As the Formula 1 season draws near, drivers and teams participated in an intensive three-day pre-season testing session at the Bahrain International Circuit, giving fans and analysts a glimpse of what to expect for the 2025 season. Among the standouts during the test was Lewis Hamilton, who drove Ferrari’s SF-25, and the performance of Ferrari itself, which turned heads with its impressive showings throughout the testing period. With the new season fast approaching, Hamilton and his Ferrari team are hoping for a title challenge that could potentially lead to a historic eighth World Championship for the Briton.The three-day test saw Hamilton and the rest of the Formula 1 grid push their cars to the limit, preparing for the opening race of the season in Australia later this month. Ferrari, often seen as a team on the brink of rediscovering its former glory, appeared especially strong throughout the testing. The performance from both Hamilton and teammate Charles Leclerc was eye-catching, as both drivers found themselves near the top of the timing sheets across the three days.Hamilton’s personal performance stood out, with his time on Day 2 of testing being the second-fastest overall for the entire session. This is a significant achievement, particularly when considering the dominance of rival teams like Red Bull in recent seasons. It marked a promising start for Ferrari as the team looks to put together a championship-contending package for 2025.For Hamilton, this test could signal a much-needed boost to his title hopes after enduring a tough few years with Mercedes. Following a dominant run from 2014 to 2020, during which Hamilton secured six World Championships, his performances in recent seasons have been lackluster, with Mercedes failing to provide him with a competitive car. After three disappointing seasons, Hamilton is eager to get back to the front of the grid and challenge for a record-breaking eighth World Championship title.In total, Hamilton completed 162 laps in his Ferrari SF-25 during the pre-season testing. The number of laps, which is quite significant in terms of data collection and car development, suggests that Ferrari is building a reliable and fast car, one that could be capable of challenging the likes of Red Bull and McLaren for the top spots in both the Constructors’ and Drivers’ Championships.Following the Bahrain test, GPFans conducted a poll among their readers to gauge which team had emerged as the victor from testing. Ferrari came out on top with an impressive 41% of the votes, with many fans believing the team had delivered the most promising performance. This result reflects the optimism surrounding Ferrari’s potential for the 2025 season, particularly with Hamilton at the helm. McLaren, the 2024 Constructors’ Champions, were among the favorites for 2025 as well, though they experienced a shaky final day of testing. Lando Norris, in particular, had difficulties with the rear end of his car, suffering several close calls throughout Friday’s session. This may have been why McLaren only received 21% of the vote in the poll, despite their strong performance earlier in the test.Mean while, Williams impressed many observers, securing third place in the GPFans poll with 19% of the vote. The team showed strong pace, especially with Carlos Sainz posting the fastest time of the entire testing session. His teammate, Alex Albon, also displayed good performance on the final day of testing. Williams is looking to build on their recent progress, and the pre-season test results have only fueled their hopes of continuing to improve.On the other hand, Red Bull, the dominant force in recent years, were somewhat disappointing in this year’s pre-season testing. Despite being the team to beat, both Max Verstappen and new recruit Liam Lawson struggled with the handling of their RB21. The team was hit with a somewhat poor verdict, with only 4% of the GPFans poll respondents declaring Red Bull the winner of testing. However, the team is hopeful that these issues were simply teething problems that will be ironed out before the season opener. The fact that Red Bull has dominated recent seasons means they are unlikely to panic after one test, but it is something to keep an eye on as the season progresses.The Bahrain test has certainly provided plenty of food for thought ahead of the 2025 season. Ferrari’s strength, especially with Hamilton in the car, is likely to make them a serious contender for the title. Meanwhile, McLaren and Williams appear to be closing the gap on the front-runners, while Red Bull’s testing issues remain a talking point. As the countdown to the Australian Grand Prix continues, fans are eagerly anticipating what promises to be another thrilling F1 season.
