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Fan atmosphere for the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix
February 27, 2025
The 2025 Formula 1 pre-season testing at the Bahrain International Circuit has concluded, giving fans and analysts a first look at how the teams stack up ahead of the new season. By comparing the fastest lap times from the 2024 and 2025 tests, we can assess which teams have made the biggest gains and which may be struggling.
With the season opener just weeks away, let's break down the performance improvements of each team and what these numbers might indicate for the 2025 Formula 1 championship.
Each team's fastest lap from 2024 was compared to their best effort in 2025, revealing significant progress across most of the grid. Here's how the teams improved:
Note: A negative number indicates an improvement in lap time, while a positive number (Sauber) suggests a slower lap compared to 2024.
Alpine recorded the biggest lap time gain, improving by 2.021 seconds from 2024. Pierre Gasly and Jack Doohan showed strong pace, with Gasly setting the team's best lap at 1:30.040. This suggests that Alpine has made major aerodynamic and engine advancements, which could make them a more competitive midfield force in 2025.
Williams was another standout performer, cutting 1.636 seconds from their best 2024 lap time. New signing Carlos Sainz topped the timesheets of testing in 2025 with a 1:29.348, showing that Williams has made significant improvements over the winter. If this pace translates into race conditions, Williams could be a dark horse in 2025.
Both Mercedes (-1.119s) and Red Bull (-1.113s) made similar gains, keeping them at the sharp end of the field. George Russell set the fastest lap for Mercedes with a 1:29.545, while Max Verstappen followed closely with a 1:29.566. This suggests that Red Bull and Mercedes are still in strong contention heading into the new season.
McLaren improved by 1.090 seconds, showing continued progress after their strong second half of the 2024 season. Oscar Piastri clocked 1:29.940, keeping the team close to the top contenders. With a well-balanced car and a strong driver pairing, McLaren could be fighting for podiums consistently in 2025.
Aston Martin (-0.930s) and Haas (-0.958s) made respectable gains. Lance Stroll posted a best lap of 1:30.229, while Esteban Ocon led Haas with a 1:30.728. While these times don’t suggest a massive leap forward, they indicate steady development and better car stability for both teams.
Despite the excitement surrounding Lewis Hamilton's Ferrari debut, the team only improved by 0.541 seconds, less than half the gains made by Red Bull and Mercedes. Hamilton’s best lap of 1:29.379 was competitive, but Ferrari fans might have hoped for more progress. If the Scuderia wants to challenge for the title in 2025, they may need further upgrades.
Racing Bulls improved by just 0.278 seconds, which is the smallest gain among all teams that made progress. While this doesn’t necessarily mean they’ll struggle, it suggests they haven’t found the big performance boosts that other midfield teams have.
Sauber was the only team to lose time, running 0.410 seconds slower than in 2024. Gabriel Bortoleto’s 1:31.057 lap time was disappointing, suggesting that the team has struggled with car balance or reliability. If this trend continues, Sauber could be at the back of the grid in 2025 yet again.
The 2025 pre-season testing results give us the first clues about how competitive each team will be this year. While lap times don’t tell the full story, they do provide an indication of which teams have made the biggest strides.
With just a few weeks until the first race of the season, teams will now analyze their data and make final adjustments before racing begins. Will these testing results translate into actual race performance? Only time will tell, but one thing is certain—the 2025 Formula 1 season is shaping up to be one of the most exciting in years.
For the latest updates, stay tuned to Fastway1.com for some analysis, race previews, and F1 ticket information.
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