F1 news today: Lando Norris Tops FP1 at Bahrain Grand Prix as m….readmore
F1 Results Today: Lando Norris shines at Bahrain Grand Prix as Max Verstappen absent
McLaren’s Lando Norris delivered an impressive performance during the opening practice session of the 2025 Formula 1 Bahrain Grand Prix, setting the pace in the scorching desert heat. The British driver posted the fastest lap time of 1:33.204 at the Bahrain International Circuit, showcasing McLaren’s strong early form for the race weekend.
The standout performance came in the absence of reigning world champion Max Verstappen, who did not take part in the session. Instead, Red Bull handed the FP1 outing to one of their junior drivers, giving valuable track time to up-and-coming talent as part of their development program. While Verstappen’s absence was notable, it provided an opportunity for others to shine in the opening session.
Norris held a clear advantage over the rest of the field, finishing just over two-tenths of a second ahead of Alpine’s Pierre Gasly, who continued to demonstrate the French team’s upward momentum in 2025. Gasly’s consistent performance suggested Alpine could be a stronger contender this season, especially in the midfield battles.
Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton, still adapting to his new team environment, ended the session third on the timing sheets. The seven-time world champion was nearly six-tenths slower than Norris, indicating Ferrari still has some fine-tuning to do with the SF-25. The session saw Hamilton testing newly introduced upgrades as the Scuderia works to close the gap to the front-running teams.
The high temperatures in Bahrain added another layer of complexity, with teams carefully managing tyre degradation and engine cooling throughout the session. FP1 was relatively smooth in terms of incidents, allowing teams to focus on setup adjustments and long-run simulations in preparation for qualifying and the race.
Norris’s early dominance in FP1 sets a positive tone for McLaren heading into the weekend, with hopes high that the team can convert practice pace into a strong qualifying and race result. The absence of Verstappen leaves some uncertainty regarding Red Bull’s true pace, though they are expected to return to full strength in the upcoming sessions.
As the Bahrain Grand Prix weekend progresses, all eyes will be on how the pecking order evolves, with several teams—including Ferrari and Alpine—eager to challenge McLaren’s early lead.
