First Day Of F1 Pre-Season Testing Halted By Power Failure Causing Blackout At Circuit In Bahrain 3bh73

Pre-season testing ahead of the 2025 F1 season got off to an unusual start as a power failure caused a blackout at the Bahrain International Circuit. 

The morning session went by without a hitch, with the only drama coming through a spin from Red Bull driver Liam Lawson.

However, the F1 drivers competing in the afternoon session of the first day of pre-season testing were frustrated as a power outage brought out a red flag for 70 minutes.

It affected the likes of four-time world champion Max Verstappen, Charles Leclerc and George Russell.

‘I came out of the pits and I was like ‘it’s suddenly quite dark out here’,” Russell told Sky Sports. I radioed saying I need to change my visor, then I realised there were no floodlights around. Would have been a bit hectic if this was an hour later when the sun had set.”

With the track marshalling and timing systems down as a result of the power cut, drivers were quickly called back to the pits by the red flag.

There was some emergency lighting in paddock buildings while TV broadcasts were still in operation.

The issue struck at around 5pm local time with action not resuming until 6.10pm. Due to the delay, organisers of testing decided to add an extra hour to the schedule to make up for lost time.

Probably one of the strangest red flag ever in F1.

Power outage at Bahrain F1 testing… pic.twitter.com/HRAvPmIhvC

— Maxx | F1newsletter.com (@F1_Newsletter) February 26, 2025

Lewis Hamilton Makes Ferrari Debut In Pre-Season Testing a4d3

The first pre-season testing session in Bahrain ahead of the 2025 F1 season also saw Lewis Hamilton make his debut in the Ferrari.

Hamilton drove in the morning session before the power cut affected his team-mate Charles Leclerc in the afternoon.

There was obviously some confusion still at seeing Hamilton in a Ferrari rather than the Mercedes.

A graphic during a replay of Hamilton running wide saw him displayed as a Mercedes driver rather than a Ferrari one.

Hamilton finished his day at lunch, finishing the morning session as the fifth-quickest driver. His Mercedes replacement Andrea Kimi Antonelli topped the morning session.

By the end of the first day of running Hamilton had dropped to 13th. The top-five consisted of Lando Norris, George Russell, Max Verstappen, Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz – all of which did their running in the afternoon.

However, times can’t be read into too much during F1 pre-season testing as teams use different fuel loads and strategies during the sessions.

F1 Pre-Season Testing First Day Order At Time Of Power Cut 41j43

1) Lando Norris, McLaren, 1:30.430, 52 laps

2) George Russell, Mercedes, 1:30.587, 70 laps

3) Max Verstappen, Red Bull, 1:30.674, 74 laps

4) Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, 1:30.878, 71 laps

5) Carlos Sainz, Williams, 1:30.955, 68 laps

6) Pierre Gasly, Alpine, 1:31.353, 72 laps

7) Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes, 1:31.428, 78 laps

8) Liam Lawson, Red Bull, 1:31.560, 58 laps

9) Alex Albon, Williams 1:31.573, 63 laps

10) Yuki Tsunoda, Racing Bulls, 1:31.610, 78 laps

11) Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls, 1:31.631, 76 laps

12) Gabriel Bortoleto, Sauber, 1:31.690, 59 laps

13) Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari, 1:31.834, 70 laps

14) Jack Doohan, Alpine 1:31.841, 68 laps

15) Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin, 1:31.874, 46 laps

16) Lance Stroll, Aston Martin, 1:31.949, 42 laps

17) Oscar Piastri, McLaren, 1:32.084, 66 laps

18) Nico Hulkenberg, Sauber, 1:32.169, 55 laps

19) Esteban Ocon, Haas, 1:33.600, 88 laps

20) Oliver Bearman, Haas, 1:35.522, 72 laps