forward, so fifth-place is just a case of ‘better of the remainder’.
Alpine appears favorite for that tag after a powerful testing session, which marks a outstanding turnaround from 12 months in the past when it had an obese automotive. However that weight has now gone so Alpine’s tempo appears to be like promising and within the calculated lengthy runs, Pierre Gasly was round six-tenths slower than the leaders.
There was a major distinction between Gasly and his rookie team-mate Jack Doohan although, so an unbalanced driver line-up not like Williams might come again to hang-out.
4. Mercedes
George Russell, Mercedes
Picture by: Sam Bloxham / Motorsport Pictures
George Russell was roughly at Ferrari’s stage within the lengthy runs, because the Mercedes automotive seemed comparatively secure whereas watching trackside and the group suffered no main setbacks.
There being no setbacks is in fact crucial factor at winter testing, particularly as Russell beforehand indicated that Mercedes doesn’t wish to fall into the poor growth entice of latest years.
At the moment, there are not any indicators that that may occur in 2025 however Mercedes continues to be barely behind on tempo in comparison with the reigning constructors’ champion squad McLaren.
Alongside Russell might be rookie Andrea Kimi Antonelli, who had a strong pre-season check. ‘Strong’ can be the phrase that goes with Mercedes’ check as a collective.
3. Ferrari
Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari SF-25
Picture by: Ferrari
Expectations for Ferrari this yr are excessive, because it has added to a runner-up end in 2024 with the signing of seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton.
So, the Scuderia is in fact aiming to finish its 17-year championship drought however its long-run tempo in Bahrain was not notably spectacular.
Ferrari misplaced time on the straights, which can point out one thing about engine modes whereas Hamilton began a race simulation on Friday and aborted it after 12 laps.
The occasions and tyre degradation put him over 4 tenths behind McLaren, in accordance with Paceteq, which was much like team-mate Charles Leclerc a day earlier. Extra to come back from Ferrari.
2. Purple Bull
Max Verstappen, Purple Bull Racing
Picture by: Sam Bagnall / Motorsport Pictures
It’s fairly shut between the highest groups making it considerably tough to guage. However on Wednesday, Purple Bull advisor Helmut Marko and the four-time, reigning world champion Max Verstappen confirmed nice optimism in regards to the RB21.
Marko mentioned its steadiness issues had been largely mounted, whereas Verstappen added that he’s but to come across any destructive surprises with this yr’s challenger. However, the Dutchman continues to be adamant that there’s extra work to be carried out with technical director Pierre Wache sharing mentioned perception.
A full race simulation was additionally solely accomplished by new driver Liam Lawson, who was seven-tenths in need of McLaren’s Lando Norris. But when that have been Verstappen within the automotive, the hole would have little question been much less placing Purple Bull simply behind McLaren.
1. McLaren
Lando Norris, McLaren
Picture by: Zak Mauger / Motorsport Pictures
Reigning champion McLaren is the clear favorite for the 2025 F1 season. Chatting with members of the paddock, the consensus is that no person actually is aware of how far behind the remainder could also be and when wanting on the knowledge “it might be two-tenths, three-tenths or five-tenths”.
Nonetheless, McLaren has impressed and notably when one considers the long term that Norris accomplished on Thursday. The 2024 drivers’ championship runner-up was constantly quick and the onboard footage might scare rivals much more.
Opponents are additionally McLaren’s 2025 automotive with curiosity. Purple Bull, for example, known as McLaren’s new entrance suspension ‘fascinating, but in addition dangerous’. Extra particularly, that is about what McLaren is doing with the positioning of the wishbones and anti-dive. Up to now, all of it appears to be working and at a observe McLaren has discovered tough lately.
Pecking order F1 Testing
On this article
Ronald Vording
System 1
Lewis Hamilton
Max Verstappen
Pierre Gasly
George Russell
Charles Leclerc
Lando Norris
Liam Lawson
Oscar Piastri
Gabriel Bortoleto
Andrea Kimi Antonelli
Ferrari
Purple Bull Racing
Mercedes
Sauber
McLaren
Alpine
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