Lando Norris sets the pace for McLaren in first F1 practice of Bahrain GP 2025 weekend at BIC
Lando Norris sets the pace for McLaren in first F1 practice of Bahrain GP 2025 weekend at BIC
- Norris posts best lap of 1:33.204 to put Constructors’ World Championship atop timesheet
- Goethe leads MP Motorsport pair to top of F2 practice times
- Camara sets pace in F3 practice session
- De Haan clocks top lap time in first Porsche Carrera Cup ME practice
- Fans treated to exciting first day in F1 drivers’ and teams’ fan forum
- Peggy Gou set for spectacular Saturday night concert at BIC
- Special charity auction for Royal Humanitarian Foundaction continues until Sunday
The Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix 2025 has gotten off in exciting fashion today at Bahrain International Circuit (BIC), ‘The Home of Motorsport in the Middle East’.
Lando Norris of reigning Constructors’ World Champions McLaren set the pace in the first practice session of the weekend.
Norris registered a best lap time of 1:33.204 seconds in his MCL39 car. This season’s current championship leader was classified 0.238s quicker than Pierre Gasly, driving Alpine’s A525, while seven-time Drivers’ World Champion Lewis Hamilton of Ferrari completed the top three 0.596s from Norris behind the wheel of his SF-25.
Alexander Albon in his Williams FW47 was fourth 0.724s from the top, while Esteban Ocon of Haas finished fifth 0.980s adrift in his VF-25 challenger.
Nico Hulkenberg driving his Kick Sauber C45 took sixth place 1.058s from Norris, while Jack Doohan in the other Alpine came seventh 1.192s back. Liam Lawson in the VCARB 02 of Racing Bulls completed the top eight 1.193s from the pace-setter.
Red Bull Racing’s Yuki Tsunoda, driving the RB21, ranked ninth 1.280s behind Norris, while Oscar Piastri put the other McLaren car in 10th 1.304s behind.
Completing the session’s classification from 11th through 20th, respectively were Gabriel Bortoleto (+1.424s) in the other Kick Sauber, Racing Bulls’ Isack Hadjar (+1.463s), Luke Browning (+1.681s) driving for Williams, Dino Beganovic (+1.851s) for Ferrari, the Aston Martins of Lance Stroll (+1.912s) and Felipe Drugovich (+1.994s) in the AMR25, Ryo Hirakawa (+2.057s) in the other Haas, Frederik Vesti (+2.121s) in the Mercedes W16, Ayumu Iwasa (+2.271s) in the second Red Bull Racing contender, and Kimi Antonelli (+4.847s) for Mercedes.
Browning, Beganovic, Drugovich, Hirakawa, Vesti, and Iwasa were all driving for their respective teams in place of their regular stars.
The F1 field will be back in the car for two more practice sessions – one each later on Friday and the other on Saturday – ahead of qualifying.
This year’s F1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix marks the fourth round of the 2025 FIA F1 World Championship. It is celebrating the 75th anniversary of both F1 and Bahrain’s national carrier and grand prix title sponsor Gulf Air.
The 57-lap main event on Sunday (Editor’s note: 13 April) will be the first night race of the season. Taking place under BIC’s bright, state-of-the-art floodlights, it will be showcasing to the world that “The Desert Never Sleeps”.
A wide array of off-track entertainment has been lined up by BIC for all to enjoy during the race weekend. These include globally renowned act Circus Cortex, , the fan-favourite Ferris Wheel, a Kids Race Fest featuring popular cartoon characters, an F1 Fanzone, roaming performers, and so much more spectacular.
All grandstand tickets to the race weekend are completely sold out, including seats to the Main, Turn 1, Beyon, University, and Victory grandstands.
Fans who have missed out on these can still get tickets to BIC’s last remaining hospitality option, The Dome by F1 Experiences, but there is only very limited availability. This is a unique way to enjoy the F1 weekend, with plenty of exclusive offerings throughout the three days.
BIC’s other hospitality options, including the Paddock Club, Corporate Lounges, and Champions Club, are all also completely sold out, so fans interested in being a part of the F1 spectacle must act fast to secure their passes to The Dome by F1 Experiences.
This option features a dedicated grandstand located along the Main Straight with comfortable, seat-back style seating. Fans can enjoy exceptional views of the Podium and pit entry, and also see the cars as they navigate the final turn before accelerating down the track. The package also includes complimentary lunch dishes, lite bites, refreshments and live performances by DJs, roaming entertainers and more between track sessions.
For more information on The Dome by F1 Experiences or to make a booking, call +973-17451086.
Goethe leads MP Motorsport teammate Verschoor in setting F2 practice pace
Oliver Goethe led MP Motorsport teammate Richard Verschoor as pace-setters in the FIA Formula 2 Championship practice session today, held in support of the Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix 2025.
The German had a quickest lap time of 1:47.789 in the session, with Verschoor going 0.222s slower.
Josep Maria Marti of Campos Racing finished third 0.590s adrift in the 22-car F2 field.
Camara tops F3 practice in Bahrain
Rafael Camara of Trident topped the practice timesheet in the FIA Formula 3 Championship, also supporting F1 this weekend at BIC.
Camara set the session’s fastest lap of 1:50.984. The Brazilian was 0.127 seconds ahead of Bulgarian Nikola Tsolov of Campos Racing, while Finn Tuukka Taponen of ART Grand Prix was classified third 0.218s from the leader.
All 30 of F3’s drivers were on track for the practice.
De Haan kicks off PCCME round setting practice pace
Robert de Haan set the pace today morning in the first practice session of the Porsche Carrera Cup Middle East (PCCME) – the third support series of the grand prix weekend.
The Dutch driver clocked a fastest lap of 2:04.346. De Haan was 0.518 seconds quicker than Janne Stiak, while Khaled Alahmadi of Saudi Arabia finished third-fastest 0.545s from the top.
De Haan was also the leader in the PCCME’s’ Pro class, while Alahmadi was the top man in the ProAm category. Leading the Masters class was Bankcy from Japan, who was 1.343s from de Haan.
Fans enjoy first day of F1 Drivers and Teams Fan Forum
Fans enjoyed hearing from Formula 1’s star drivers and team officials today in the first of two days of the fan forums, held on the main stage of BIC’s vending area.
Today’s live interviews featured the Racing Bulls pair of Liam Lawson and Isack Hadjar. Williams’ Alexander Albon and Carlos Sainz, McLaren’s constructors’ world title-winning tandem of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll, Kick Sauber’s Nico Hulkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto, Racing Bulls CEO Peter Bayer, Mercedes Team Principal Toto Wolff, and Aston Martin reserve driver Felipe Drugovich.
Saturday’s second day of the fan forum will feature Haas drivers Esteban Ocon and Oliver Bearman, who will be first on stage from 1.05pm to 1.15pm, Ferrari superstars Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc from 1.45pm to 1.55pm, Mercedes tandem George Russell and Kimi Antonelli from 2pm to 2.10pm, and then the duo of drivers’ world champion Max Verstappen and Yuki Tsunoda of Red Bull Racing along with Pierre Gasly and Jack Doohan of Alpine from 2.10pm to 2.20pm.
An F2 showcase will then complete the fan forum programme on Saturday evening from 8pm to 8.30pm.
Those interested in being a part of this year’s event are advised to arrive at the main stage early to get the best views of the drivers and officials.
Peggy Gou set for spectacular Saturday show
BIC’s amazing three-night concert series continues on Saturday with global dance superstar Peggy Gou, who will be performing live at the vending area’s main stage.
Gou will be the second major music artist entertaining the crowd at BIC this weekend.
All those with tickets to the grand prix will be able to enjoy Gou’s concert at no extra cost.
Few artists in recent memory have made such an impact on popular culture as Peggy Gou. From underground sensation to global icon, she has become one of the world’s most recognisable and recognised names in dance music and beyond.
As the founder of music and design label Gudu and as a keen collaborator with a family of distinctive creatives, Gou has distilled these passions into a celebration of electronic music and alternative culture, a personal vision that resonates universally.
Gou’s natural feel for the warmth, joy, and freedom of house and techno’s legacy led to a run of irresistible releases that quickly became international hits.
BIC’s special charity auction for Royal Humanitarian Foundation continues
The special charity auction launched by BIC with leading online auction company Mazad, to benefit the Royal Humanitarian Foundation (RHF), continues until race day on Sunday (Editor’s note: April 13).
As part of the circuit’s corporate social responsibility initiatives, this auction gives fans the opportunity to place an online bid for a number of unique items, including motorsport and darts memorabilia signed by some of the sport’s biggest stars. The auction can be accessed on mazad.app under the ‘BIC Memorabilia’ category.
The items include:
– An F1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix 2024 licence plate signed by F1 drivers in a presentation frame with plaque
– A framed print of a Mercedes F1 car design, signed by Lewis Hamilton
– Limited edition print artwork of George Russell’s car, signed by the driver
– Racing gloves signed by Valtteri Bottas
– Commentary notes from Sky F1’s David Croft from the F1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix. Signed and framed with plaque
– 2024 Bahrain Darts Masters match-used darts board, framed and signed by all players, including World Champion Luke Littler
– Signed F1 memorabilia from teams including Red Bull, McLaren and Ferrari
– Falcon Gold tickets for two from Bahrain to Singapore, Shanghai, or Guangzhou
– Two separate special edition Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner 1:100 aircraft models in retro Gulf Air livery
The RHF conducts work both in Bahrain and abroad on a huge number of important humanitarian projects.
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