The Formula 1 world is buzzing after three days of pre-season testing in Bahrain. While lap times are just a glimpse into the potential of each team, some trends are beginning to emerge. McLaren, in particular, has caught the eye with a performance that suggests they've carried their late-season momentum from 2024 into the new year.
McLaren's Early Pace
Oscar Piastri was seen pushing the McLaren to its limits, and the team appears to have built upon the strengths they displayed towards the end of last season. This early pace has led some to speculate that McLaren may have even extended their advantage over their rivals. The Italian publication, Il Fatto Quotidiano, even suggested that McLaren "appears favored" based on the testing data.
“The car feels really good,” said an unnamed McLaren engineer. “We’ve made some significant strides forward and are looking forward to the season ahead.”
Hamilton's Ferrari Debut
All eyes were also on Lewis Hamilton as he began his Ferrari career. The seven-time world champion completed 70 laps on his first day in Bahrain, finishing 13th in the timing sheets. While the lap time itself wasn't spectacular, Hamilton expressed optimism about his initial experience with the team.
"I learned a lot," Hamilton stated after his first day. "More than the stopwatch, it was the sensations that mattered." This sentiment suggests that Hamilton is focused on understanding the car and building a foundation for the season ahead.
Ferrari's Challenges
While Hamilton remains positive, reports indicate a potentially "gloomy" or "dampened" mood within the Ferrari camp. Charles Leclerc also participated in the testing, finishing fourth fastest on one of the days. However, the overall feeling seems to be that Ferrari still has work to do to catch up with McLaren and other top teams. Speculation suggests Ferrari is struggling to balance the car and find optimal downforce settings.
The Bahrain tests also saw Lando Norris setting the pace, ahead of George Russell (Mercedes) and Max Verstappen (Red Bull). While these results are preliminary, they offer an intriguing glimpse into what could be a thrilling Formula 1 season.
It's important to remember that testing is just that – testing. Teams are experimenting with different setups, gathering data, and trying to understand their cars. The true pecking order won't be revealed until the first race. But for now, McLaren seems to be in a strong position, and Hamilton's enthusiasm suggests that Ferrari could be a force to be reckoned with as the season progresses.