The first day of 2025 Formula 1 pre-season testing at the Bahrain International Circuit was marked by an unexpected incident. During the afternoon session, a power outage halted activities for about an hour, disrupting team schedules and directly impacting the performance of several drivers, including Gabriel Bortoleto, who made his official debut in the category. The Brazilian, representing Sauber, finished the day in 12th position after struggling due to the testing interruption. The electrical failure, recorded midway through the afternoon track period, forced mechanics and engineers to improvise with flashlights and phone lights while awaiting the power to be restored. The unforeseen event affected team planning and required adjustments to the schedule.
Lando Norris, from McLaren, was the fastest driver of the session, clocking 1m30.430s, ahead of George Russell from Mercedes and Max Verstappen from Red Bull. The British driver surpassed Charles Leclerc, who had been leading before the session was interrupted. The power outage came at a crucial moment, as the track was undergoing a temperature transition, a key factor in assessing tire compounds and aerodynamic behavior.
The power failure not only reduced track time but also imposed challenges on teams trying to gather data and make technical adjustments. Drivers had to adapt to the revised schedule, attempting to maximize performance in the shortened track windows. The decision to extend the session was an alternative to mitigate the losses, but not all drivers managed to recover the lost time.
We love to see it! 😀
New cars under the lights in #F1Testing 💪#F1 pic.twitter.com/upqovw1hR9
— Formula 1 (@F1) February 26, 2025
Impact of the Power Outage on Testing Schedule
The blackout in Bahrain forced teams to reorganize their strategies and presented additional challenges for drivers and engineers. With no electricity, real-time communication and data analysis were compromised, making it difficult to assess car performance. Furthermore, the loss of natural light as the evening approached made it impossible to continue testing until power was restored.
Teams had to adjust their plans due to the reduced track time. For Bortoleto, the outage was particularly harmful as it disrupted his opportunity to complete longer stints and gather crucial data for his adaptation to the Sauber car. The Brazilian had completed only eight laps before the interruption and had to recover ground in the final minutes of the session.
Pre-season testing is crucial for mechanical adjustments and optimizing the performance of F1 cars before the season opener. The unexpected stoppage directly impacted team preparations, as they had a detailed schedule for collecting aerodynamic data and running race simulations.
Performance of Key Drivers on the First Day of Testing
- Lando Norris set the fastest lap, marking a promising start for McLaren.
- George Russell finished 0.1s behind Norris, showing consistency in Mercedes’ performance.
- Max Verstappen remained competitive, securing a top-three spot.
- Charles Leclerc, who was leading before the power outage, dropped a few positions after the session resumed.
- Gabriel Bortoleto finished in 12th place after recovering in the final minutes.
The session was divided into a morning stint, led by Kimi Antonelli, and an afternoon stint, with Norris posting the best time. Esteban Ocon, now at Haas, completed the most laps with a total of 88. The number of laps accumulated during testing is a key indicator of car reliability and long-term performance.
History of Brazilian F1 Debuts
- Felipe Massa debuted for Sauber in 2002, with his first official race in Australia.
- Nelson Piquet Jr. joined Renault in 2008 and secured a podium finish in his first season.
- Bruno Senna raced for HRT in 2010 and later drove for Lotus and Williams.
- Gabriel Bortoleto is the first Brazilian F1 full-time driver since Felipe Nasr, who raced for Sauber between 2015 and 2016.
The return of a Brazilian driver to the Formula 1 grid after eight years without a full-time representative is a significant milestone. Bortoleto’s path to the top category of motorsport included major achievements in junior series, culminating in his Formula 3 title in 2023.
Weather Conditions at Sakhir During Testing
- Average temperature: 26°C during the day, dropping to 20°C at night.
- Relative humidity: 55%, influencing aerodynamic performance.
- Moderate to strong winds, affecting stability on straights and high-speed corners.
- Temperature transition on the asphalt altering tire degradation between morning and afternoon sessions.
The weather conditions in Bahrain were an additional factor for teams to consider during testing. The drop in temperature at the end of the day may have contributed to faster lap times, while varying wind conditions required continuous aerodynamic adjustments to the cars.
Statistics from Pre-Season Testing
- A total of 20 drivers participated throughout the two testing sessions on the first day.
- The average number of laps per driver was 54, with Esteban Ocon completing the most mileage.
- The difference between the fastest and slowest lap of the day was 2.9 seconds.
- The fastest lap in the afternoon session was 0.3 seconds quicker than in the morning, indicating improved track conditions.
Despite the power outage, the numbers show that teams managed to complete a significant number of laps, making the most of the available track time for technical data collection.
Next Steps in Pre-Season Testing and Expectations for Bortoleto
The second day of testing will be crucial for Bortoleto and Sauber to advance their adaptation to the car and obtain more consistent performance data for the start of the championship. Participating in three full days of testing will provide the Brazilian driver with an accelerated learning curve ahead of the season opener.
With the Australian Grand Prix fast approaching, pre-season testing is the primary opportunity for technical adjustments and for drivers to get accustomed to the new Formula 1 configurations for 2025. Bortoleto aims to solidify his position on the grid and maximize his performance before the official start of the season.

The first day of 2025 Formula 1 pre-season testing at the Bahrain International Circuit was marked by an unexpected incident. During the afternoon session, a power outage halted activities for about an hour, disrupting team schedules and directly impacting the performance of several drivers, including Gabriel Bortoleto, who made his official debut in the category. The Brazilian, representing Sauber, finished the day in 12th position after struggling due to the testing interruption. The electrical failure, recorded midway through the afternoon track period, forced mechanics and engineers to improvise with flashlights and phone lights while awaiting the power to be restored. The unforeseen event affected team planning and required adjustments to the schedule.
Lando Norris, from McLaren, was the fastest driver of the session, clocking 1m30.430s, ahead of George Russell from Mercedes and Max Verstappen from Red Bull. The British driver surpassed Charles Leclerc, who had been leading before the session was interrupted. The power outage came at a crucial moment, as the track was undergoing a temperature transition, a key factor in assessing tire compounds and aerodynamic behavior.
The power failure not only reduced track time but also imposed challenges on teams trying to gather data and make technical adjustments. Drivers had to adapt to the revised schedule, attempting to maximize performance in the shortened track windows. The decision to extend the session was an alternative to mitigate the losses, but not all drivers managed to recover the lost time.
We love to see it! 😀
New cars under the lights in #F1Testing 💪#F1 pic.twitter.com/upqovw1hR9
— Formula 1 (@F1) February 26, 2025
Impact of the Power Outage on Testing Schedule
The blackout in Bahrain forced teams to reorganize their strategies and presented additional challenges for drivers and engineers. With no electricity, real-time communication and data analysis were compromised, making it difficult to assess car performance. Furthermore, the loss of natural light as the evening approached made it impossible to continue testing until power was restored.
Teams had to adjust their plans due to the reduced track time. For Bortoleto, the outage was particularly harmful as it disrupted his opportunity to complete longer stints and gather crucial data for his adaptation to the Sauber car. The Brazilian had completed only eight laps before the interruption and had to recover ground in the final minutes of the session.
Pre-season testing is crucial for mechanical adjustments and optimizing the performance of F1 cars before the season opener. The unexpected stoppage directly impacted team preparations, as they had a detailed schedule for collecting aerodynamic data and running race simulations.
Performance of Key Drivers on the First Day of Testing
- Lando Norris set the fastest lap, marking a promising start for McLaren.
- George Russell finished 0.1s behind Norris, showing consistency in Mercedes’ performance.
- Max Verstappen remained competitive, securing a top-three spot.
- Charles Leclerc, who was leading before the power outage, dropped a few positions after the session resumed.
- Gabriel Bortoleto finished in 12th place after recovering in the final minutes.
The session was divided into a morning stint, led by Kimi Antonelli, and an afternoon stint, with Norris posting the best time. Esteban Ocon, now at Haas, completed the most laps with a total of 88. The number of laps accumulated during testing is a key indicator of car reliability and long-term performance.
History of Brazilian F1 Debuts
- Felipe Massa debuted for Sauber in 2002, with his first official race in Australia.
- Nelson Piquet Jr. joined Renault in 2008 and secured a podium finish in his first season.
- Bruno Senna raced for HRT in 2010 and later drove for Lotus and Williams.
- Gabriel Bortoleto is the first Brazilian F1 full-time driver since Felipe Nasr, who raced for Sauber between 2015 and 2016.
The return of a Brazilian driver to the Formula 1 grid after eight years without a full-time representative is a significant milestone. Bortoleto’s path to the top category of motorsport included major achievements in junior series, culminating in his Formula 3 title in 2023.
Weather Conditions at Sakhir During Testing
- Average temperature: 26°C during the day, dropping to 20°C at night.
- Relative humidity: 55%, influencing aerodynamic performance.
- Moderate to strong winds, affecting stability on straights and high-speed corners.
- Temperature transition on the asphalt altering tire degradation between morning and afternoon sessions.
The weather conditions in Bahrain were an additional factor for teams to consider during testing. The drop in temperature at the end of the day may have contributed to faster lap times, while varying wind conditions required continuous aerodynamic adjustments to the cars.
Statistics from Pre-Season Testing
- A total of 20 drivers participated throughout the two testing sessions on the first day.
- The average number of laps per driver was 54, with Esteban Ocon completing the most mileage.
- The difference between the fastest and slowest lap of the day was 2.9 seconds.
- The fastest lap in the afternoon session was 0.3 seconds quicker than in the morning, indicating improved track conditions.
Despite the power outage, the numbers show that teams managed to complete a significant number of laps, making the most of the available track time for technical data collection.
Next Steps in Pre-Season Testing and Expectations for Bortoleto
The second day of testing will be crucial for Bortoleto and Sauber to advance their adaptation to the car and obtain more consistent performance data for the start of the championship. Participating in three full days of testing will provide the Brazilian driver with an accelerated learning curve ahead of the season opener.
With the Australian Grand Prix fast approaching, pre-season testing is the primary opportunity for technical adjustments and for drivers to get accustomed to the new Formula 1 configurations for 2025. Bortoleto aims to solidify his position on the grid and maximize his performance before the official start of the season.
