The 2025 Formula 1 season’s pre-season testing is set to kick off this week, with teams taking to the track for their first real running in Bahrain. While teams have been using simulators and older car models to prepare over the winter, this week marks the first time the new cars will hit the circuit. The testing will be held over three days, with a total of 24 hours of track time, divided into four-hour sessions. Each of the 20 drivers will have 12 hours of track time, but teams have the flexibility to distribute this time in various ways according to their plans. If you’re eager to know when your favorite driver will be on track, the schedule has been released, and we have all the details on when and where to watch.The pre-season testing in Bahrain will start on Wednesday, February 26, 2025, at 10:00 AM local time (Arabian Standard Time – AST). For those tuning in from the United States, the action kicks off at 2:00 AM Eastern Time (ET). Here’s a quick breakdown of the start times in various cities across the globe:
- New York (USA – Eastern Time) – 2:00 AM
- Chicago (USA – Central Time) – 1:00 AM
- Denver (USA – Mountain Time) – 12:00 AM
- Los Angeles (USA – Pacific Time) – 11:00 PM (Tuesday)
- London (United Kingdom) – 7:00 AM
- Sydney (Australia – AEST) – 6:00 PM
- Adelaide (Australia – ACST) – 5:30 PM
- Perth (Australia – AWST) – 6:00 PM
- Mexico City (Mexico – CST) – 1:00 AM
- Berlin (Germany – CET) – 8:00 AM
- Tokyo (Japan – JST) – 4:00 PM
- Cape Town (South Africa – SAST) – 9:00 AM
- Cairo (Egypt – EEST) – 9:00 AM
- Beijing (China – CST) – 3:00 PM
- New Delhi (India – IST) – 12:30 PM
- São Paulo (Brazil – BRT) – 4:00 AM
- Singapore (Singapore – SGT) – 3:00 PM
The teams will have three days to run their new cars on the Bahrain International Circuit, a crucial part of their preparations for the upcoming season. This testing period will allow teams to fine-tune their machines, gather valuable data, and analyze how the new cars perform on the track under real-world conditions.As for how to watch the pre-season testing live, fans in the United States will be able to catch all the action on ESPN+ throughout the testing period. The broadcast rights for the event vary by region, so if you’re outside the United States, here’s where you can watch the testing in your country:
- United States: ESPN, ESPN Deportes
- Mexico: Fox Sports Mexico, Televisa
- Australia: Fox Sports, Foxtel, Kayo
- United Kingdom: Sky Sports, Channel 4
- Italy: Sky Italia
- Belgium: RTBF, Play Sports
- Netherlands: Viaplay, Viaplay Xtra
- Spain: DAZN F1
- Canada: RDS, RDS 2, TSN, Noovo
- Germany: Sky Deutschland, RTL
- France: Canal+
- Singapore: beIN SPORTS
- China: CCTV, Shanghai TV, Guangdong Television Channel, Tencent
- Japan: Fuji TV, DAZN
- Hungary: M4 (MTVA Sports Channel)
- Brazil: Bandeirantes, Bandsports
- Austria: Servus TV, ORF
- Middle East & Turkey: beIN SPORTS
- Africa: SuperSport
- Latin America: ESPN
For viewers in countries such as the United Kingdom, Australia, and Italy, the broadcast will be handled by major sports networks like Sky Sports and Fox Sports, offering extensive coverage throughout the testing days. In the United States, ESPN and ESPN Deportes will be the main broadcasters, providing live updates and analysis on the latest happenings on track.With the 2025 season just around the corner, pre-season testing is a vital opportunity for teams to assess their car designs and determine how they stack up against the competition. Fans worldwide can follow the action as their favorite teams and drivers prepare for the high-stakes season ahead. Whether you’re tuning in from the United States, Europe, Asia, or elsewhere, there are plenty of ways to stay up-to-date on all the testing action.As the teams continue to evolve their car designs and strategies, these testing sessions in Bahrain will be a critical barometer of their preparations and an exciting preview of what’s to come in the highly anticipated Formula 1 season.
