Lawson in P2 after morning session of first test day in Bahrain

Published on 26 February 2025 by Misha van der Kroon

During the morning session of the first pre-season test day in Bahrain, Liam Lawson set the second-fastest time in the new RB21. The New Zealander, who joins Max Verstappen at Oracle Red Bull Racing, got behind the wheel of the RB21 during the first session and set a time of 1:31.560 after completing 58 laps. That put him just 0.132 seconds behind fastest man, Andrea Kimi Antonelli, in the Mercedes. Alexander Albon finished third in the Williams.

The first of three test days starts at 10:00 local time at the 5.412 km-long Bahrain International Circuit. Each test day is split into a morning and an afternoon session, both lasting four hours. These three days are the only pre-season tests ahead of the new Formula 1 season, which will start in just over two weeks in Australia.

Liam Lawson has the honours of debuting the RB21 in testing. Alongside him, several rookies also take to the track. Andrea Kimi Antonelli steps into the Mercedes. The 18-year-old Italian replaces Lewis Hamilton, who has made the switch to Ferrari. Jack Doohan, son of five-time 500cc motorcycle champion Mick Doohan, gets behind the wheel of the Alpine A525. Meanwhile, Oliver Bearman, who made his F1 debut in Jeddah for Ferrari last year and later also stood in for Kevin Magnussen twice at Haas, has secured a full-time seat with the American team. The Brit kicks off testing in Haas’ VF-25.

In the first hours of the session, several cars head out with large aero rakes fitted, packed with sensors to measure airflow around the car. The focus is clearly not yet on outright lap times. After 90 minutes, Lawson tops the timing sheets with a 1:31.914, still nearly three seconds off Verstappen’s pole time from last year.

Many teams, including Red Bull, apply flow-vis paint to their cars, a fluorescent liquid that makes airflow patterns visible. With an hour remaining, Lawson has a moment at the exit of Turn 2, spinning but managing to continue without issue. As the session progresses, lap times improve, with Antonelli eventually clocking the fastest time of the morning – a 1:31.428 on C3 compound tyres. The Italian also completes the most laps, circulating the Bahrain track 78 times. Lawson, on the same tyre compound, is just over a tenth behind with 58 laps to his name and finishes second. Alexander Albon secures third place in the Williams, followed by Yuki Tsunoda in the Racing Bulls in fourth. The Japanese driver matches Antonelli’s 78-lap tally.

The afternoon session will start at 15:00 local time, with Max Verstappen taking over from Lawson in the RB21.