As the dust settles on the Bahrain pre-season test, Formula 1 fans and pundits alike are eagerly dissecting every lap, every comment, and every subtle change in body language from drivers and team principals.
With 3,896 laps completed over three days, we’ve gained valuable insights into the potential pecking order for the 2025 season. Let’s dive into our power rankings based on this crucial testing period.
10. Sauber: Struggling for Pace and Stability
It’s a challenging start for Sauber, as the team finds itself at the bottom of our rankings. The C45, despite its mix of evolution and revolution, appears to be the most difficult car to drive on the grid. Nico Hülkenberg’s admission that the car’s baseline is “not amazing” speaks volumes about the work ahead for the Swiss outfit.
Visibly running too stiff, the Sauber suggests a narrow setup window that’s not giving drivers the compliance they need. If qualifying were held today, it’s likely we’d see both Saubers knocked out in Q1. The team has a mountain to climb before the season opener.
9. Aston Martin: A Disrupted Test Raises Concerns
Aston Martin’s test was marred by disruptions, completing the second-fewest laps of any team. Lance Stroll’s illness limiting him to just 35 laps on the final day didn’t help matters. The AMR25 showed signs of instability at corner entry, forcing drivers to hesitate after initial turn-in – a confidence-sapping trait that could prove costly in race conditions.
Team principal Andy Cowell acknowledges progress towards a more stable car but admits there’s significant room for improvement. With Fernando Alonso expecting form similar to the end of last season, Aston Martin may face an uphill battle in the early races.
8. Haas: Reliable Midfield Contender
Haas repeated its strategy from previous years, focusing heavily on race stint preparation with high fuel loads. While this approach left them ninth quickest on raw pace, it suggests they’re set to be a competitive midfield proposition once again.
The team did face some bodywork issues, with both drivers experiencing problems with engine covers. However, team principal Ayo Komatsu believes these are easily fixable. The VF-25 looks to be a solid, if unspectacular, midfield machine, though it may struggle to match its late-2024 form when it often emerged as the fifth-fastest car.
7. Racing Bulls: Steady Progress in the Midfield
Racing Bulls (formerly AlphaTauri) finds itself in the middle of the midfield pack after a smooth test. The team worked through an understeer issue over the three days, with Yuki Tsunoda in particular showcasing the car’s potential.
Team principal Laurent Mechiers expects tight battles based on track configurations and updates throughout the season. While not breaking any records, the RB01 appears to be a dependable package that could spring a few surprises.
6. Alpine: A Remarkable Turnaround
What a difference a year makes for Alpine. After a disastrous 2024 Bahrain test, the French team has bounced back impressively. Both Pierre Gasly and Jack Doohan have expressed satisfaction with the A525’s behavior, suggesting it’s a confidence-inspiring machine.
Alpine looks to be in a tight battle with Williams for midfield supremacy, building on their strong finish to 2024. The team appears capable of fighting for fifth in the championship, a significant improvement from their previous campaign.
5. Williams: Potential Midfield Leaders
Williams turned heads by setting the fastest lap time on the second day of testing. While this doesn’t necessarily translate to frontrunner status, it does indicate a significant step forward from last year. The FW47 impressed throughout the test, showing both speed and consistency in race simulations.
Alex Albon hinted at more pace to be extracted, suggesting Williams could be a dark horse in the early races. The team’s performance puts them in a tight battle with Alpine for midfield leadership.
4. Red Bull: Fast but Flawed?
The defending champions find themselves in an unusual position. While the RB21 is undoubtedly quick enough to be in the leading group, it seems to have inherited some of its predecessor’s balance issues. Max Verstappen’s lukewarm comments and uncharacteristic spin on the final day raised eyebrows across the paddock.
Technical director Pierre Vachet admitted the car isn’t always responding as expected, and the team devoted significant time to set-up work and flow-viz experiments in the closing hours of the test. Red Bull clearly has work to do, but if they can solve these issues, they have the potential for a significant leap forward.
3. Ferrari: Solid but Unspectacular
Ferrari’s SF-25 showed flashes of brilliance during the test but ultimately left observers with mixed impressions. At its best, the car appeared nimble and strong, on par with Mercedes. However, it occasionally exhibited limitations in understeer, rear sliding, and tyre wear.
Charles Leclerc noted increased uncertainty across all teams due to changing conditions throughout the week. While there are no major red flags for Ferrari, the test wasn’t the head-turning performance many had hoped for, especially given the apparent progress of McLaren and Mercedes.
2. Mercedes: A Return to Form?
The Mercedes W16 looked unusually serene on track, providing drivers George Russell and rookie Kimi Antonelli with confidence-inspiring handling. Despite a persistent front brake locking issue, the car’s balance and pace put it on par with Ferrari and potentially ahead.
Russell described the test as “seamless,” reflecting the positive mood within the team. The only caveat is whether the unusually cold conditions in Bahrain flattered the Mercedes, given their recent struggles in warmer temperatures. Nonetheless, this was their most encouraging pre-season test since the introduction of ground effect regulations in 2022.
1. McLaren: Setting the Pace
Despite only setting the fifth-fastest lap time overall, McLaren’s race pace was consistently mighty and clear of the competition. The MCL39 impressed throughout the test, although Lando Norris did highlight some rear-end instability, particularly in high-speed corners.
Team principal Andrea Stella noted that a bit of rear instability could be beneficial at a track like Bahrain. While McLaren may not have the dominant advantage Red Bull enjoyed in previous seasons, the consensus in the paddock is clear: McLaren is the team to beat heading into the 2025 season opener.
