Norris sets pace in first F1 practice of Bahrain GP 2025

Formula 1 action in Bahrain has gotten off to an exciting start today at Bahrain International Circuit (BIC), ‘The Home of Motorsport in the Middle East’, in Sakhir.

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 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.